Entry of 25205

Erkin Tursun

艾尔肯·吐尔逊

654101196804220556

Age
52

Gender
M

Ethnicity
Uyghur

Profession
media/journalism

Likely place of origin
Ghulja City

Likely current location
Ili

Status
sentenced (2018, 20 y)

When problems started
Jan. 2018 - Mar. 2018

Detention reason (suspected | official)
--- | "terrorism", "inciting ethnic hatred", assisting "criminals"

Health status
---

Lists

       

Locality
(residence)

Dong Mehelle Neighborhood, Dong Mehelle Subdistrict, Ghulja City, Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture
(伊犁哈萨克自治州伊宁市墩买里街道墩买里社区)

2021-02-07

Erkin Tursun is a journalist from Ghulja who worked for the Ili TV station for nearly 30 years. He has been sentenced to 19 years and 10 months for "inciting ethnic hatred" and "covering up criminals".

consult raw version see edited version

testifying party (* direct submission)

Testimony 1: Anonymous, as reported by Radio Free Asia Uyghur. (relation unclear)

Testimony 2*|6|7|8|9|11: Arafat Erkin, originally from Ghulja, but now living in the United States. (son)

Testimony 3: Abduweli Ayup, a language activist, linguist, and writer, originally from Kashgar but now residing in Norway. (relation unclear)

Testimony 4: Arafat Erkin, as reported by Time. (son)

Testimony 5: UN Human Rights Council, the human rights body of the United Nations.

Testimony 10: Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, one of the thematic special procedures overseen by the United Nations Human Rights Council.

Testimony 12*: Arafat Erkin, as reported by Gene A. Bunin. (son) 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: 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 10: 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 11: 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 12: 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 13: 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

Erkin Tursun is a journalist from Ghulja who had worked for the Ili TV station for almost 30 years.

After obtaining his undergraduate degree from the history department at Xinjiang University, he would start his career working as a middle school history teacher, where he would organize a number of after-school activities for the kids. In the early 90s, he put together an art troupe named "Arzu" ("Hope"), which consisted of singers, comedians, dancers, and actors and would put on public shows all around Xinjiang. In the middle of the 90s, he started to work for the Ili TV station, while also opening and running a school - the Ili Children's Training Center ("Ili yash-osmurlerni terbiyelesh merkizi") - which offered after-school instruction in dancing, singing, boxing, language, science, journalism, and announcing (the boxing classes would eventually be cancelled by the government). The school would last until around 2013, before being incorporated into the regional government children's training center (伊宁市青少年活动中心), where Erkin would be responsible for the center's Uyghur portion. The school would win many national and even international performance awards over its ~20-year history. The school's journalism course would also continue for some time, making trips around Xinjiang and some of the more developed cities in inner China - including Beijing in the early 2000s - and occasionally meeting with high-profile politicians.

Erkin has received several regional and national awards for the different programs that he's produced, with the government praising some of his work as being beneficial to children and the community at large. One film that he has produced has looked at the social problems facing Uyghurs, such as drug use and a high divorce rate. He was also a host and director of a popular children's TV show, "Umidliq Kozler" ("Hopeful Eyes"), airing on the Ili TV station (actually, this show is still on air, despite Erkin's arrest). He has directed a number of movies, children's songs, musical dramas, and documentaries (e.g., "Chin Tomur Batur", "Sirlik Ongkur", "Rehimsiz Chush", "Tutunge Aylanghan Muhebbet").

The government also listed him as one of the top 10 people in journalism in Ili for 2017: http://archive.is/c3Lvc. According to his son, there is also a mall in Ghulja City that was named by Erkin. Erkin Tursun, 50 years old, worked for almost 30 years as a journalist at Ili Television Station, "during which time he produced more than 10 programs that received regional and national awards". Speaks fluent Chinese. Formerly praised by the governement for his work to the benefits of the children and the community. Has directed a movie about the social problems facing Uyghurs, such as drug use and the high divorce rate. Former host of a popular children’s television show, the “Hopeful Eyes”, aired on the official Ili Television Station.

