Lawyers Cite Procedural Violations, Await Decision on Appeal in Ilham Tohti Case

November 17, 2014

On September 23, 2014, a court in Urumqi city, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) sentenced Uyghur scholar Ilham Tohti to life in prison on the charge of “separatism.” After the verdict, Chinese state media released a detailed written account and a video segment featuring material prosecutors presented as evidence during Tohti’s trial. On October 1, Tohti’s lawyers submitted an appeal on his behalf. Tohti’s lawyers have stated that authorities failed to abide by due process of law in their handling of the case, including by trying the case in Urumqi and refusing to call any of the witnesses the defense had requested to testify at Tohti’s trial. In addition, Tohti’s family expressed apprehension about his health and one of Tohti’s lawyers expressed concern that Tohti’s students, detained around the same time in January 2014, may be tried in secret. 

Tohti’s Trial, Verdict, and Appeal

On September 23, 2014, the Urumqi Intermediate People’s Court convicted Uyghur scholar Ilham Tohti to life in prison on the charge of “separatism,”[1] a crime falling under the category of “endangering state security.”[2] Tohti, a professor at Minzu University in Beijing and founder of the Web site Uyghur Online (https://www.uighurbiz.net/), had criticized Chinese government policy in the XUAR on the Web site and elsewhere.[3] At Tohti’s trial, which took place on September 17 and 18, 2014,[4] prosecutors told the court that Tohti had “spread lessons containing separatist thoughts” via Uyghur Online, “coerced students to work for the Web site and built a criminal syndicate,” and “incited ethnic hatred by distorting the causes of a number of riots and disputes that occurred in Xinjiang and Beijing.”[5] According to the official verdict, the court found Tohti guilty of separatism under Article 103(1) of the PRC Criminal Law (CL); committing a crime jointly with two or more persons, under Article 25(1) of the CL; and organizing and leading a criminal group in carrying out criminal activities, under Article 26 of the CL.[6]

On October 1, 2014, Tohti’s lawyers, Li Fangping and Liu Xiaoyuan, submitted an appeal on his behalf.[7] On October 10, a staff member of the Urumqi Intermediate People’s Court reportedly told Liu that on October 9, the court had transferred the appeal to the XUAR High People’s Court.[8] Court authorities reportedly notified Tohti’s lawyers on November 11 that the court of second instance would conduct a written review on the appeal instead of holding a hearing.[9] According to Article 232 of the PRC Criminal Procedure Law, the court of second instance should (in most cases) reach a decision on an appeal within two months of receiving it.

State Media Account of Tohti’s Trial

On September 24, Xinhua, a state-run media outlet, published an account of Tohti’s trial proceedings, including evidence presented by prosecutors in support of the charge of “separatism.”[10] On September 25, Chinese Central Television (CCTV) broadcast a 15-minute video segment regarding the trial that included interviews of detained students of Tohti and footage from Tohti’s classroom lectures at Minzu University.[11] According to the Xinhua report, the court heard that Tohti coerced students to join Uyghur Online and to thereby form a criminal group under his leadership aimed at “splitting the country.”[12] Prosecutors asserted that more than 100 articles on the Web site contained “separatist” content.[13] Prosecutors also alleged that Tohti and members of the criminal group he led “colluded with overseas agencies and individuals” to “internationalize” the “Xinjiang issue.”[14]

According to both Xinhua’s trial account and the CCTV broadcast, Tohti used his lectures at Minzu University to advocate “Xinjiang independence” and incite violent resistance against the government.[15] In addition, Xinhua’s trial account and the CCTV segment cite several instances in which prosecutors argued Tohti used Uyghur Online to distort violent events that took place in the XUAR and incite further violence.[16]

The CCTV video included excerpts from media interviews with three of Tohti’s former students that prosecutors used during the trial.[17] The students, ethnic Uyghurs Perhat Halmurat and Shohret Nijat, and an ethnic Yi, Luo Yuwei, had also contributed to Uyghur Online.[18] In interview statements one of Tohti’s lawyers asserted may have been made under official pressure,[19] the three stated that Tohti had forced them to post articles on the Web site that distorted facts about various incidents, and had threatened them with academic repercussions and physical violence if they failed to follow his orders.[20] The three men are reportedly among seven students prosecutors alleged comprised the criminal group Tohti led.[21]

Arguments of Tohti’s Defense Team

According to the official verdict, Tohti’s defense team argued he was innocent based on the following points (among others):[22]

