Mahire Yaqup is a single mother of three who worked as a teacher and an insurance saleswoman. After spending most of 2018 in camp, she was released but soon detained again, to be given 6.5 years for transferring money abroad 7 years before.

consult raw version see edited version

testifying party (* direct submission)

Testimony 1|2|5: Merhaba Yaqup, originally from Ghulja but now living in Australia. (sister)

Testimony 3: Nyrola Elima, as reported by Washington Post. (cousin)

Testimony 4: Merhaba Yaqup, as reported by Washington Post. (sister)

Testimony 6|8|14: Nyrola Elima, residing in Sweden. (cousin)

Testimony 7: Merhaba Yaqup, as reported by Amnesty International. (sister)

Testimony 9: Nyrola Elima, as reported by CNN. (cousin)

Testimony 10: Urumqi police records, as reported by Yael Grauer.

Testimony 11: Chinese Mission to the EU, China's official representative body in the European Union.

Testimony 12: XUAR People's Government Information Office, the formal body in charge of making official public statements to the outside world regarding events in Xinjiang.

Testimony 13*: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia, as reported by Nyrola Elima.

Testimony 15: Nyrola Elima, as reported by Amnesty International. (cousin) 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: 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 14: 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 15: 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 16: 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

Mahire Yaqup is a single mother of three. She worked as an insurance saleswoman for the Ili branch of China Life, did private business, and was also a part-time Mandarin teacher, teaching Mandarin to adults in a training center in Ghulja. She was also a tutor who taught English, Mandarin, and mathematics to primary school students.

Address: Ghulja City, Ili Prefecture.

Chinese passport: G38324942. Mahire Yaqup is a single mother of three. She worked as an insurance saleswoman for the Ili branch of China Life, and was also a part-time Mandarin teacher, teaching Mandarin to Uyghur students in a training center in Ghulja.

Address: Ghulja [presumably Ghulja City], Ili Prefecture.

Chinese passport: G38324942.

current location

Ili Women's Prison.

(Her correspondence address is given as 212 East Airport Street, Ghulja City, Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang (新疆伊犁哈萨克自治州伊宁市飞机场东街212号).) [Presumably in Ili.]

Testimony 5: in a detention center in Ghulja City.

Testimony 8: released [presumably at home].

Testimony 13: Her correspondence address is given as 212 East Airport Street, Ghulja City, Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang (新疆伊犁哈萨克自治州伊宁市飞机场东街212号). [This is the address of the Ili Women's Prison.]

chronology of detention(s)

Mahire underwent a police check in Urumqi on December 26, 2017, during which she was let go, but with the system reporting that she was a "person under surveillance having come to Urumqi" (来乌布控人员).

She was taken to a concentration camp in Ghulja at the beginning of March 2018, then released from camp in the December of the same year, at which point she called her sister abroad to tell her that she was fine, in addition to praising the Party. She disappeared again on April 9, 2019, being taken to the Ghulja City pre-trial detention center (伊宁市看守所).

Following pressure from the Australian authorities, the Chinese side gave an official reply in which they said that Mahire had been formally arrested in May 2019, on crimes that the testifier believes are made up. She was prosecuted in July 2019, and charged in January 2020 for "financing terrorist activities" (资助恐怖活动罪).

On September 4, 2020, she was released from police custody, but would be taken to the Ghulja People's Hospital without a reason the day after, with authorities warning Nyrola's parents to tell Nyrola to stop tweeting publicly about the case. There would be no news of Mahire for weeks.

When Nyrola tweeted about Mahire being taken to the hospital, her parents pleaded with her to stop (the police having shown up at their home soon after with printouts of Nyrola's tweets). She did, going silent for months. However, Mahire was later taken back to the detention center. Nyrola later reported that Mahire spent a total of 3 months in the hospital.

On December 12, 2020, she was sentenced to 6 years and 6 months in prison. Her savings have allegedly been confiscated as well. Taken to a concentration camp in Ghulja in March 2018, then released from camp in the December of the same year. She disappeared again in April 2019.

[WP report: her sister received a call from her in December 2018, in which she praised the Party and said she was fine. She was arrested again on May 15, 2019, and prosecuted in July. The authorities confiscated about 56,000 USD worth of Mayila's savings.]

Testimony 6: taken to camp on March 4, 2018 (Testimony 9: March 2). Taken to the Ghulja City Detention Center on April 9, 2019.

Testimony 7: Charged in January 2020 for "giving material support to terrorist activity" (资助恐怖活动罪).

Testimony 8: on September 4, 2020, her cousin in Sweden got news that she was released [presumably very recently].

Testimony 9: The day after her release (September 5), she was taken to the Ghulja People's Hospital. Authorities did not give a medical reason, but warned Nyrola's parents to tell Nyrola to stop tweeting publicly about the case. There would be no news of Mahire for weeks. When Nyrola tweeted about this, her parents pleaded with her to stop (the police having shown up to their home with printouts of Nyrola's tweets), which she did, going silent for months. However, Mahire was later taken back to the detention center. (Testimony 14: Nyrola reports that Mahire spent 3 months at the hospital.)

