Uighur journalist given 15-year jail sentence

26 Jul 10 | Index Index, minipost, News and features

Journalist Gheyrat Niyaz has been given a 15-year jail sentence by the Chinese authorities after he was found guilty of endangering Chinese national security. The Uighur journalist and blogger was given the sentence following accusations that he criticised Chinese government policy towards the Uighurs and gave evidence to Western press organisations during last year’s race related riots in Xinjiang province.

Uighur PEN member barred from travelling abroad

22 Apr 10 | Index Index, minipost, Uncategorized

Ilham Tohti, Uighur academic and PEN member has been banned from attending a Turkic Culture conference in Izmir, Turkey. Reports claim police officials arrived at his Beijing home on 15 April and warning him against making the trip. Tohti had already received his Turkish visa, and permission to attend the conference from Beijing’s Central Nationalities University, where he is the associated professor of Economics. He was previously detained during the Xinjiang riots last year.

China protests Swiss asylum for Guantanamo Uighurs‎

04 Feb 10 | Index Index, minipost

China has warned the Swiss government that its decision to grant asylum to two Chinese Uighurs currently detained in Guantanamo Bay will harm relations.  Switzerland’s justice minister said the decision to take the brothers was guided by humanitarian principles and should not be interpreted as giving preference to one country over another. The Obama administration has sought to resettle Uighurs in third countries for fear they may be persecuted if sent back to China.