Abdujelil Helil (Hajim), chairman (Testimony 7: vice chairman) of the Kashgar Prefectural Trade Association and one of the 4 wealthiest businessmen in Kashgar. He owns a firm that transports goods between China, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, as well as large tracts of property in Kashgar and Xinjiang’s capital Urumqi. A recent RFA report presents him as the founder and legal representative of Xinjiang Helil International Trading LLC.Abdujelil Helil (Hajim), chairman (Testimony 7: vice chairman) of the Kashgar Prefectural Trade Association and one of the 4 wealthiest businessmen in Kashgar. He owns a firm that transports goods between China, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, as well as large tracts of property in Kashgar and Xinjiang’s capital Urumqi. A recent RFA report presents him as the founder and legal representative of Xinjiang Helil International Trading LLC.
He was born in Kashgar City.
current location
Kashgar
chronology of detention(s)
CECC report: May 1, 2017
RFA report (Uyghur): According to the news, he was accused, by Kashgar Prefecture Intermediate Court and Xinjiang Autonomous Region People's Procuratorate Kashgar Branch, of having financially assisted in terrorist activity and he was arrested on the 6th of May 2017. Separately on the 18th of May 2017 and on the 28th of July 2018, there was open court session for him and he was fined 5 million Yuan and he was sentenced to 11 years temporary imprisonment on the charge of committing "financing the terrorist activities" crime. Also, his 80 million Yuan private property was confiscated. He rejected the court decision and he appointed a lawyer whose name is Liaoyong from Szechwan Law firm. On the 8th of January 2019, the previous court decision was invalidated but he hasn't been released yet. After he was arrested in May 2017, he was put in Qarlighach Binam Prison in Peyzawat County, Kashgar Prefecture. During this time, he was harshly interrogated and [possibly] physically tortured as to have been taken to hospital two times. Now he is allegedly in a very poor health condition that he cannot stand up and he was taken to Yiraq Sheriq Hospital in Kashgar city.
RFA report (English): Xinjiang High People’s Court has ruled that his previous ruling was conducted with “procedural errors” and has transferred the case to Kashgar Intermediate Court. Even though China’s Criminal Procedure Law states that in such cases the sentenced should be immediately released, Abdujelil is still in detention and has been transferred to Yuandong Hospital in Kashgar. He had already been treated in the hospital a few times due to his health’s deterioration in prison.
Testimony 6: According to an anonymous relative [of Abdujelil Helil], he was "sentenced to 14 years in prison in 2017 on terrorism charges for wiring money to a friend from Turkey to buy gifts for her daughter's wedding." After the anonymous relative spoke to RFA in 2019 about the imprisonment of Abdujelil Helil, Xinjiang authorities added the extra crime of "joining terrorist activities" to Abdujelil Helil's court case.
Testimony 7: arrested on March 13, 2017. Charged with "aiding terrorism" on 28 May 2017. His initial sentence was 14 years of imprisonment, a fine of 73,000,000 yuan and a fine against his company of 5,000,000 yuan.
Testimony 8: Abdujelil was retried in secret at Qalghach Binam Prison on 17 March 2021. The judgement was predetermined. He had two lawyers from Yafeng firm in Sichuan who were "only informed of the proceedings one week prior" and given "stacks of documents and evidence" with insufficient time for review. They requested that the trial be moved back by a week, but were denied. The lawyers had to admit Abdujelil was a "criminal" to participate in the trial, and were threatened by officials on multiple occasions. They were told that the trial "was a matter of 'national security' and that there would be 'no disputing the charges.'" The trial took two hours and the ruling was "suspended until a 'later date.'"
suspected and/or official reason(s) for detention
CECC: For "displaying signs of religious extremism". A local township security official interviewed by RFA said that "he had also undertaken 'unapproved, private hajj' pilgrimages and been involved with imams who were not sanctioned by the state."
In 2014, after a few days the Elishqu Incident, he and Secretary of Kashgar Prefecture (Chinese) visited Elishqu to show concern for the people. Later, with the oral permission of the authorities, Abdujelil Hajim offered 50 tones of coal to the locals on behalf of Kashgar Prefecture Trade Association and a letter RFA received highlights that this caused his detention.
Testimony 8: Abdujelil is now accused of meeting with the 'Camel Group' of ETIM in Kashgar in 2008 and 2009.
Testimony 8: The "aiding terrorists" charge was for transferring money to a woman in Urumqi whose husband was in Turkey, and the "membership in a terrorist organisation" charge was for meeting with the 'Camel Group' of ETIM in Kashgar in 2008 and 2009, based on 30 witness interviews. The witnesses include "several other inmates currently serving prison terms."
last reported status
CECC report: Sentenced to 18 years.
RFA: Charges dropped, but he remains in detention and in very poor health.
how testifier(s) learned of victim's situation
Testimony 1: It's not clear where Abdurahman Hesen knows this from (however, he is also a businessman from the same region).
Testimony 3-4: the sources hold police/government positions in the region.
Testimony 5: through official court documents.
Testimony 6: The anonymous relative provided VOA with a Chinese court document [not included in the article] that reportedly accused Abdujelil Helil of "materially aiding terrorist activities." In addition to the 14-year prison sentence, Abdujelil Helil also had all of his assets confiscated. In total, those assets were worth approcimately $11,000,000 [presumably USD].
Testimony 7: presumably from a mix of sources and previous investigations.
Testimony 8: not stated, though the sources cite "witness interviews".
Testimony 6: According to the anonymous relative, after Abdujelil Helil was detained, [sic] "16 of his relatives, including his wife, son and his business associates" were also taken to concentration camps.
Testimony 7: Li Ningping (Secretary of the Kashgar Prefectural Party Committee) insisted that Abdujelil remain in prison during the review of his case. Li led the review, which lasted "close to a year and a half", and led to more serious charges: "aiding terrorists" and "membership in a terrorist organization".
