Aliyem Urayim was a businesswoman, frequently traveling to Central Asia for work. In early 2017, she was detained, not long after returning from Turkey, and later sentenced to 17 years and 10 months in prison.

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testifying party

Testimony 1|2|3|4|5|6: Eli Yarmemet, originally from Ghulja but now residing in Norway. (son)

Testimony 7: Eli Yarmemet, as reported by Living Otherwise. (son)

Testimony 8: Urumqi police records, as reported by Yael Grauer. Testimony 1: father daughter brother sister son mother grandfather grandmother grandson granddaughter uncle aunt nephew niece brother-in-law sister-in-law father-in-law mother-in-law son-in-law daughter-in-law cousin friend colleague former student relative relation unclear from same town/region n/a husband wife the victim lawyer child friends, family, and students great-nephew great-niece former schoolmate cousin once removed friend of relative boyfriend girlfriend friend of friend aunt-in-law acquaintance judge cousin-in-law nephew-in-law niece-in-law uncle-in-law former neighbor stepbrother stepsister stepfather stepmother stepdaughter stepson neighbor of relative detained together former teacher relative of friend relative of teacher sibling grandchild cousin twice removed trial attendee ex-wife great-uncle great-aunt in-law grandmother-in-law grandfather-in-law great-grandmother great-grandfather half-brother half-sister ex-husband direct third-party
Testimony 2: father daughter brother sister son mother grandfather grandmother grandson granddaughter uncle aunt nephew niece brother-in-law sister-in-law father-in-law mother-in-law son-in-law daughter-in-law cousin friend colleague former student relative relation unclear from same town/region n/a husband wife the victim lawyer child friends, family, and students great-nephew great-niece former schoolmate cousin once removed friend of relative boyfriend girlfriend friend of friend aunt-in-law acquaintance judge cousin-in-law nephew-in-law niece-in-law uncle-in-law former neighbor stepbrother stepsister stepfather stepmother stepdaughter stepson neighbor of relative detained together former teacher relative of friend relative of teacher sibling grandchild cousin twice removed trial attendee ex-wife great-uncle great-aunt in-law grandmother-in-law grandfather-in-law great-grandmother great-grandfather half-brother half-sister ex-husband direct third-party
Testimony 3: father daughter brother sister son mother grandfather grandmother grandson granddaughter uncle aunt nephew niece brother-in-law sister-in-law father-in-law mother-in-law son-in-law daughter-in-law cousin friend colleague former student relative relation unclear from same town/region n/a husband wife the victim lawyer child friends, family, and students great-nephew great-niece former schoolmate cousin once removed friend of relative boyfriend girlfriend friend of friend aunt-in-law acquaintance judge cousin-in-law nephew-in-law niece-in-law uncle-in-law former neighbor stepbrother stepsister stepfather stepmother stepdaughter stepson neighbor of relative detained together former teacher relative of friend relative of teacher sibling grandchild cousin twice removed trial attendee ex-wife great-uncle great-aunt in-law grandmother-in-law grandfather-in-law great-grandmother great-grandfather half-brother half-sister ex-husband direct third-party
Testimony 4: father daughter brother sister son mother grandfather grandmother grandson granddaughter uncle aunt nephew niece brother-in-law sister-in-law father-in-law mother-in-law son-in-law daughter-in-law cousin friend colleague former student relative relation unclear from same town/region n/a husband wife the victim lawyer child friends, family, and students great-nephew great-niece former schoolmate cousin once removed friend of relative boyfriend girlfriend friend of friend aunt-in-law acquaintance judge cousin-in-law nephew-in-law niece-in-law uncle-in-law former neighbor stepbrother stepsister stepfather stepmother stepdaughter stepson neighbor of relative detained together former teacher relative of friend relative of teacher sibling grandchild cousin twice removed trial attendee ex-wife great-uncle great-aunt in-law grandmother-in-law grandfather-in-law great-grandmother great-grandfather half-brother half-sister ex-husband direct third-party
