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Ilham Tohti Faces Criminal Trial Over Uighur Advocacy Ilham Tohti Faces Criminal Trial Over Uighur Advocacy
(about 21 hours later)
BEIJING — Authorities in China’s far west Xinjiang Province have formally charged the Uighur scholar Ilham Tohti with separatism, a serious crime that carries a potential death sentence. BEIJING — Authorities in the far western Chinese region of Xinjiang have formally charged the Uighur scholar Ilham Tohti with separatism, a serious crime that carries a potential death sentence.
Prosecutors in Xinjiang announced the news on their microblog account, saying they had filed a motion with the Intermediate People’s Court in Urumqi, the regional capital, where Mr. Tohti has been held since shortly after he was taken from his Beijing apartment by the police in January.Prosecutors in Xinjiang announced the news on their microblog account, saying they had filed a motion with the Intermediate People’s Court in Urumqi, the regional capital, where Mr. Tohti has been held since shortly after he was taken from his Beijing apartment by the police in January.
Once charged, defendants in China’s legal system are almost invariably found guilty.Once charged, defendants in China’s legal system are almost invariably found guilty.
Mr. Tohti, 44, an economics professor at Minzu University of China in Beijing, was a moderate but persistent critic of Chinese policies in the increasingly turbulent western region, and his arrest prompted widespread criticism from international human rights advocates.Mr. Tohti, 44, an economics professor at Minzu University of China in Beijing, was a moderate but persistent critic of Chinese policies in the increasingly turbulent western region, and his arrest prompted widespread criticism from international human rights advocates.
Although not unexpected, analysts say the decision to criminally prosecute Mr. Tohti is a clear signal that the Communist Party leadership under President Xi Jinping will broach no criticism of its increasingly hard-line ethnic policies.Although not unexpected, analysts say the decision to criminally prosecute Mr. Tohti is a clear signal that the Communist Party leadership under President Xi Jinping will broach no criticism of its increasingly hard-line ethnic policies.
Nicholas Bequelin, a senior researcher at Human Rights Watch in Hong Kong, said the authorities could have punished Mr. Tohti by firing him from his teaching job or they could have charged him with a lesser crime, such as inciting separatism. “To accuse him of being a separatist is an unmistakable signal of the political hardening on the Uighur issue,” Mr. Bequelin said. “It signifies that China is burning all bridges with moderate voices in respect to its ethnic policies.”Nicholas Bequelin, a senior researcher at Human Rights Watch in Hong Kong, said the authorities could have punished Mr. Tohti by firing him from his teaching job or they could have charged him with a lesser crime, such as inciting separatism. “To accuse him of being a separatist is an unmistakable signal of the political hardening on the Uighur issue,” Mr. Bequelin said. “It signifies that China is burning all bridges with moderate voices in respect to its ethnic policies.”
Mr. Tohti was one of the few scholars in China willing to advocate on behalf of the nation’s Uighur minority, a Turkic-speaking people who practice Sunni Islam and make up nearly 45 percent of Xinjiang’s population. Han, the dominant ethnic group in China, makes up just over 40 percent there.Mr. Tohti was one of the few scholars in China willing to advocate on behalf of the nation’s Uighur minority, a Turkic-speaking people who practice Sunni Islam and make up nearly 45 percent of Xinjiang’s population. Han, the dominant ethnic group in China, makes up just over 40 percent there.
In recent months, the government has tightened security measures in the face of mounting ethnic violence, much of it fueled by Uighur discontent over Beijing’s heavy-handed governance as well as development policies that have encouraged a surge in Han migration into Xinjiang from China’s east. Party leaders, however, blame the unrest on Islamist extremists, a contention that many analysts outside China say is overstated.In recent months, the government has tightened security measures in the face of mounting ethnic violence, much of it fueled by Uighur discontent over Beijing’s heavy-handed governance as well as development policies that have encouraged a surge in Han migration into Xinjiang from China’s east. Party leaders, however, blame the unrest on Islamist extremists, a contention that many analysts outside China say is overstated.
Despite intensely restrictive security measures, the bloodshed has been escalating. More than 200 Uighurs and Han have died over the past year in small-scale clashes and killings that occur almost weekly, especially in the heavily Uighur south. On Monday, dozens of people were shot dead by the police after a protest in Yarkand County turned violent, exile groups say.Despite intensely restrictive security measures, the bloodshed has been escalating. More than 200 Uighurs and Han have died over the past year in small-scale clashes and killings that occur almost weekly, especially in the heavily Uighur south. On Monday, dozens of people were shot dead by the police after a protest in Yarkand County turned violent, exile groups say.
Li Fangping, one of Mr. Tohti’s lawyers, could not be reached for comment Wednesday night but in an earlier interview, he said Mr. Tohti planned to fight the charges. “He said none of his words or deeds constituted the crime of separatism,” Mr. Li said. “He simply hoped that the interests of ethnic minorities and Han people could be brought together.”Li Fangping, one of Mr. Tohti’s lawyers, could not be reached for comment Wednesday night but in an earlier interview, he said Mr. Tohti planned to fight the charges. “He said none of his words or deeds constituted the crime of separatism,” Mr. Li said. “He simply hoped that the interests of ethnic minorities and Han people could be brought together.”