Uyghur American Association commends Chinese intellectuals and human rights groups for their appeals on behalf of Uyghur journalist and blogger Gheyret Niyaz

For immediate release
July 30, 2010, 6:00 pm EST
Contact: Uyghur American Association +1 (202) 535 0037

The Uyghur American Association (UAA) commends a group of Chinese lawyers and scholars for issuing a letter today (July 30) expressing concern about the 15-year sentence handed down recently to Uyghur journalist and blogger Gheyret Niyaz on charges of “endangering state security”. The letter, entitled “Respect Freedom of Expression, Release Xinjiang Journalist Hailaite Niyazi”, is being circulated in Chinese and English. UAA believes the severity of the punishment given to Niyaz, who did nothing more than exercise his freedom of speech, has contributed to the universal condemnation being directed against Chinese government authorities by Chinese, Uyghur and other groups calling for Niyaz’s release.

The letter, which has been signed by Beijing scholar and author Wang Lixiong, Beijing scholar Mao Yushi, and Beijing scholar Cui Weiping, among others, points out that Niyaz had written online essays in Chinese, and that he had “gradually built a wide following among China’s netizens.” The letter also describes Niyaz as having “promoted increasing mutual understanding between Uyghurs and Han” and goes on to state that “this kind of intellectual is extremely important in advancing communication and reconciliation between ethnic groups.”

Lead signatory Wang Lixiong has written extensively on Uyghur and Tibetan issues, and is also well-known for his advocacy on behalf of democracy in China.

UAA also applauds the Chinese Human Rights Defenders organization for circulating the letter, as well as Amnesty nternational, Human Rights in China, Reporters Without Borders, Freedom House and the Committee to Protect Journalists, who all issued statements expressing concern about Niyaz’s imprisonment.

In their July 30 letter, Chinese lawyers and scholars expressed concern about other Uyghur website managers and journalists who have been arrested:

“We believe that the thoughts and opinions of every person, regardless of their background, ethnicity, or beliefs, deserve full and equal respect. We believe that charging Niyazi and others with speech crimes violates the constitutional promise that “the state respects and guarantees human rights,” contradicts explicit constitutional protections for citizens’ freedom of speech, and runs counter to provisions in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights treaties which China has signed. We hope that the relevant authorities are able to respect the rule of law, and wisely and courageously act to ensure citizens are guaranteed their freedom and dignity.”

Prior to his arrest and detention in October 2009, Niyaz worked as a senior reporter for the Xinjiang Economic Daily and as an administrator for the website “Uighurbiz” (Uighur Online). The website, founded by Uyghur economist and blogger Ilham Tohti, was created as a multi-lingual forum for news and dialogue between Uyghurs, Han and other ethnicities on ethnic issues and other topics. The website has been shut down a number of times by Chinese government authorities, and is currently hosted on a server in the United States.

Three other Uyghur webmasters, Dilshat Perhat, the 28-year-old webmaster and owner of the website Diyarim; Nureli, the webmaster of the website Salkin; and Nijat Azat, the webmaster of the website Shabnam, were tried in closed trials and sentenced on July 23 or July 23 on charges of “endangering state security”. Dilmurat Perhat, who lives in England, told UAA that his brother Dilshat Perhat was sentenced to five years in prison and that, Nureli and Nijat Azat sentenced to three and ten years respectively.

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