[additional from Testifier 2: He was bron inGhulja(伊宁) . He is fluent in Mandarin. Graduated from History faculty of Xinjiang University, he first worked as a teacher in a middle school. while working as history teacher, he organized many children events for after school activity. In early 1990s , he organized an art ensemble(senet omiki) called "Arzu" consists of singers,comedian, dancers and actors made public shows all around "Xinjiang" that have Drama, songs, dance and comedy. In mid 90s, he was invited and hired for Yili TV , at the same time he also opened up a school called " Ili Yahs osmurlerni Terbiyelesh merkizi"(Ili childre-youth training center), which has wide range of after class courses like dancing,singing,boxing,language, science, journalism and announcer. (though boxing courses got canceled by govenrment). The school lasted until around 2013s and later incorporated with regional Government youth -children center called "伊宁市青少年活动中心“ and he worked there as director（or similar position） responsible for “ Uyghur part ”of the center. During this around 15-20 year history of school, they won many national even international awards in dancing and in other contests. The journalism course for kids continued ever year, making the trips all over Xinjiang and some developed cities of China , even made to Beijing in early 200s ,meeting with "Ismayil ahat " or "seypidin eziz" or someonelese.(forgot which one , but a very high position politician ). After started to work in Ili TV, he named and directed a kids show called "Hopeful eyes"(Umutluk Kozler) , which is still continuing if they they haven't cancel the program after he got arrested. He also directed few movies, kids songs, Musical dramas and documentaries etc(for example, "Qin Tomur Batur", "Sirlik Ongkur", "Rehimsiz Chush", " Tutunge aylanghan muhebbet",etc ).

He was listed as 10 best journalism workers of Yili by government in 2017. (http://www.ylxw.com.cn/2017/1102/117541.shtml)]

[Testimony 12: the family's residence was in the Dong Mehelle neighborhood.]

current location

His son believes that it's very possible that he's currently being held in Kunes Prison (新源监狱). Very possibly in the Kunes jail. (see additional info below)

chronology of detention(s)

Before Arafat went to China, his family received a notice from the Ghulja City police, ordering them to hand in all their passports. (Arafat did not, and left for the U.S. soon after.)

Erkin was taken by police on March 5, 2018 and later sentenced. However, communications with his son had already become coded in the years leading up to the arrest, with Erkin occasionally praising the Communist Party in their phone calls.

According to the official confirmation from the Chinese government, he was sentenced on May 5, 2018. Communications with his son became coded in the years leading up to the arrest, and he would occasionally praise the Communist Party in their phone calls.

Taken by the police on March 5, 2018 and then sentenced to 7-11 years.

suspected and/or official reason(s) for detention

The real reason is unclear. His son suspects that it was either his profession (journalism) or the fact that his son was studying abroad.

According to one Chinese state media report, Erkin was sentenced for terrorism. A week later, another said that he was in prison for "inciting hatred and discrimination among different ethnic groups and covering up criminals". The latter was echoed in an official response to the UN's Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, which said that Erkin had been sentenced for "harboring criminal and inciting national enmity or discrimination". According to RFA: "Was targeted for producing a program that detailed the financial struggles of three young students" (“The World is Beautiful and Filled With Love and Care”)

However, as clarified by his son (see additional information below), this is very unlikely the reason. A more likely reason is that he was a journalist or the fact that his son was studying abroad.

last reported status

Sentenced to 19 years and 10 months, with two years of deprivation of political rights. Testimony 2: in prison, sentenced to 9 years

Testimony 10: According to the CCP’s official response to the United Nations’ Report on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, Erkin Tursun was sentenced to 19 years and 10 months in prison, with a 2-year deprivation of political rights for ‘harboring criminal’ and ‘inciting national hatred’.

how testifier(s) learned of victim's situation

Arafat heard it from a friend in Kazakhstan.

That the victim has been sentenced was later confirmed by Chinese state-media reports and official communications through the UN. Report from RFA (Testimony 1): https://www.rfa.org/english/news/uyghur/host-10222018151844.html

UHRP report: https://docs.uhrp.org/pdf/Detained-and-Disappeared-Intellectuals-Under-Assault-in-the-Uyghur-Homeland.pdf

additional information

Erkin Tursun has been featured in several victims' lists, with his case and his son's campaigning covered in different media reports.

