September 22, 2015
Scholars at Risk is gravely concerned for Professor Ilham Tohti, a public intellectual and economics professor, who was convicted on charges of separatism and sentenced to life in prison last year.
SAR calls for letters, emails, and faxes respectfully urging authorities to ensure that any charges or convictions related to Prof. Tohti's academic activities are lifted, and that in the interim, his case is addressed in a manner consistent with internationally recognized standards of due process, fair trial and detention, in accordance with China’s obligations under international law.
Professor Tohti is a professor of economics at the Central Minzu University in Beijing and advocate for the rights of the Chinese Uighur minority. Scholars at Risk understands that on the afternoon of January 15, 2014, police raided Professor Tohti’s family home; seized computers, cell phones, passports and student essays; and arrested Professor Tohti. According to reports, he was held incommunicado until late June, after which he was denied regular access to family. On July 30, Professor Tohti was formally charged with separatism, charges that reportedly stem from his teachings at the university and writings published on his former website, Uighur Online.
On September 16 and 17, 2014, Professor Tohti underwent a two-day trial in the Urumqi Intermediate People’s Court, which was closed to the public. Professor Tohti's lawyers have reported that they were denied access to evidence in advance of trial and were not allowed to call defense witnesses. Evidence presented by prosecutors reportedly included Professor Tohti's teaching materials, as well as material taken from the Uighur Online website. Professor Tohti reportedly maintained his innocence throughout trial, rejecting the charge of separatism and stating "There is nothing wrong with voicing one’s thoughts. And there is nothing wrong with doing academic research."
Following trial, on September 23, 2014, the court found Professor Tohti guilty of separatism and sentenced him to life in prison. In addition, the court ordered that all of Professor Tohti’s assets be confiscated, which could leave his family in severe economic distress.
Professor Tohti appealed the decision, and Scholars at Risk understands that, on November 21, 2014, an appeals decision was made within the detention center where Professor Tohti is being held; the decision upheld the initial conviction. Reports indicate that the appeals decision was not made in an open court, and that Professor's Tohti's lawyer was unable to attend, given that it was held on such short notice.
Scholars at Risk welcomes any additional or contrary information that may clarify our understanding of these events. Absent this, the facts indicate that Professor Tohti was arrested, convicted and sentenced as a result of scholarly and nonviolent expressive activity, conduct that is expressly protected under international human rights instruments including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which China is a signatory. Therefore, in the absence of any clearly legitimate, publicly expressed grounds for doing so, the arrest and conviction of Professor Tohti raise serious concerns for his well being and for the ability of intellectuals generally in China to conduct world-class scholarship under such circumstances. Scholars at Risk finds the situation particularly distressing given the important role that China and Chinese universities and scholars in particular should play in the development of knowledge, research and scholarship in the 21st century.
Scholars at Risk therefore invites letters, emails and faxes be sent to the appropriate authorities, respectfully urging:
- that the circumstances of Professor Tohti’s arrest, detention and conviction be examined,
- that any charges or convictions related to his academic activities are lifted, and
- that in the interim, his case is addressed in a manner consistent with internationally recognized standards of due process, fair trial and detention, in accordance with China’s obligations under international law.
Please submit your letter by following the link below:
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