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testifying party (* direct submission)

Testimony 1|2*|3|4|5: Memet'eli Niyaz, originally from Toqsu, Aksu but now residing in Germany. (brother)

Testimony 6: Urumqi police records, as reported by Yael Grauer. 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

Yaqup Niyaz worked as a businessman, doing business in Toqsu and Kucha.

The testifier mentions that he had a good mastery of Mandarin, as well as a stable income. Yakup Niyaz, born on February 20, 1981.

He is a businessman. He does business in Toksu and Kucha and his Chinese language is very good and has quite stable income.

current location

Previously in a camp in Toqsu County, but unclear where he is now [presumably still in Aksu Prefecture]. Previously in a camp in Toqsu County, but unclear where now [presumably still in Aksu].

chronology of detention(s)

Detained in the beginning of June 2017.

More recently, as of October 2019, Yaqup made contact with his brother via WeChat, saying that he was "out", doing his business, and that the family was well [presumably referring to his similarly detained wife and to his children]. Memet'eli, his brother, did not believe him and asked for a video chat, but Yaqup refused. Later, Memet'eli learned that he was in closed area, talking under supervision.

After two or three weeks of their initial monitored WhatsApp conversation, Memet'eli learned from Yaqup that he was with a team, sent by high-level authorities. Yaqup said that they were really good and they wanted to be friends with Memet'eli. Memet'eli talked to them. They wanted him to be "their ears" in Germany, but Memet'eli refused. Then Yaqup disappeared again.

In 2020, he made another attempt to "recruit" Memet'eli, contacting him with their mother present and saying that he should talk to a certain "guy" on WeChat, and that this would allow Memet'eli to be in touch with his family in the future. Memet'eli initially said "yes", but then decided to break off contact. Early June of 2017.

suspected and/or official reason(s) for detention

Unclear. Unclear

last reported status

His current status is not clear.

Despite Yaqup's insistence that he is free, his online messages are still monitored, and he has since "disappeared again" from online communication.

It also appears that he is being used by the state to get Memet'eli to report on the Uyghurs in Germany. Previously in camp.

Testimony 4: Recently, the victim and the testifier contacted via Wechat and Yaqup said that he is outside, doing his business, all of them are very well. But Memeteli didn't believe him and asked him to have a vidoe chat, but Yaqup refuses. Then Memeteli learned that he was in closed area and was talking to him under supervision. After two or three weeks, he leanred from his brother that he was with some a team that is sent by high leveled authoriries and his brother said that they were really good and they wanted to make friends with Memeteli. Memeteli talked to them and came to know that they wanted him to be their ears in Germany and Memeteli refused. Then Yaqup disappeared again.

Testimony 5: The Chinese government apparently made another attempt to coerce the testifier into spying for them in 2020; the victim "arranged a video call" with their mother, and this was the first time the testifier had seen his mother in approximately 3 years. [It sounds as though the video call included both the victim and their mother.] At the end of the 2020 video call that included their mother, the victim said that the testifier needed to add "a guy" on WeChat and keep in contact with that "guy" to ensure that the victim could arrange another video call with their mother and potentially other family members in the future. At the time, the testifier said "yes" [presumably an emotional response to seeing his mother after 3 years -- he mentions the emotional reaction in the video], but due to security problems and concern for the safety of his family, the testifier ultimately decided to delete WeChat from his phone and [from that point onwards], did not answer any calls from unknown numbers. In short, the testifier broke off contact. This was the last point of contact between the victim and the testifier. The testifier is still not sure whether the victim is in jail, in a concentration camp, or if he has been released, but believes that the victim is still not free and could still be in detention.

how testifier(s) learned of victim's situation

From relatives.

Later, he and the victim made direct contact (as mentioned above). From relatives.

additional information

Yaqup's wife was also taken to camp. It is not clear what happened to the kids. He does not know anything about his mother's condition.

Testimony 3: his wife is also in camp, and it's not clear what's happened to the kids.

relatives

supplementary materials

entry created on: 2018-11-23

entry last modified on: 2021-01-23

last update from testifier(s): 2020-10-24