Heyrigul Niyaz was a businesswoman who studied in Turkey and set up her own travel agency after returning to China. In June 2017, she was disappeared, with there virtually no news of her since the arrest.

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testifying party

Testimony 1|2: Memet'eli Niyaz, originally from Toqsu, Aksu but now residing in Germany. (brother)

Testimony 3: Memet'eli Niyaz, as reported by Bitter Winter. (brother)

Testimony 4: Memet'eli Niyaz, as reported by Radio Free Asia Mandarin. (brother) 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: 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 

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about the victim

Heyrigul Niyaz completed her bachelor's degree in Russian studies. In 2011, she went to Turkey, and was awarded a Turkish government scholarship to complete her master's degree at Marmara University in Istanbul, Turkey, majoring in global business. At the end of 2015, she returned home and worked for a tourism company, organizing tours to Turkey, before starting her own travel agency in 2016. The latter was closed following a government order, after a person who had booked a tour to Europe did not return to China. Hayrigul Niyaz. Born on October 28, 1986 [Testimony 2: 1985]. Obtained Bachelor's from the Central Pedagogical University (Merkizi Pedagogiga Universiteti). She came to Turkey with a scholarship. She went to Istanbul Marmara University for Master's and majored in Global Business. At end of 2015, she went back home to contribute Uyghur society. She started a travel agent company.

Testimony 3: After returning to Xinjiang in 2015, the victim (Heyrigul Niyaz) first worked with a tourism company, before starting her own travel agency in 2016. The scholarship the victim was awarded was a Turkish government scholarship. The victim went to Turkey to complete her studies in 2011.

Testimony 4: She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Russian studies in China, then arrived to Turkey for her Master’s degree. She learned to speak Turkish and her grades in the university were exceptional. She was persuaded to return to China by her family (including the testifier). Upon returning, she started working in a tourism company, organizing tours to Turkey. She started her own tourism company in 2016. The company was closed on government orders after one person who had booked a tour to Europe did not return to China. Heyrigul was facing a debt of 100.000 yuan.

current location

[Presumably in Aksu.] Possibly in Toqsu County (Aksu)

chronology of detention(s)

Heyrigul was detained in Urumqi on June 2, 2017 and taken to her hometown in Toqsu. Detained in Urumqi on June 2, 2017 and taken to her hometown in Toqsu. No word of her since.

Testimony 2: detained at end of May.

suspected and/or official reason(s) for detention

Possibly for her having studied in Turkey. Testimony 3: It is speculated that her studies in Turkey were the reason for her arrest.

last reported status

Unclear; she is either in a re-education camp or given a prison sentence. Testimony 1: Either in re-education camp or sentenced for 8 years (Testimony 4: The testifier received this latter news from a stranger in a Whatsapp who introduced himself as someone being sent to tell the news by the testifier’s mother.)

Testimony 2: unclear if in camp or sentenced for 3 years or sentenced for 8 years

how testifier(s) learned of victim's situation

From relatives.

Memet'eli had been in contact with her until May 2017. From relatives

additional information

Radio Free Asia coverage: https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/zhuanlan/jieduxinjiang/xj-01172020101242.html

Bitter Winter coverage: https://bitterwinter.org/how-the-ccp-destroys-uyghur-families/

Amnesty International case info: https://xinjiang.amnesty.org/#case-SR003 He had contact with her until May, 2017. He does not know anything about his mother's condition.

Bitter Winter coverage (Testimony 3): https://bitterwinter.org/how-the-ccp-destroys-uyghur-families/

Radio Free Asia coverage (Testimony 4): https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/zhuanlan/jieduxinjiang/xj-01172020101242.html

relatives

supplementary materials

entry created on: 2018-11-23

entry last modified on: 2021-05-20

last update from testifier(s): 2021-04-07