Testimony 12: sentenced to 6 years and 6 months on December 12, 2020.

Testimony 15: her savings have allegedly been confiscated as well.

suspected and/or official reason(s) for detention

In their report to the Washington Post, Mahire's sisters say that she was prosecuted for "funding terrorist activities", when in reality this money had been sent to Australia to help her relatives buy a house in Adelaide.

She was ultimately sentenced for "financing terrorist activities" and "illegal possession of extremist items". Unclear. Testifier says that the sole reason is her "being Uyghur".

[WP report: "Funding terrorist activities". In fact, Mahire sent money to her parents in Australia in three installments, the money was used to purchase a house in Adelaide.]

Testimony 12: sentenced for "financing terrorist activities" and "illegal possession of extremist items".

last reported status

In prison. [There is a high likelihood that she is subjected to forced labor at the Ili Women's Prison, as the Ili Yurun Commerce & Trade LLC (伊犁雨润商贸有限责任公司) is based there.]

According to her cousin, she looked pale and weak after her release in September 2020, and had lost a lot of weight. She had already been diagnosed with liver damage following her release from camp before that. Disappeared. [WP report: she appears to have been prosecuted, but the sentence is unclear.]

She was diagnosed with liver damage following her release from camp.

Testimony 8: she looked pale and weak after her release, and had lost a lot of weight. She is still not allowed to contact her parents and sister abroad.

how testifier(s) learned of victim's situation

Not completely clear how the details of the initial detention in camp or the later detention in custody became known, but her sister mentions having to appeal to the Australian government for help as contact with relatives in Xinjiang could not be established. Mahire was able to contact her relatives abroad after her initial release from camp, however.

Her cousin Nyrola was able to video chat with her after she was released from custody in 2020. Nyrola has also been able to contact her family.

Confirmation of her trial and sentencing were obtained from official government representatives. Not completely clear, but testifier mentions having to appeal to the Australian government for help as contact with relatives in Xinjiang could not be established.

Testimony 8: Nyrola has been in touch with her relatives and Mahire had a video call with her following release from custody.

Testimony 11-12: these are official government sources.

additional information

Her aunt, Gulbekrem Memtimin, and uncle, Qasim Tohti, were taking care of the three children (including the youngest, who was born prematurely) during Mahire's detention. All three are attending a Mandarin-language school.

The victim's story has been featured in the Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/for-chinas-embattled-uighurs-a-bank-transfer-abroad-can-become-a-terrorism-ordeal/2019/09/19/eb6a8b1e-c3dd-11e9-b5e4-54aa56d5b7ce_story.html

CNN feature: https://edition.cnn.com/2020/12/16/china/uyghurs-silenced-abroad-intl-dst-hnk/index.html

Amnesty International campaigns:
https://action.amnesty.org.au/act-now/help-free-mahira
https://www.amnesty.org.au/act-now/emailambassadormahira/

Amnesty International case info: https://xinjiang.amnesty.org/#case-SR002 WP report: Her aunt Gulbekrem Memtimin and uncle Hasim Tohti are taking care of Aliya's three children including the youngest one who was born prematurely. All three of them are attending a Mandarin-language school.

Featured in the Washington Post (Testimony 3-4): https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/for-chinas-embattled-uighurs-a-bank-transfer-abroad-can-become-a-terrorism-ordeal/2019/09/19/eb6a8b1e-c3dd-11e9-b5e4-54aa56d5b7ce_story.html

Amnesty International action (Testimony 7): https://action.amnesty.org.au/act-now/help-free-mahira

Amnesty International case info (Testimony 15): https://xinjiang.amnesty.org/#case-SR002

CNN feature (Testimony 9): https://edition.cnn.com/2020/12/16/china/uyghurs-silenced-abroad-intl-dst-hnk/index.html

Testimony 10: Mahire underwent a police check in Urumqi on December 26, 2017, during which she was let go, but with the system reporting that she was a "person under surveillance having come to Urumqi" (来乌布控人员).

official communication(s)

Source: XUAR People's Government Information Office

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Concerning the situation of Mahire Yaqup: Mahire Yaqup ("Mayila Yakufu" in Chinese) is from Ghulja City in Ili Prefecture. Her father, Yaqup Sabir, and mother, Bahar Memet'imin, are members of the "East Turkestan Liberation Organization". In June 2013, the public security organs had already informed her, in writing, that her father and mother were taking part in a terrorist organization abroad, and notified her that she should not send funds abroad to them. However, during the time period between July 2013 and December 2014, she still used her own, as well as her maternal aunt's and uncle's, bank cards to remit money to her parents on multiple occasions, with the sum accumulating to 758741RMB. The public security organs also found 192 religious extremist photos on her computer. On December 12, 2020, Mahire Yaqup was sentenced to 6 years and 6 months for the concurrent crimes of financing terrorist activities and illegal possession of extremist items.

Query hereby addressed.

Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region Information Office
June 8, 2021

relatives

places of detention

Ili Women's Prison Ghulja City Detention Center

police checks

2017-12-04
一切正常。
放行

supplementary materials

entry created on: 2019-10-25

entry last modified on: 2021-09-20

last update from testifier(s): 2021-10-05