Shocking Injustice: Outrageous Life Sentence for Acclaimed Uyghur Scholar in China Condemned by the US

The United States strongly condemns China's reported life sentence for renowned Uyghur academic Rahile Dawut. We demand the immediate release of this scholar, well-known for her extensive documentation of the folklore and traditions of the Muslim minority in Xinjiang, northwest China. In line with the statement released by the US State Department on Friday, we are deeply concerned about the human rights situation in China as highlighted in the report by the non-profit organization Dui Hua Foundation on September 21. The Chinese government's decision to charge Rahile Dawut with endangering state security is unacceptable.

Rahile Dawut, widely believed to have been taken into custody by the Chinese government in 2017 according to academics and rights groups, is one of over 300 Uyghur and other Muslim intellectuals estimated to have been detained by the Chinese government in 2021, as reported by the Uyghur Human Rights Project, a non-profit organization. These detentions are part of a broader crackdown by the Chinese government, which has been accused of detaining over a million Uyghur and predominately Muslim individuals in internment camps in Xinjiang. The aim of these detentions is to forcibly assimilate and suppress their cultural and religious identity.

China was accused of committing "serious human rights violations" that could be considered "crimes against humanity" in the region, according to a report by the United Nations highest human rights office last year. The report revealed instances of arbitrary and discriminatory detention as part of the government's implementation of counter-terrorism and counter-extremism strategies. Additionally, the report referenced multiple accounts and evidence of the arrest and imprisonment of well-known scholars, artists, and intellectuals from the Uyghur community.

On March 9, 2021, in Almaty, the largest city in Kazakhstan, Gulnur Kosdaulet (2L), 48, participated in a protest outside the Chinese consulate. The purpose of the demonstration was to raise awareness and demand the release of her husband, who is currently detained in China. Alongside a group of predominantly female protesters, Gulnur Kosdaulet engages in daily pickets at the consulate, advocating for the safe return of their relatives who are either missing, imprisoned, or unable to leave due to China's restrictive measures targeting minority populations in the Xinjiang region.

Abduaziz Madyarov/AFP/Getty Images

China may have committed 'crimes against humanity' in Xinjiang, UN report finds

Academics and activists argue that the oppression persists, albeit in a covert manner, as it has assimilated into the prison system, resulting in the establishment of a compulsory labor mechanism and a climate of intimidation and constant monitoring.

Despite strong denials by China regarding any human rights violations, the country initially denied the existence of these camps and later referred to them as "vocational education and training centers." In response, China informed a United Nations delegation last year that these facilities had been shut down. However, the UN office expressed its inability to verify this claim.

During a press briefing last month, the spokesperson for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs claimed to be unaware of the situation concerning Rahile Dawut. They emphasized that China is a nation that upholds the rule of law. In a statement on Friday, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller expressed concern over the unjust imprisonment of Rahile Dawut and other Uyghur intellectuals, who have dedicated themselves to safeguarding and maintaining Uyghur culture and traditions.

"According to him, Professor Dawuts life sentence is believed to be a component of a wider initiative by the PRC (Peoples Republic of China) to eliminate Uyghur identity and culture, as well as to undermine academic freedom, employing tactics such as detentions and disappearances."

In 2021, the State Department declared that China had engaged in genocide against Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in Xinjiang.

A renowned scholar

Renowned for her expertise in Uyghur culture, Rahile Dawut dedicated her research to exploring folklore and religious anthropology. She meticulously documented the Uyghur pilgrimage to sacred shrines across Xinjiang.

Her collaborations with researchers from around the world, as well as her guest lecturing and teaching, have earned her recognition from international academics. They acknowledge her efforts in promoting a deeper global comprehension of Uyghur culture, while also appreciating her significant contributions in the preservation and documentation of Uyghur heritage and architecture.

In 2007, Rahile Dawut established a dedicated folklore center at Xinjiang University, where she held a professorship. Additionally, she received grants and awards from the Chinese government, as highlighted by the American Anthropological Association.

Academics and rights groups reported that she vanished in late 2017. San Francisco-based organization Dui Hua revealed that Rahile Dawut was charged with "splittism" or political separatism in 2018, a crime related to endangering state security. Following her conviction, she filed an appeal which was subsequently denied by the Xinjiang high court, as stated in the organization's September 21 statement.

Accessing information about individual cases in Xinjiang is still challenging due to the lack of transparency surrounding China's detention and sentencing processes. CNN was unable to independently verify the report.

Rare protest erupts in rural China against removal of Islamic features of local mosque on Saturday May 27, 2023.

Twitter/@majuismail1122

Chinese authorities face defiance from thousands of ethnic minority Muslims as they rally in support of a mosque. The government of Xinjiang had vowed to combat extremism in the region back in 2014, citing concerns over terrorism and separatism.

In addition to the detention of Uyghurs, Chinese authorities reportedly focused on eradicating Uyghur cultural and religious heritage, which scholars like Rahile Dawut endeavored to research and safeguard. Rights groups, reports, and academics have attested to this.

According to the UN's assessment in 2022, there were reports that documented the "destruction of Islamic religious sites, including mosques, shrines, and cemeteries." These actions were part of a broader government policy that regarded fundamental principles of the Islamic religion as indicators of extremism and specifically targeted them.

In response to the report, the Chinese government vehemently denied its findings, asserting that it was founded on false information and lies created by groups antagonistic towards China. Since 2018, there has been an outcry from various human rights organizations, demanding the release of Rahile Dawut and other Uyghur intellectuals. This includes Ilham Tohti, a renowned economics professor at Beijing's Minzu University, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2014.

According to the Open Society University Network (OSUN), Rahile Dawut is an exceptional educator and researcher. Her contributions have immensely influenced a new generation of scholars globally in their exploration of Uyghur culture. Last month, OSUN, an international academic organization that previously honored her with a professorship, conveyed its concerns through a statement.

The statement asserted that the court's verdict not only violates academic freedom but also undermines the Uyghur community and the principles of the legal system. OSUN urges the Chinese government to release Professor Dawut promptly, enabling her to resume her vital work without delay.