Testimony 5: father daughter brother sister son mother grandfather grandmother grandson granddaughter uncle aunt nephew niece brother-in-law sister-in-law father-in-law mother-in-law son-in-law daughter-in-law cousin friend colleague former student relative relation unclear from same town/region n/a husband wife the victim lawyer child friends, family, and students great-nephew great-niece former schoolmate cousin once removed friend of relative boyfriend girlfriend friend of friend aunt-in-law acquaintance judge cousin-in-law nephew-in-law niece-in-law uncle-in-law former neighbor stepbrother stepsister stepfather stepmother stepdaughter stepson neighbor of relative detained together former teacher relative of friend relative of teacher sibling grandchild cousin twice removed trial attendee ex-wife great-uncle great-aunt in-law grandmother-in-law grandfather-in-law great-grandmother great-grandfather half-brother half-sister ex-husband direct third-party
Testimony 6: father daughter brother sister son mother grandfather grandmother grandson granddaughter uncle aunt nephew niece brother-in-law sister-in-law father-in-law mother-in-law son-in-law daughter-in-law cousin friend colleague former student relative relation unclear from same town/region n/a husband wife the victim lawyer child friends, family, and students great-nephew great-niece former schoolmate cousin once removed friend of relative boyfriend girlfriend friend of friend aunt-in-law acquaintance judge cousin-in-law nephew-in-law niece-in-law uncle-in-law former neighbor stepbrother stepsister stepfather stepmother stepdaughter stepson neighbor of relative detained together former teacher relative of friend relative of teacher sibling grandchild cousin twice removed trial attendee ex-wife great-uncle great-aunt in-law grandmother-in-law grandfather-in-law great-grandmother great-grandfather half-brother half-sister ex-husband direct third-party
Testimony 7: father daughter brother sister son mother grandfather grandmother grandson granddaughter uncle aunt nephew niece brother-in-law sister-in-law father-in-law mother-in-law son-in-law daughter-in-law cousin friend colleague former student relative relation unclear from same town/region n/a husband wife the victim lawyer child friends, family, and students great-nephew great-niece former schoolmate cousin once removed friend of relative boyfriend girlfriend friend of friend aunt-in-law acquaintance judge cousin-in-law nephew-in-law niece-in-law uncle-in-law former neighbor stepbrother stepsister stepfather stepmother stepdaughter stepson neighbor of relative detained together former teacher relative of friend relative of teacher sibling grandchild cousin twice removed trial attendee ex-wife great-uncle great-aunt in-law grandmother-in-law grandfather-in-law great-grandmother great-grandfather half-brother half-sister ex-husband direct third-party
Testimony 8: father daughter brother sister son mother grandfather grandmother grandson granddaughter uncle aunt nephew niece brother-in-law sister-in-law father-in-law mother-in-law son-in-law daughter-in-law cousin friend colleague former student relative relation unclear from same town/region n/a husband wife the victim lawyer child friends, family, and students great-nephew great-niece former schoolmate cousin once removed friend of relative boyfriend girlfriend friend of friend aunt-in-law acquaintance judge cousin-in-law nephew-in-law niece-in-law uncle-in-law former neighbor stepbrother stepsister stepfather stepmother stepdaughter stepson neighbor of relative detained together former teacher relative of friend relative of teacher sibling grandchild cousin twice removed trial attendee ex-wife great-uncle great-aunt in-law grandmother-in-law grandfather-in-law great-grandmother great-grandfather half-brother half-sister ex-husband direct third-party
Testimony 9: add father daughter brother sister son mother grandfather grandmother grandson granddaughter uncle aunt nephew niece brother-in-law sister-in-law father-in-law mother-in-law son-in-law daughter-in-law cousin friend colleague former student relative relation unclear from same town/region n/a husband wife the victim lawyer child friends, family, and students great-nephew great-niece former schoolmate cousin once removed friend of relative boyfriend girlfriend friend of friend aunt-in-law acquaintance judge cousin-in-law nephew-in-law niece-in-law uncle-in-law former neighbor stepbrother stepsister stepfather stepmother stepdaughter stepson neighbor of relative detained together former teacher relative of friend relative of teacher sibling grandchild cousin twice removed trial attendee ex-wife great-uncle great-aunt in-law grandmother-in-law grandfather-in-law great-grandmother great-grandfather half-brother half-sister ex-husband add add direct third-party

Update 

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about the victim

Aliyem Urayim is an Uyghur businesswoman from Ghulja and a mother of three, with her and her husband having divorced when the children were still very young. After the divorce, she first went into business and worked as a street vendor, selling perfume and makeup. Later, she would open a small store, before starting to travel to Kazakhstan (and other countries) for trade purposes.