Abduweli Ayup's list of detained prominent Uyghurs: shahit.biz/supp/list_003.pdf

The Committee to Protect Journalists's list of 48 imprisoned journalists in China: https://cpj.org/data/people/erkin-tursun/index.php

Coverage in Time magazine: https://time.com/5598045/china-tiananmen-uighur-immigration/

Coverage in the New Statesman: https://www.newstatesman.com/world/asia/2019/08/chinas-missing-million-search-disappeared-uyghurs

RFA report: https://www.rfa.org/english/news/uyghur/host-10222018151844.html

UHRP report: https://docs.uhrp.org/pdf/Detained-and-Disappeared-Intellectuals-Under-Assault-in-the-Uyghur-Homeland.pdf

HRC report: https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Disappearances/A_HRC_WGEID_118_1_Advance.pdf

Amnesty International case info: https://xinjiang.amnesty.org/#case-SR005

The victim's son, Arafat (Alfred) Erkin, was also mentioned by U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo in a statement regarding the intimidation of Uyghurs abroad: https://www.state.gov/harassment-of-the-family-members-of-uighur-activists-and-survivors-in-xinjiang-china/

Chinese media have responded to Pompeo’s remarks (http://archive.is/hK2X0), claiming that Arafat Erkin is a member of the World Uyghur Congress and that his father had been sentenced for terrorist actitivities while his mother and siblings were living a peaceful life. His mother was also quoted as begging Arafat to leave the World Uyghur Congress. Clarification from victim's son regarding error in published RFA report [added by G. A. Bunin]:

"RFA made a investigation about how and where he got arrested . After their investigation ended, I provided them some info about my father's past , But for the reason of his detainment, they put down something totally irrelevant from the info I provided about his past by saying its because of producing a program that detailed the financial struggles of three young student. The program was actually aired on TV and won some national and regional awards at that time. Even thought there were some problems before and after airing of the show, but its totally irrelevant and those kind of things are pretty "normal " things as he encountered many many times during his professional career.
The reason authorities used to arrest and sentence him is still unclear, that might be because he is journalist so they thought he knows a lot ,or might be me , as his son studying abroad or maybe some other reasons. but one thing I am pretty sure is that the show about three students has nothing to do with this. So in short, the "reason " part I think need to be corrected a little bit . And about his location I think very possibly he might be in Kunes Turme (新源监狱) . The exact date of his detainment was March 5,2018."

This victim is included in the list of detained Uyghur intellectuals, available at (Testimony 3): shahit.biz/supp/list_003.pdf

[additional from Testifier 2: he is now listed among 48 imprisoned journalists in China by committee to protect journalists (https://cpj.org/data/people/erkin-tursun/index.php)]

[covered in Time (Testimony 4): https://time.com/5598045/china-tiananmen-uighur-immigration/]

HRC report (Testimony 5): https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Disappearances/A_HRC_WGEID_118_1_Advance.pdf

Chinese media have responded to Pompeo’s remarks (http://archive.is/hK2X0), claiming that Arafat Erkin is a member of the World Uyghur Congress and that his father had been sentenced for terrorist actitivities while his mother and siblings were living a peaceful life. His mother was also quoted as begging Arafat to leave the World Uyghur Congress.

Furthermore, a Global Times report published on November 11, 2019 (https://archive.vn/rOpoZ) claimed that Erkin Tursun was in prison for “inciting hatred and discrimination among different ethnic groups and covering up criminals”.

Testimony 8: Before Arafat went to China, his family received a notice from Yining city police, ordering them to give away all their passports. Arafat did not give the passport away and left for the U.S. soon after.

official communication(s)

Source: United Nations Human Rights Council

----------

Report on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances

Session: 119

INFORMATION FROM GOVERNMENT

The Government reported that:

Aierken Tuerxun, male, journalist of Yi-Li TV Station, ID no. 654101196804220556, registered permanent residence in Yining City, Yili Zhou. On 5 May 2018, he was sentenced to 19 years and 10 months' of imprisonment and 2 years of deprivation of political rights for harboring criminal and inciting national enmity or discrimination.

state-media report(s)

Source: http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1170249.shtml

RELATIVES OF SO-CALLED UYGHUR ACTIVISTS SLAM POMPEO'S DETENTION CLAIM

By Liu Xin and Fan Lingzhi in Yining

Source: Global Times

Published: 2019/11/17

Northwest China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region released a statement on November 9 refuting US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's remarks that claimed the so-called Uyghur activists' family members are detained in Xinjiang.

Pompeo issued a statement on November 5, titled "Harassment of the Family Members of Uyghur Activists and Survivors in Xinjiang, China," claiming that family members of the so-called activists Furkhat Jawdat, Alapat Arkin, Zumrat Dawut have been subject to harassment, imprisonment, and arbitrary detention.

The Xinjiang statement said what Pompeo stated "is simply not the case." The fact is the relatives of the names mentioned live and work normally in Xinjiang, and they are ashamed of the scum among their families.

