Entry of 25205

Gulgine Tashmemet

古丽给娜·塔什麦麦提

65400219870917??E?

Age
32

Gender
F

Ethnicity
Uyghur

Profession
student

Likely place of origin
Ghulja City

Likely current location
Ili

Status
unclear (soft)

When problems started
Jan. 2018 - Mar. 2018

Detention reason (suspected | official)
related to going abroad | ---

Health status
---

Lists

   

Locality
(residence)

Baykocha Neighborhood, Ili River Road Neighborhood, Ghulja City, Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture
(伊犁哈萨克自治州伊宁市伊犁河路街道巴依阔恰社区)

2020-05-02

Gulgine Tashmemet, a student from Ghulja, had obtained a master's in computer science in Malaysia. She was set to study there for her doctorate degree, but disappeared in December 2017 during a trip home, before resurfacing in 2020.

consult raw version see edited version

testifying party (* direct submission)

Testimony 1|2|3*|7: Gulzire Tashmemet, originally from Ghulja but now residing in Germany. (sister)

Testimony 4: Anonymous, but with a verified identity.

Testimony 5|6: Amnesty International, a human rights organization. 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: 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

Gulgine Tashmemet is a student from Ghulja City. From 2010 to 2017, she studied at the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), obtaining a BS and an MS in computer science. She was set to commence her a doctorate degree there in January 2018. Most of her tuition was paid by her father, but she also taught classes on the weekends as a part-time job.

Address in Ghulja: 158 Ninth Alley, West Xinhua Road.

Chinese passport number: G33768927. 31 years old Malaysian university student between 2010 to 2017.
In December 2017 completed her Studies with excellent grades. In January 2018 was set to commence a doctorate degree. However on 26th of December 2017 returned to ghulja in xinjiang and has not been heard from since then.
2 or 3 days after arriving in Ghulja city she changed her profile picture on wechat to inform her sister Gulzira that she had arrived safely.
Then lost contact with her until a few weeks into January 2018 when again she changed her profile picture on wechat. The picture was frightening as it showed a dark room with a shadow figure in the background. From that photo I suspected that my sister was in trouble and this change in profile signaled that she may have been sent to the reducation camp as it was common during that time that people who came back from overseas was sent to these camps.
I was then advised that my sister had indeed been sent to a reeducation camp through a friend of mine who gave no other details and subsequently deleted me from her wechat.
Since January 2018 i have been investigating my sister Gulgina's whereabouts.
Gulgina was only in malaysia for her studies and never got involved in politics.
On the weekend she gave courses in legal studies to students for extra money to cover her expenses but most of all school fees was covered by her father.
She was an exceptional student completing her masters, PHD and then onto her Doctorate degree.
Gulgina planned to spend 1 month in Ghulja to visit her parents and family as she had missed them greatly.
Since end of December 2017 her whereabouts is not know and no news of her whereabouts has become available.

[direct submission from testifier (Testimony 3): گۈلگىنە تاشمەمەت ،1987.جى يىلى 9جى ئاينىڭ 17جى كۈنى غۇلجا شەھىرىدە تۇغۇلغان ،2010جى يىلىدىن 2017جى يىلىغىچە مالايسىيە تىخنىلوگىيە ئونۋىرسىتىدە كومپىتۇر ئىلمى كەسپىدە ماگىسترلىق ئونۋانىنى ئالغان ،2017جى يىلى 12جى ئاينىڭ 26جى كۈنى مالايسىيە كۇۋالامپۇردىن جوڭگو گواڭجوۋ ئۈرۈمچى غۇلجا بىلىتىنى ئىلىپ غۇلجىغا قايتقان پىتى ھازىرغىچە خەۋەرى يوق]

[according to info from a testimony event (Testimony 4) held in early 2019, her address in Ghulja is: Xinhua West Road, 9th alley, No. 158]

current location

In Ghulja. Re-education camp possible in Ghulja City

[direct submission from testifier: غۇلجا شەھىرىدە ]

chronology of detention(s)

Gulgine first ran into issues with the authorities when she went back to Ghulja in March 2017 to see her sick father. While there, she was made to sign a statement by the neighborhood police, promising that she would return to China after she finished her classes in Malaysia. She’d lose all connection with her parents if she didn't, and what they said to her was a direct threat: "If you don’t come back, it will be dangerous for your father." By that time, her father was already under suspicion because he had previously sent money to Gulzire in Germany. The police also collected Gulgine's blood samples and confiscated her passport for a month, prior to allowing her to return to Malaysia (for what would be her last time).