Address: No. 22, No. 12 Alley, Behit Street, Ghulja City, Xinjiang (新疆伊宁市幸福街12巷22号). Aliye Ibrahim, Uyghur woman from Ghulja, 48 years old (as of February 2019). She is a businesswoman. She was doing business in between China and Kyrgyzstan/Kazakhstan. She went to haj to Saudi Arabia. She has a primary-school education.

Address: 12/22 Bahit Street, Ghulja.

Testimony 7: she is a mother of three. She and her husband divorced when the children were still very young. After the divorce, the victim started doing business, "first as a street vendor selling perfume and makeup, and later by opening a small store." The victim then started to travel between China and Kazakhstan for trade purposes. The victim reportedly "used to help those who wanted to apply for passports and visas to travel abroad."

current location

[Unclear, as sentenced.] unknown (Possibly in Ghulja)

chronology of detention(s)

She was taken to camp in February 2017, not long after going to see relatives in Turkey in late December 2016. After staying for a week or two in Turkey, she disappeared after returning to China in early January (with relatives abroad unable to contact her after her arrival in China).

At some point, she was given a 17-year, 10-month prison sentence, of which her son learned in April 2020. Testimony 1: Taken to camp in February 2016 (year probably mistaken)

Testimony 2: Taken to camp at the beginning of February 2017.

Testimony 3: She met up with the testifier and others in Turkey at the end of December 2016, stayed there for about a week (Testimony 7: two weeks), then went back to China in early January 2017 and disappeared. (Testimony 7: her relatives abroad were not able to contact her upon her arrival.)

Testimony 6: in April 2020, the testifier got news that the victim had been sentenced to 17 years and 10 months in prison.

suspected and/or official reason(s) for detention

Unknown, though the testifier does mention that she went on a pilgrimage to Mecca in the past.

The testifier also mentions that she used to help others apply for visas and passports [which could be a potential reason]. unknown

last reported status

Sentenced to 17 years and 10 months in prison.

A relative reportedly visited her in prison and saw that her health had deteriorated, with Aliyem asking for money to see a doctor. Unknown. Presumably still in camp.

Testimony 6: sentenced to 17 years, 10 months.

Testimony 7: The testifer heard indirectly from an unspecified source that "a relative" has visited the victim in prison. The victim's health has reportedly deteriorated. The victim reportedly asked for money to see a doctor. The testifier wants to send her money, but does not know who he can send it to.

how testifier(s) learned of victim's situation

From relatives, who told Eli and others that his mother was taken to camp (before themselves falling out of contact).

It's not stated how Eli learned of the prison sentence, though he does say that a relative had visited her there. Testimony 3: From relatives, who told Eli and others that his mother was taken to camp (before themselves falling out of contact).

Testimony 5: Eli contacted the Red Cross to ask for help, but was told by the organization that their staff in China told them not to inquire the victim's whereabouts as this could put her in more danger.

additional information

Eli says that he contacted the Red Cross to ask for help, but was told by the organization that their staff in China told them not to inquire the victim's whereabouts as this could put her in more danger.

Article about the victim in Living Otherwise: https://livingotherwise.com/2020/04/16/17-years-and-10-months-a-uyghur-son-learns-of-his-mothers-prison-sentence-%ef%bb%bf/ Living Otherwise article (Testimony 7): https://livingotherwise.com/2020/04/16/17-years-and-10-months-a-uyghur-son-learns-of-his-mothers-prison-sentence-%ef%bb%bf/

relatives

supplementary materials

entry created on: 2018-12-21

entry last modified on: 2021-01-14

last update from testifier(s): 2021-04-07