The Global Times reporters visited the relatives of Furkhat Jawdat, Alapat Arkin, Zumrat Dawut in Urumqi and Yining and recognized that what Pompeo said is not consistent with the truth. No family members of the three people have been mistreated and they lead a normal life with numerous assistance from the residential community.

NO MORE LIES

Zumrat attracted Pompeo's attention for her accusation that she made overseas against the Chinese government's Xinjiang policy. The Global Times reporters learned from Xinjiang authorities that before going abroad, Zumrat, 37, lived in Urumqi. She married a Pakistani national in November 2013. On January 3, the couple together with their three children went to Pakistan and later to the US.

The November 5 statement was not the first time Pompeo mentioned about Zumrat.

On October 2, Pompeo said in a meeting in Vatican that he listened to Zumrat's story and learned that she was summoned to the public security bureau in Xinjiang in April and was sent to a "concentration camp." Pompeo claimed that during her stay there, she was injected with some drugs.

A report on the Chicago Tribune on September 28 noted that Zumrat was forcefully sterilized.

Abduhelil Dawut, one of Zumrat's elder brothers spoke through a video about a month back to quash the rumors, saying "these are outright lies." In the video urging Pompeo to stop disturbing their peaceful lives, he said, "Respect the facts and do not make use of my sister Zumrat Dawut to make up lies."

The Global Times reporter visited Abduhelil, who lives in Urumqi. Abduhelil and his wife now work for a residential community in the city. The interior of their house and the cleanliness suggests that residents live a good life there.

Abduhelil told the Global Times his sister has never been to a vocational education and training center and "when delivering the third child, she was found to have fibroid and later had a surgery."

Abduhelil released a video on October 13 to refute Pompeo's remarks on her sister. Zumrat recently wrote on an overseas social media platform that the Chinese government spread rumors on her uterus being removed. However, no one has mentioned about anything on this.

The whole family was against Zumrat's marriage but Zumrat "was stubborn."

The relations between Zumrat and the other family members were "strained" after that. Abduhelil said, "She treated our father well when she was in a good mood, but when my father said something she did not like, she would slam the door and refrain from speaking to him for a year."

In 2018, Zumrat, her husband and the three children went to Pakistan and never came back. She finally went to the US without informing the family members, including their father.

Their father died of a heart disease last month. Abduhelil had a video chat with Zumrat and "I told her to stop spreading rumors and retract the lies she peddled online previously. She cried and said yes. But later, she continued peddling lies online."

Pompeo claimed that Zumrat's father, who was reportedly "detained and interrogated multiple times by Chinese authorities in Xinjiang in recent years, recently passed away under unknown circumstances."

However, Abduhelil told the Global Times that their father lived a normal life with them, and had neither been "interrogated" nor "detained."

After suffering from serious heart diseases, he died at the age of 80 at a hospital in October 2019 after medical treatment was exhausted. While he stayed at hospital, his relatives looked after him.

The death certificate of Zumrat's father mentioned the cause of death as "coronary heart disease."

Erkin Dawut is one of Zumrat's elder brothers. He was the one who signed his father's death certificate. He thought his father's physical conditions worsened partly because he missed Zumrat very much.

Erkin did not want to talk to Zumrat since "she always uttered lies since childhood."

"She is the youngest one among us. She was my father's favorite. My father grieved as she left without telling him," he told the Global Times.

Erkin was visibly in tears, as he recalled their father. "I keep my father's phone number and hope that he could call me like before," he said.

NOT TO BE MANIPULATED

Pompeo also mentioned about Furkhat Jawdat and Alapat Arkin, claiming that Alapat's mother was also put in the "concentration camp" since 2017 and his father was imprisoned in March 2018.

After meeting with Pompeo on Mar 26, 2019, Furkhat Jawdat claimed his mother was moved to a prison from a vocational education & training center.

The Global Times reporters learned from authorities in Xinjiang that Alapat and Furkhat were born in Yining. Alapat went to the US in 2015 and then joined the infamous violent terrorist and separatist organization "World Uygur Congress."

Furkhat went to the US in 2011 and later became a member of the "World Uygur Congress." Furkhat's father, brother and two sisters have obtained green cards in the US.

The Global Times reporters met with Alapat's mother who currently lives with Alapat's grandmother in Yining.

Gulnar Talat, Alapat's mother, told the Global Times that she lives a normal life and is not under detention. She plans to get medical treatment in Urumqi.

She said she wants to tell Alapat that "you should not be influenced by your father or take part in something bad. You should not be manipulated by others."