  • Beijing judicial authorities, and not Urumqi judicial authorities, should have jurisdiction over Tohti’s case, since the charges against Tohti were based on crimes prosecutors alleged took place in Beijing.
  • There is no legal basis for authorities’ decision to try Tohti separately from the members of the “criminal syndicate” he had allegedly led.
  • Halmurat and others had worked for Uyghur Online of their own volition and in the absence of coercion and threats. There was no so-called “criminal syndicate.”
  • Reposting articles published by foreign media is an everyday normal occurrence, and does not constitute collusion with foreign forces.
  • Tohti’s acceptance of interviews with overseas media was legal and not separatist or criminal in nature.
  • Tohti’s criticism of state policies in his courses, articles, and interviews with media, were constitutionally protected expressions of his freedom of speech. The majority of the evidence prosecutors presented to the court showed that he had advocated the implementation of the XUAR’s system of autonomy as stipulated in the Constitution. He had not advocated independence for the XUAR.

Lawyers Point Out Procedural Errors and Other Points of Concern in Tohti’s Case

In media interviews and in online forums, Tohti’s lawyers also raised additional concerns about authorities’ handling of Tohti’s case, including the following:

  • Prosecutors failed to provide complete evidence for Tohti’s defense team to review.[23]
  • The Urumqi Intermediate People’s Court refused to call any of the witnesses Tohti’s lawyers had requested to testify at his trial, including the three detained students interviewed by the media and featured in the CCTV video.[24]
  • The CCTV segment contains many distortions, particularly with regard to Tohti’s alleged support of violence.[25] According to one lawyer, if viewers were to watch the entire three hours of Tohti’s lecture containing the statements prosecutors alleged to have supported violence, they would come to a conclusion different from that of the prosecutors.[26]
  • The court of second instance’s allowance of the publication of evidence against Tohti, in the Xinhua trial account and CCTV broadcast, constitutes a grave legal violation, as the trial court’s decision had not yet entered into force when the media reports were made public.[27]
  • Statements made by Tohti’s students while in official custody in January 2014, soon after they were detained, showed support for Tohti and his work, in contrast to later testimony critical of Tohti. One of Tohti’s lawyers suggested that the students had likely made the critical statements against their will under pressure from authorities.[28]
  • Under Tohti’s guidance, Uyghur Online had established guidelines not to support separatism, not to spread ethnic hatred, and not to propagate violence.[29]
  • Tohti had written that he had established Uyghur Online in order to increase understanding between Uyghurs and Han Chinese.[30]

Health Concerns

Tohti’s lawyers and his wife, Guzelnur, expressed concerns in recent months that authorities failed to provide adequate medical treatment for a number of serious physical ailments.[31] They stated that prison officials’ weeks-long shackling of Tohti’s ankles had caused them to become infected.[32] In addition, they said prison authorities failed to address complaints that fellow prisoners beat and otherwise harassed him.[33]

Students Remain Under Detention

According to media reports, in addition to Perhat Halmurat, Shohret Nijat, and Luo Yuwei, who appeared in the CCTV video, four other students who were involved with Uyghur Online, Mutellip Imin, Atikem Rozi, Akbar Imin, and Abduqeyum Ablimit, remained in detention as of late September 2014.[34] One of Tohti’s lawyers expressed concern that the students may be tried in secret,[35] and said authorities had held them in solitary jail cells and shackled their legs.[36] Overseas media reports indicated that as of late September 2014, authorities had not allowed the students access to lawyers or visits from their family members.[37]

Background: Tohti’s Detention and Threats Against Him and His Family

On January 15, 2014, security personnel detained Tohti in a raid of his home in Beijing, in apparent connection with his public discussion of Uyghur rights issues.[38] Authorities had subjected Tohti to harassment, arbitrary detention, and restrictions on his movement prior to his January 2014 detention.[39] In late 2013, authorities warned Tohti not to speak to journalists,[40] after he voiced concerns to the media regarding security measures and discrimination in the XUAR.[41] Tohti reported that plainclothes security agents in Beijing rammed his car on November 2, 2013, with his wife and two children inside, threatening him after he exited the car that they “wanted to kill [his] whole family.”[42]

Opinion of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention

In April 2014, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention issued an opinion stating that Tohti was being arbitrarily detained.[43] The Working Group called upon the Chinese government to “immediately release” Tohti, and to “grant him compensation for the harm he has suffered during the period of his arbitrary detention.”[44]

For more discussion of the January 2014 arrest of Tohti and his students, see Commission Analysis, Chinese Authorities Arrest Uyghur Scholar Ilham Tohti and Students. For discussion of Tohti’s February 2013 detention and restrictions on his freedom of movement, see Commission Analysis, Authorities Block Uyghur Scholar From Leaving China, Refuse To Grant Passport to Uyghur Student.   

