Testimony 1|2: Anonymous, as reported by Radio Free Asia Uyghur.
Testimony 3: Local government employee, as reported by Radio Free Asia Uyghur. (from same town/region)
Testimony 1:
Testimony 2:
Testimony 3:
Testimony 4:
Qurbanjan Abdukerim was a Uyghur textile trader and entrepreneur from Böger Village, Azaq Township, Atush City, Kizilsu Kyrgyz Autonomous Prefecture. In the 1990s, Qurbanjan Abdukerim became the first textile trader in Atush to build a factory, from which he produced scarves. His family reportedly traded Chinese fabrics in Kyrgyzstan and Saudi Arabia.
Qurbanjan Abdukerim passed away on 27 February 2021 at the age of 54 years old, four days after he was released from detention.
Qurbanjan Abdukerim is survived by his wife and four children.
current location
The victim passed away in Böger Village, Azaq Township, Atush County, Kizilsu Kyrgyz Autonomous Prefecture.
chronology of detention(s)
Testimony 1:
Qurbanjan Abdukerim was arrested from his home in Böger Village, Azaq Township, Atush County, Kizilsu Kyrgyz Autonomous Prefecture at some point in early 2018. He was released from detention on 23 February 2021, and died four days later on 27 February 2021.
According to Zibibulla (the testifier), Qurbanjan Abdukerim was healthy at the time of his arrest in early 2018, weighing approximately 100 kilograms. When he was released approximately 3 years later on 23 February 2021, he weighed 53 kilograms.
Testimony 2: RFA spoke to an anonymous woman who answered the phone at the home of the chief of the Böger Village police station in Azaq Township. The anonymous woman said that her parents were attending a nezir (a Uyghur mourning ceremony) and confirmed to RFA that the nezir was for Qurbanjan Abdukerim. She also added that local authorities had placed restrictions on the nezir, limiting the number of attendees to 20.
Testimony 3: RFA also spoke with the newly appointed head of the neighborhood committee in Böger Village, Azaq Township [date of interview and name of committee head unspecified]. The committee head confirmed to RFA that a man by the name of Qurbanjan Abdukerim was released from detention "last week" weighing 53 kilograms. The committee head also explained that Qurbanjan Abdukerim had passed away after his release, but that his wife and children were "still there". According to the committee head, Qurbanjan Abdukerim was "buried under the supervision of local police."
suspected and/or official reason(s) for detention
Testimony 1: Zibibulla (the testifier) believes that the reason for which Qurbanjan Abdukerim was arrested in early 2018 was that he went on a pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia in approximately 2015 (three years prior to his detention). Zibibulla (the testifier) reportedly told Qurbanjan Abdukerim not to go on the pilgrimage, as he knew that it would be viewed by Chinese authorities as a sign of "religious extremism".
last reported status
The victim is deceased.
how testifier(s) learned of victim's situation
Testimony 1: not stated.
Testimony 2-3: these are sources in / close to the local administration, and presumably knew of the situation/funeral by virtue of their position and location.
