Ilham Tohti
Ilham Tohti (Uyghur: ئىلھام توختى; Chinese: 伊力哈木·土赫提; pinyin: Yīlìhāmù Tǔhètí; born October 25, 1969) is a Uyghur economist serving a life sentence in China, on separatism-related charges. He is a vocal advocate for the implementation of regional autonomy laws in China, was the host of Uyghur Online, a website founded in 2006 that discusses Uyghur issues, and is known for his research on Uyghur-Han relations. Ilham was summoned from his Beijing home and detained shortly after the July 2009 Ürümqi riots by the authorities because of his criticism of the Chinese government's policies toward Uyghurs in Xinjiang. Ilham was released on August 23 after international pressure and condemnation. He was arrested again in January 2014 and imprisoned after a two-day trial. For his work in the face of adversity he was awarded the PEN/Barbara Goldsmith Freedom to Write Award (2014), the Martin Ennals Award (2016), the Václav Havel Human Rights Prize (2019), and the Sakharov Prize (2019). Ilham is viewed as a moderate and believes that Xinjiang should be granted autonomy according to democratic principles.
Ilham Tohti | |
|---|---|
| ئىلھام توختى | |
| Born | October 25, 1969 Artush, Xinjiang, China |
| Alma mater | Northeast Normal University (BA) Minzu University of China (MA) |
| Occupation(s) | University Lecturer, Economist, Blogger |
| Known for | Critique of the Chinese Communist Party policies in Xinjiang, repression of the Uyghur ethnic minority in China |
| Criminal charge | Offence of "splitting the state" |
| Criminal penalty | Life imprisonment |
| Spouse | Guzelnur (China) |
| Children | Jewher Ilham (United States) |
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