Chinese Uyghur Christians
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Campaign for the release of Alimjan Yimit, a Chinese Uyghur ChristianThank you for praying and campaigning on behalf of Uyghur church leaders Osman Imin and Alimjan Yimit. Osman Imin has now been released, but Alimjan Yimit remains in prison. His detention is illegal and in violation of Chinese court procedure. You can write to the Chinese Ambassador in the United Kingdom voicing your concern for Osman. Click here to send a letter to Fu Ying » Personal details: Osman Imin - RELEASED!Osman was released after serving two years in a labour camp for ‘revealing state secrets’ and ‘illegal proselytising’. A house church leader in the troubled region of Xinjiang in northwest China, Osman was freed on 18 November having spent two years in detention. Local sources said his arrest was almost certainly related to his church work. Authorities had called for a 10-15 year prison sentence for Osman, but significantly reduced the term following international media attention. Osman was initially arrested in 2004 and tortured severely by police, chained to a metal bed in winter and beaten repeatedly. He was released on bail that same year, but re-arrested and sentenced in November 2007. Osman was denied access to his lawyer, and in June 2008 a court rejected his appeal without explanation. Authorities eventually moved Osman to a labour camp outside Kashgar, where he was forced to work 12 to 15 hours a day. His health deteriorated rapidly and he reportedly suffered from malnutrition throughout his confinement. Osman and his wife Nurgul have two young daughters aged 5 and 7. During Osman’s imprisonment, Nurgul was able to visit her husband once a month – for only 30 minutes.
Alimjan YimitConcerns remain over church leader Alimjan, who is still in arbitrary detention. Alimjan is married to Gulnur and they have one son (8) and one daughter (5). They are Uyghurs, living in Xinjiang, the Uyghur Autonomous Region in the north-west corner of China. In September 2007, the authorities closed down Alimjan's business, the Xinjiang Jiaerhao Foodstuff Company Ltd, accusing him of using it as a cover for 'preaching Christianity among people of Uyghur ethnicity'. He was then arrested in January 2008 on an alleged 'national security' issue. Since then Gulnur and the two children have not been allowed to see Alimjan. Even when she recently travelled to the prison (a full day’s journey), she was denied access. Charges against Alimjan include 'inciting secessionist sentiment to split the country' and 'collecting and selling intelligence for overseas organisations'. He is an agricultural worker so it is difficult to believe he would have had access to classified information. Friends said they believe the true reason for his arrest was his faith. Officials have threatened a sentence ranging from six years imprisonment to execution. The conditions in jail are very harsh, affecting Alimjan's health and wellbeing. Despite this, China Aid Association reported in February 2009 that he is much respected in the prison. A verdict was expected by the end of April 2008, but his trial was rescheduled for May 2008. During the hearing on 27 May 2008 the Xinjiang Court returned the case to state prosecutors, citing 'insufficient evidence'. After further research by Public Security Bureau officials, prosecutors returned the case to court in October for consideration. On 21 May 2009 government sources told Alimjan’s mother that the Public Security Bureau (PSB) in Kashgar planned to quietly sentence him to three years of re-education through labour, thereby circumventing the court system. Under Chinese law the PSB, which originally filed the case against Alimjan, may authorise such sentences without approval from the court or other state agencies. In Xinjiang’s politically charged environment, Alimjan’s family fear he could face execution if he were wrongly linked with alleged Uyghur separatists. Sources said there appears to be a concerted effort to shut down the leadership of the Uyghur church in a restive region where authorities fear anything they cannot control. The region of ethnic Uyghurs has come under a government crackdown over the past two years as long-simmering tensions erupted. As part of this apparent clamp down on Christianity, authorities have disbarred several lawyers involved in the defence of Uyghur Christians, including Alimjan’s attorney, Li Dunyong. He was effectively disbarred at the end of May when Chinese authorities turned down an annual application to renew his law licence. Zhang Kai, another Beijing lawyer who had defended Alimjan, suffered the same fate. On 28 July, Alimjan stood trial at Kashi District Intermediate People's Court in Xinjiang - his first hearing since his detention in January 2008. He awaits a decision by the court. Alimjan's wife was not permitted to attend and still has not seen Alimjan since his arrest. The Yimit family are eager that their wider Christian family continue taking campaigning action in order to seek justice for Alimjan. Alimjan remained in pre-trial arrest for a year and a half before his hearing, which is a violation of Chinese court and detention procedures that prescribe the maximum pre-trial detention period of a year. In the light of the Xinjiang Court's citing of insufficient evidence, Alimjan should be released. Gulnur has been trying to negotiate with the authorities for an impartial, expedient handling of the case, in accordance with the law. However, this has not led to any results so far. Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous RegionThe situation here is tense. The Chinese government is trying to destroy the Uyghur culture in the province by stimulating the migration of Han Chinese (general Chinese citizens) by providing them with better jobs. Han Chinese accuse the Uyghur people, who are predominantly Muslim, of religious extremism and separatism. There has been a long-running movement for independence for East Turkestan, as the Uyghurs call Xinjiang, and Islamic extremists were accused of killing 16 policemen in a terrorist attack shortly before the Olympics last August. Muslims who convert to Christianity are in an even more difficult position as a national minority, as converts leaving Islam and as Christians who face the wrath of their Muslim community and the Chinese government. They are forbidden to attend church services at the only government-approved Three Self Church in Xinjiang, and are therefore forced into meeting in unregistered house churches. Just as Chinese authorities increased restrictions on the Tibetan people last year in the run up to the 2008 Olympics, they increased persecution of Uyghurs, justifying it in the name of national security and protection against terrorism.
Sources: RespondYou can write to the Chinese Ambassador in the United Kingdom voicing your concern for Alimjan. Click here to send a letter to Fu Ying » Please pray:
You can also send a letter to the families of Osman and Alimjan to encourage them at this difficult time, using our online Letter-writing Guide » |
