Uighur Academic Jailed in China Wins Human Rights Award

Geneva, 11 Muharram 1438/12 Octtober 2016 (MINA) – Uighur economist Ilham Tohti, given a life sentence by the Chinese authorities for alleged “separatism”, was chosen for the 2016 Martin Ennals Award for human rights defenders Tuesday.

Ilham Tohti, 46, a former prominent economics lecturer at a Beijing university, was arrested in January 2014 accused of promoting the separation of Xinjang — China’s most westerly province — from China.

Xinjiang is home to a number of ethnic groups including the Uighur, a Turkic-speaking minority who make up 45 percent of the population.

A ceremony was organized in Geneva for the Martin Ennals Award which is given every year by eight human rights institutions, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.

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United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein presented the award to Tohti’s son Ilham Cevher.

Following the ceremony, Ilham Cevher told Anadolu Agency he had not seen his father for two-and-a-half years.

“I feel honored because I received this award on behalf of my father. I hope the award helps my father’s freedom,” he said and thanked the Turkish people for their support. (T/R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)