consult raw version see edited version

testifying party

Testimony 1: Abduweli Ayup, a language activist, linguist, and writer, originally from Kashgar but now residing in Norway. (relation unclear)

Testimony 2: Rune Steenberg, an anthropologist from Denmark. (friend)

Testimony 3: Global Times, a daily tabloid that is closely linked to the People's Daily and is often known for loud, nationalistic views aligned with those of the Chinese Communist Party. 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: 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 

Name:    Description:    unverified verified    1 2 3 4 5    Add

about the victim

Tahir Talip was born in the Yamanyar Township of Kashgar's Yengisheher County. A lifelong poet with hundreds of published poems, he published his first at the age of 15, in the newspaper that he worked for at the time. He learned Mandarin as a young man and spent some time working as a translator for the local authorities. From 1978 until his retirement in 2003, he worked for the Kashgar Daily (Qeshqer Geziti), where he would become a senior editor.

Tahir was a prominent cultural figure, and his poems were often published in textbooks and read in schools. One of his best known poems is called "Chunki Men Hesiyatliq Hayat Adem" ("Because I'm a Living, Feeling Human Being").

He was a father of five - three sons and two daughters - three of whom were detained. Tahir Talip is a poet and senior editor of Kashgar Daily (Qeshqer Geziti) (1978-2003), born in Yamanyar Township of Kashgar's Yengisheher County. He was detained by the local authorities and whereabouts of the victim is still unknown.

His poems were often used in schools for Uyghur children as part of the curriculum. He learned Mandarin when he was young and was one of the best speakers of his generation, spending some time working as a translator for the local authorities. He's published 100s of poems, with the first published when he was 15 in the newspaper that he worked for at the time. One of his best known poems is called "Chunki men hesiyatliq hayat adem" (printed in many textbooks, read in schools). He was a very prominent cultural personality. He was a father of 5 (3 sons, 2 daughters).

current location

[Presumably in Kashgar.] [Presumably in Kashgar.]

chronology of detention(s)

Fell out of contact in August 2017, though it's not clear if he's been formally detained or just kept under close surveillance. Testimony 2: August 2017

Testimony 3: she appeared in a video posted by Global Times on February 1, 2021, where she is shown at home.

suspected and/or official reason(s) for detention

--- Unclear

last reported status

He does not appear to be in hard detention (having appeared in a Global Times propaganda short), but the exact restrictions he is subject to are unclear.

He had been struggling with heart disease for some time. Testimony 2: no real news since detention, and it's not clear where exactly he's being detained (and if he's in formal detention or under house arrest).

He's been struggling with heart disease for some time.

how testifier(s) learned of victim's situation

It is not clear how Abduweli Ayup learned about his disappearance or potential detention. Rune is well acquainted with the victim and his family (and presumably heard through mutual friends/acquaintances).

The Global Times is a state-media outlet with direct access to the victim. Testimony 1: not stated

Testimony 2: the testifier is well acquainted with the family.

Testimony 3: this is a state media outlet with direct access to the victim (putting her on camera).

additional information

The victim is included in the list of prominent detained Uyghurs, available at: shahit.biz/supp/list_003.pdf

He is also listed in the Uyghur Human Rights Project report about prominent disappeared Uyghurs: https://docs.uhrp.org/pdf/UHRP_Disappeared_Forever_.pdf UHRP report: https://docs.uhrp.org/pdf/UHRP_Disappeared_Forever_.pdf

This victim is included in the list of detained Uyghur intellectuals (Testimony 1), available at: shahit.biz/supp/list_003.pdf

relatives

supplementary materials

entry created on: 2018-12-23

entry last modified on: 2021-04-30

last update from testifier(s): 2021-02-01