This section provides an overview on cases of Uyghur political prisoners that are known to the public. However, the real number is likely to be much higher, but due to the restrictions imposed by the Chinese authorities to reveal details on imprisoned Uyghurs, it is impossible to determine the exact number.
For decades, the Chinese government has wrongfully imprisoned Uyghurs for lengthly prison sentences, merely for exercising their freedom of expression, writing articles, peacefully practicing their religion, peacefully protesting, or even for studying abroad. Due to heavy monitoring, restrictions on digital activities and reprisals against individuals or their family members to speak to foreign press or organisations, it is very difficult to get details on the condition and situation of many political prisoners. Even so, the WUC has made this page to document all those wrongfully imprisoned by Chinese authorities and to continue to strive for their release and for justice in their cases.
Jailed Uyghur Professors, Writers, Journalists and Webmasters
Ilham Tohti (life imprisonment)
Tashpolat Tiyip (death sentence)
Gheyret Niyaz (15 years in prison)
Gulmira Imin (life imprisonment) along with another four Uyghur website moderators
Ekbar Eset (unknown)
Memetjan Abdulla (life imprisonment)
Memet Turghun Abdulla (unknown)
Nijat Azat (10 years in prison)
Tursunjan Hezim (7 years in prison)
Tursunjan Muhemmet Marshal (unknown)
Other Uyghur Website Staff Detained after 5 July 2009
Charges Related to Freedom of Speech
Ababekri Ömer (6 years in prison)
Abduhelil Zunun (20 years in prison)
Abdulla Jamal (unknown)
Abdughani Imin and Obulkasim Abliz (13 and 15 years in prison)
Abdukerim Mettersun (unknown)
Ablimit Ghoja’Abdulla (unknown)
Abdurehim Heyit (unknown)
Ekberjan Jamal (10 years in prison)
Halmurat Imin (unknown)
Isa Husen (12 years in prison)
Mamatali Ahat (8 years in prison)
Nurhahmat Yusup (20 years in prison)
Niyaz Kahar (unknown)
Omerjan Hasan (Hesen) (unknown)
Tursunjan Hesen (unknown)
Charges Related to Freedom of Association
Abdukadir Mahsum (15 years in prison)
Miradil Yasin and Mutellip Teyip (unknown)
Musha Yushan (unknown)
Omer Akchi (life imprisonment)
Religious Charges
Abdukerim Abduweli (unknown)
Abdusemet Qarihaji (20 years in prison)
Adil Qarim (life imprisonment)
Akemanjiang (unknown)
Ali Ablat (10 years in prison)
Buzainafu Abudourexiti (7 years in prison)
Ghojaexmet Niyaz (6 years in prison)
Horigul Nasir (10 years in prison)
Imam Sulayman (2 years in prison)
Memet Réhim and Memet Sidiq (unknown)
Merdan Seyitakhun, Qurbanjan Abdusemet and another 10 Uyghur Men (various)
Nurtay Memet (5 years in prison)
Perhatjan (unknown)
Qahar Mensur and Muhemmed Tursun (3 years in prison)
Yusufjan and Memetjan (unknown)
Detained for Studying Abroad
6 Uyghur Students: Kawser, Mewlan, Jawlan, Mudeser, Suriya & Gulshan (5-12 years in prison)
Hebibulla Tohti (10 years in prison)
Memet Abla, 39, his wife Buzorigul Rishit, 36 and their 12-year-old son Hezritieli Memet (unknown)
Unknown Charges
Ehsan Ismail (life imprisonment)
Reeducation Through Labour (RTL)
Sirajidin Eziz, Nurabla Nurmemet, Abla Ablikim, Eli Hapiz, Ahmet Osman, Ablet Abdurehim, and Omer Salih (16-24 months)
Death in Detention
Noor-Ul-Islam Sherbaz (life imprisonment; died in Nov. 2011 following allegations of abuse and torture)
Source: WUC