"Do not believe those who have ulterior motives. We live a good life. You were born and grew up in China. Thanks to the development of the country, you have the opportunity to study overseas. Hope you can study hard in the US and come back to contribute to the country."

The Global Times reporters learned that Alapat's father Erkin Tursun is in prison for inciting hatred and discrimination among different ethnic groups and covering up criminals.

Alapat's deeds worried his relatives. Alapat's uncle Asat Talat hoped to tell his nephew that his father was imprisoned for breaching the laws. "You should neither believe in rumors nor spread it. We sent you abroad to study and to honor the country. Not for something bad," Asat said.

Pompeo also noted about Furkhat’s mother in his November 5 statement. Apart from Alapat, Furkhat's father, a younger brother and his two sisters, all live in the US now.

His mother failed to obtain her visa and now lives in their house in Yining.

Munawar Tursun, the mother, told the Global Times that she talks to her son almost every day. She pointed to a TV set in their house that her son bought online and was delivered to the house days earlier.

Furkhat did not admit that he is a member of the "World Uygur Congress." But he defended the organization on overseas social media and participated in its activities.

Munawar told the Global Times that she knows nothing about what her son has done overseas and persuaded him not to get involved in any illegal activities. "I told him, if he wants me to go abroad, it must be via legal means and that he must not engage in illegal activities."

Munawar believes Rebiya Kadeer, a separatist from Xinjiang, is a scum among the Uyghurs.

Furkhat claimed that the Chinese government harasses Muslim families in Xinjiang and they went abroad to seek asylum.

However, according to Munawar, Furkhat's father went to work in the US in 2006 and the children went to the US one after another within the next five years.

Furkhat's uncle Enwar Tursun told the Global Times that he used to be against all the children going to the US since Furkhat had good academic records and would have had a better future if he stayed in China and he can also take good care of his mother.

"Furkhat, you are a smart boy. What you are doing is wrong. You will regret it!" Enwar said, insisting that the "World Uygur Congress" is a separatist organization. "As for Pompeo, I think he took advantage of my nephew, which is ignominious."

RECEIVING HELP

In order to rally support from the overseas separatist groups, Zumrat, Alapat, and Furkhat distorted the truth and played victims. Separatists from China's Xinjiang share a common interest in hyping Xinjiang issues. "Detention" or "oppression" are the words usually mentioned by them.

The Global Times reporters did not find any oppression or detention of their relatives. Instead, family members of these so-called Uyghur activists are taken good care by the local residential communities.

Alapat's mother Gulnar Talat told the Global Times that she was in hospital in Urumqi due to some ailment in her spine. Colleagues and head of the kindergarten where Gulnar works for, visited her and donated 2,000 yuan toward her treatment.

The Yining educational bureau also allowed her to take a long vacation so that she could fully recover.

Furkhat's mother Munawar has become "the relative" of Zhang Liping, secretary of the residential community, who has taken a good care of Munawar.

Munawar has no job or earnings aside from the governmental subsidiaries.

In September, there was something wrong with the water pipes in Munawar's house. Munawar also owed 500 yuan in water fees. Zhang paid that amount herself to help Munawar with the water fees.

"My monthly salary is around 3,000 yuan. I treat her as my family member and would not hesitate to help her," Zhang told the Global Times.

Zhang lost her 25-year-old son in 2017, while Munawar's children are far away in the US. The common emotion of parental love toward their children brings Zhang and Munawar together.

Zhang said she once saw Munawar shed tears while talking about her son. She comforted her by sharing the sorrow of losing her son.

"I often say to Munawar that I envy her because she can see her children via video chat. But I can only see the tomb of my son," Zhang said.

"There are many senior residents in my residential community. They comforted me and helped me get over my pang. As grassroots public servants, we need to devote our heart in helping the residents. The senior residents here also like me and greet me whenever we meet. This makes me happy," Zhang said.

photos before/after detention

relatives

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relative (non-victim)

relative (non-victim)

relative (non-victim)

relative (non-victim)

relative (non-victim)

Abdushukur Abliz

Turmemet Nurmemet

Erkin Tursun

Gulnar Telet

Gulchekre Telet

Eset Telet

Halide Zordon

Gheni Abdushukur

Gulzar Nizamidin

Halit Abdushukur

Hebibulla Tohti

Mewjudem Abdushukur

Ilzat Gheni

supplementary materials

photo with kids

award photo

photo (1)

photo (2)

photo (3)

entry created on: 2018-10-24

entry last modified on: 2020-09-07

last update from testifier(s): 2021-02-07