consult raw version see edited version

testifying party (* direct submission)

Testimony 1*: Anonymous, as reported by AidET. (relation unclear)

Testimony 2|3|4|5: Zulhayat Yarmemet, originally from Ghulja but now residing in the United States. (sister)

Testimony 6: Anonymous, as reported by Amnesty International. (relative) 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: 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

Otkur Yarmemet finished high school and went to study in Turkey, where he did 2 years of preparatory language courses and was then admitted to the marketing program at Kastamonu University. In 2016, he returned to China to take care of his aging parents and to help run the family shop that was opened by his father. He also worked hard to help expand the business. It was around this time that he got engaged.

Address: No. 9 10th Alley, Aydun Street (阿依墩街), Ghulja City.

Passport no: G38339162. Otkur Yarmemet (吾提库尔·亚尔买买提). DOB: July 25, 1990. Owns a family business. ID issued on March 24, 2010.

After graduating from high school, he went to Turkey to study, doing 2 years of language courses and then being admitted to Kastamonu University to study marketing (testifier says "advertisement"). He returned to China in 2016 to take care of his aging parents and to help run the family shop opened by his father, as well as to expand it. He also got engaged during this time.

Address: Aidun Street (阿依墩街), 10th Alley, No. 9 (in Yining City)

Passport no: G38339162.

current location

A prison in Dadamtu Municipality [this is presumably the Qarabura Prison just north of Ghulja City proper, as this is in Dadamtu]. [not clear, as he's been jailed, and his family doesn't know where he is]

Testimony 6: A prison in Dadamtu Municipality [this is presumably the Qarabura Prison just north of Ghulja City proper, as this is in Dadamtu].

chronology of detention(s)

He was taken by state security personnel from home at night in April 2017. His parents were told that he was being held at a "re-education" camp, but for a year they did not know where exactly. Originally, the family was told that Otkur was being taken away for 15 days, but then the authorities said that he would need 3 months. According to the base testimony, he was released for a day in July 2017 but then detained again.

In March 2018, Zulhayat's father was taken away as well (he was only released recently, as of October 2019), and a few days after this the mother was told that Otkur was going to be sentenced to 10 years. The first (anonymous) testimony says that Otkur himself called and said that he was in prison [this is slightly confusing]. State security personnel arrested him at night in April 2017. (Testimony 5: he was taken from home.)

Testimony 3: his parents were told that he was being held in a "re-education" camp, but for a year they did not know where exactly he was. In March 2018, the testifier's father was taken away as well (he was only released recently, as of October 2019), and a few days after that the mother was told that Otkur was going to be sentenced to 10 years.

Testimony 4: parents were neither allowed to attend the trial nor did they receive official court confirmation about his crime.

suspected and/or official reason(s) for detention

Not clear, but Zulhayat suspects it is because Otkur had studied in Turkey. Testimony 2: testifier seems to believe that it was because Otkur had studied in Turkey.

last reported status

Believed to be serving a 10-year sentence.

In February 2021, his mother was able to video-call him, and said that he looked "gaunt and unrecognizable". The family was initially told by the police that Otkur will only spend 15 days in the camp. Later they said he needs 3 months. He was released for one day in July 2017 and then detained again. The family says they received a call from him and learned that he is in prison.

Testimony 6: In February 2021, his mother was able to video call him, and said he looked "gaunt and unrecognizable".

how testifier(s) learned of victim's situation

Zulhayat does not explicitly state exactly how she learned all this, but from her testimony it is apparent that she is able to stay in touch with her parents. Testimony 1: Info from a testimony document

additional information

Amnesty International case info: https://xinjiang.amnesty.org/#case-SR034

Zulhayat adds that her mother was not allowed to attend Otkur's trial and that no official confirmation of the verdict was ever received. Testimony 3: the testifier's mother was not allowed to attend Otkur's trial and no official confirmation of the verdict was ever received.

Amnesty International case info (Testimony 6): https://xinjiang.amnesty.org/#case-SR034

places of detention

Qarabura Prison

supplementary materials

entry created on: 2019-07-05

entry last modified on: 2021-12-06

last update from testifier(s): 2021-05-01