China: Family visit to jailed Uyghur scholar put off until March
| Publisher | Radio Free Asia |
| Publication Date | 25 February 2016 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Asia, China: Family visit to jailed Uyghur scholar put off until March, 25 February 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/570f424029.html [accessed 1 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
2016-02-25
Ilham Tohti chats with students on June 12, 2010 after a lecture at the Central University for Nationalities in Beijing. AFP
The wife of jailed Uyghur scholar Ilham Tohti said a planned prison visit by his brother last week did not take place, but that she had expected to visit her husband in March.
"I called his brother and he said that he didn't go. That's it. Maybe he is too busy with his work because he lives in Atush," Guzelnur told RFA's Mandarin Service, referring to her brother-in-law's stated plan to visit Tohti on Feb. 18.
"I originally planned to visit him but I couldn't make it because of the winter break. I plan to visit him in March," she said.
The former professor at the Central University for Nationalities in Beijing was sentenced to life in prison following his conviction on a charge of "separatism" by the Urumqi Intermediate People's Court in Xinjiang on Sept. 23, 2014.
She said that Tohti is locked in a cell alone own in Urumqi's No. 1 Prison, but he doesn't have to work.
"He also receives a physical exam every other week. He can read books that cannot have any notes on them," said Guzelnur.
Such family visits are limited to one half-hour meeting every three months.
"A lot of paper works needs to be done for the 30-minute visit. They need residential certificate and marriage certificate. My residential ID was issued in Xinjiang," she added.
Reported by Qiao Long for RFA's Mandarin Service. Translated RFA's Mandarin Service. Written in English by Paul Eckert.
Link to original story on RFA website
