Omerjan Hesen was a journalist, writer, and webmaster, as well as the deputy director of the Urban Greenery Office in Aksu. He was detained in March 2016, kicked out of the Party, and charged with instigating ethnic hatred and separatism.
Testimony 1: XJ Discipline Inspection Commission, a government body charged with, among other things, finding Party officials who have breached Party discipline.
Testimony 2|3: Memet Qari, as reported by Radio Free Asia Uyghur. (relative of friend)
Testimony 4: World Uyghur Congress, an international organization of exiled Uyghur groups.
Testimony 1:
Testimony 2:
Testimony 3:
Testimony 4:
Testimony 5:
Omerjan Hesen, also known as "Bozqir", was an Uyghur journalist, writer, and webmaster. From 1989 to 2003, Hesen worked as a translator, editor, and communications department deputy director for Aksu Television and the Aksu Bureau of Radio and Television. In 2003, he started working for the "China Nationality Unity" magazine as its Xinjiang regional assistant editor. Hesen has published numerous essays and short stories, and was the administrator of the popular Uyghur-language website and discussion forum, "Bozqir". His most recent position was as deputy director of the Urban Greenery Office in Aksu Prefecture's forestry bureau.Omerjan Hasan (乌麦尔江•和森), also known as "Bozqir," is a Uyghur journalist, writer, and webmaster. His most recent position was as vice director of the Urban Greenery Office in Aksu prefecture's forestry bureau. From 1989 to 2003, Hasan worked as a translator, editor, and communications department deputy director for Aksu Television and the Aksu Bureau of Radio and Television. In 2003, he started working for the China Nationality Unity magazine as its Xinjiang region assistant editor. Hasan has published numerous essays and short stories, and was the administrator of the popular Uyghur-language website and discussion forum, "Bozqir." The website was shut down after his arrest in March or April 2016.
On May 31, 2016, the Chinese Communist Party revoked Hasan's membership and accused him of publishing articles that harmed the party and the government's policies. According to news reports, the Aksu Commission for Discipline Inspection had launched an investigation earlier that month into Hasan and accused him of violating political discipline by publishing an unofficial history of Xinjiang, spreading harmful information, defaming the Communist Party and government, and sabotaging national unity, ethnic unity, and social stability. He was also removed from his position at the forestry bureau.
Testimony 4: born on February 1965 in Bay County of Aksu Prefecture.
current location
Aksu Prefecture Detention Center (阿克苏地区看守所).Testimony 3: Aksu Prefecture Detention Center
chronology of detention(s)
According to Memet Qari, Omerjan was detained in March 2016.
On May 31, 2016, it was announced that the Discipline Inspection Commission had begun their investigation of him, with his Party membership being revoked. He was also removed from his position at the forestry bureau for “violating Party discipline”.Testimony 1: On May 31, he was expelled from the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and removed from his position for “breaking party discipline.”
Testimony 3: Detained in March 2016.
Testimony 4: it is marked that he has been sentenced to 15 years in 2016, but no source is given.
suspected and/or official reason(s) for detention
He was accused of publishing articles that harmed the Party and the government's policies, violating Party discipline by publishing an unofficial history of Xinjiang, spreading harmful information, defaming the Communist Party and government, and sabotaging ethnic unity and social stability.
Memet Qari mentions that Omerjan's case is also connected to that of the former's son, Tursunjan Memet. A paper that Omerjan Hesen published on Misranim (managed by Tursunjan Memet) was seen as "instigating ethnic hatred and separatism".Testimony 1: "Distorting the history of Xinjiang, instigating ethnic hatred, and opposing China's unity or territorial integrity"
Testimony 2-3: the testifier mentions that his case is connected to that of the testifier's son, Tursunjan Memet. A paper that Omerjan Hesen published on Misranim (managed by Tursunjan Memet) was seen as "instigating ethnic hatred and separatism".
last reported status
Detained.
[The World Uyghur Congress has reported that he has been sentenced to 15 years, but it is not clear what the source of the information is, and whether or not it might be a mistake.]Imprisoned
how testifier(s) learned of victim's situation
The Discipline Inspection Commission is an official government source.
Memet Qari knew of Omerjan's case because it was closely linked to that of his son, to which he was an eyewitness.Testimony 1: this is an official government source, and is directly involved with the victim's case.
Testimony 2-3: presumably because his son's case is connected to the victim's.
