UHRP Condemns Life Sentence for Uyghur Leader’s Brother, Hushtar Isa

For immediate release
June 2, 2021 | 6:08 p.m. EDT
Contact: Omer Kanat +1 (202) 790-1795

The Uyghur Human Rights Project (UHRP) condemns the Chinese government’s life sentence for Hushtar Isa, the brother of World Uyghur Congress President, Dolkun Isa. Hushtar Isa was reportedly detained in a camp in 2017 in Aksu for two years before he was sentenced shortly thereafter.

“China continues to try to silence Uyghur voices abroad through cruel, collective punishment, but we will not be silenced,” said UHRP Director Omer Kanat in a statement. “These tactics demonstrate the insecurity of Chinese officials who have resorted to retaliation and threats against individual activists.”

The parents of Dolkun Isa have also been targeted, along with other family members. Isa learned of the death of his mother in a camp in 2019 as well as his father in 2020. Unconfirmed reports also indicate that his older brother, Yalkun, may have also been sentenced.

The Chinese government is attempting to intimidate not only activists, but the entire Uyghur community through threats to family members. Many Uyghurs working publicly on the crisis like Radio Free Asia journalists, or activists like Rushan Abbas and Abduweli Ayup have had family members imprisoned or even die in detention.

Retaliatory sentences against Uyghurs for the actions of family abroad illustrate a total lack of integrity for China’s legal system. While retaliation may discourage open criticism of the Chinese government abroad, UHRP and others will continue to expose and condemn the ongoing genocide.

Read more:

Open threats against Uyghur activist in Germany lay bare China’s lawless persecution, January 15, 2020