Gulgine's last trip to China was intended as a visit to her family prior to commencing a PhD in Malaysia. She flew there on December 26, 2017 (Kuala Lumpur to Guangzhou to Urumqi). A few days after arriving, she updated her WeChat picture as a sign that she was fine, but a few weeks into January she changed the background to one resembling a prison cell - a wall in a dark room with a shadow of a person. The testifier thus believes that she was detained sometime in January.

Afterwards, there was no news for years, until the victim suddenly called Gulgine in early May 2020. The video call, which lasted around 8 minutes, also included their parents, with Gulgine telling Gulzire that she was well and now working as an English teacher in the city's development zone (开发区). Gulgine says that everyone looked well, but that their father had lost his ability to speak. End of December 2017 or early January 2018

[direct submission from testifier: تەخمىنەن 2018جى يىلى 1جى ئايدا]

suspected and/or official reason(s) for detention

Possibly because she had studied abroad. Possibly because she had studied abroad

last reported status

Allegedly released and working as an English teacher, though the exact situation remains unclear.

The Xinjiang spokespeople have put this forth as the official version (https://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1187107.shtml), in reply to the PBS documentary where the victim's case was mentioned. China Daily has also released a propaganda video showing Gulgine "living normally" and teaching English. Last status is she is still in reeducation centre

Testimony 7: Gulgine suddenly called her sister in Germany in early May 2020, and they would talk for around 8 minutes, with Gulgine saying that she was now an English teacher in the city's development zone. Her parents were also present during the video call. Everyone looked fine, but the father had lost his ability to speak.

how testifier(s) learned of victim's situation

Gulzire learned of the detention through WeChat and through friends/neighbors in Ghulja.

She learned about Gulgine's alleged release from Gulgine herself, when the latter called her. She was informed by a friend on wechat that she was sent to reeducation camp but did not provide other details and subsequently was deleted by her friend on wechat.

[direct submission from testifier: غۇلجىدىكى خوشنا دوستۇم ئارقىلىق يەنى ئۈندىدار ئارقىلىق بىلدىم]

additional information

Amnesty International has previously issued an Urgent Action for Gulgine: https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/asa17/8644/2018/en/

Her story is also featured in the UHRP report on disappeared intellectuals: https://docs.uhrp.org/pdf/Detained-and-Disappeared-Intellectuals-Under-Assault-in-the-Uyghur-Homeland.pdf

She is also mentioned in the CECC report: https://www.cecc.gov/sites/chinacommission.house.gov/files/documents/CECC%20Pris%20List_20181011_1424.pdf Amnesty International has previously issued an Urgent Action for Gulgina (Testimony 6): https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/asa17/8644/2018/en/?fbclid=IwAR1TmVVUexb6mArscF_XV3rf8T2KW0FRJeLBw7718VtAkpwibr2c-LXEmXM

Additional info from UHRP report (summarized): At first, Gulgine went back to Ghulja in March 2017 because her father was sick. When she was there, the local police made her sign a statement saying that after she finished her classes in Malaysia, she would return to China. If she didn’t return, she’d lose all connection with her parents. The police were from the neighborhood. It was a direct threat. They said: ‘If you don’t come back, it will be dangerous for your father.’ Her father was under a cloud of suspicion because he had sent money to Gulzire in Germany. Also, the police collected blood samples from her and confiscated her passport for a month, after then she went back to Malaysia for the last time.

She is also mentioned in the CECC report: https://www.cecc.gov/sites/chinacommission.house.gov/files/documents/CECC%20Pris%20List_20181011_1424.pdf

relatives

      

Abdushukur Memetjan

Merhaba Abdushukur

relative (non-victim)

Dilmurat Abliz

relative (non-victim)

Nigare Abdushukur

Irpan Abdushukur

relative (non-victim)

relative (non-victim)

Gulgine Tashmemet

Raziye Dilmurat

supplementary materials

Student card (1)

Chinese passport

Student card (2)

Letter of recommendation

photo

entry created on: 2018-11-09

entry last modified on: 2020-05-09

last update from testifier(s): 2020-05-02