For more information on conditions in the XUAR, see Section IV—Xinjiang in the CECC 2014 Annual Report



[1] “Separatist Uygur Teacher Jailed for Life,” Xinhua, 23 September 14 (https://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2014-09/23/c_133665366.htm); Steven Jiang, “China Sentences Prominent Uyghur Scholar to Life in Prison for ‘Separatism,’” CNN, 24 September 14 (https://www.cnn.com/2014/09/23/world/asia/china-scholar-sentence/index.html?hpt=hp_t2).  

[2] Josh Chin, “China’s New Strategy in Prosecuting Critics,” Wall Street Journal, China Real Time Report (blog), 13 March 14 (https://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2014/03/13/chinas-new-strategy-in-prosecuting-critics/).  

[3] James T. Areddy, “China Detains Dissident Uighur Scholar,” Wall Street Journal, 16 January 14 (https://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304419104579324020288326960); Amnesty International, “Document—China: Further Information: Uighur Scholar Deprived Food and Shackled: Ilham Tohti,” 27 June 14 (https://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/ASA17/038/2014/en/284ca235-b508-4419-a844-96885e877c2f/asa170382014en.html).

[4] “Uygur Teacher’s Separatism Trial Closes,” Xinhua, 18 September 14 (https://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2014-09/18/c_133653888.htm). 

[5] “Separatist Uygur Teacher Jailed for Life,” Xinhua, 23 September 14 (https://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2014-09/23/c_133665366.htm).  

[6] Joshua Rosenzweig (siweiluozi), Twitter post, 23 September 14, 8:29 a.m. (https://twitter.com/siweiluozi/status/514391118092324864/photo/1). In addition to a life sentence, the court imposed the punishments of the deprivation of political rights for life (Articles 56(1) and 57(1)); and confiscation of money and property (Articles 64 and 113(2)).    

[7] “Ilham [Tohti] Formally Appeals, Wife Reiterates Verdict Unfair” [Yilihamu zhengshi shangsu qizi congshen panjue bugong], Radio Free Asia, 2 October 14 (www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/Tohti-10022014102804.html?encoding=simplified); “Lawyers Suspect Video Evidence in Ilham [Tohti] Separatism Case Taken Out of Context” [Lushi cheng yilihamu fenlie an shipin zhengju shexian duanzhangquyi], Radio France Internationale, 2 October 14 (https://www.chinese.rfi.fr/%E4%B8%AD%E5%9B%BD/20141002-%E5%BE%8B%E5%B8%88%E7%A7%B0%E4%BC%8A%E5%8A%9B%E5%93%88%E6%9C%A8%E5%88%86%E8%A3%82%E6%A1%88%E8%A7%86%E9%A2%91%E8%AF%81%E6%8D%AE%E6%B6%89%E5%AB%8C%E6%96%AD%E7%AB%A0%E5%8F%96%E4%B9%89).

[8] Liu Xiaoyuan, (liu_xiaoyuan),Twitter post, 10 October 14, 7:11 a.m. (https://twitter.com/liu_xiaoyuan/status/520532069709926400). 

[9] “No Public Hearing in Court of Second Instance for Ilham [Tohti] Case, Lawyers Will Go to Urumqi Next Week as They Expect Decision is Near” [Yilihamu an er shen bu kaiting shenli lushi xiazhou fu wushi liao jinqi xuanpan], Radio Free Asia, 12 November 14 (https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/shaoshuminzu/ql1-11122014102017.html); Rights Defense Network, “The Court of Second Instance in Ilham [Tohti’s] Case Will Not Hold a Hearing” [Yilihamu an er shen jiang bu kaiting shenli], 11 November 14 (https://wqw2010.blogspot.com/2014/11/blog-post_56.html). Under Article 187 of the PRC Criminal Procedure Law, courts of second instance are not required to hold a hearing in a criminal appeal if a collegial panel makes a determination that the “facts are clear” and the procuratorate does not protest the verdict of the court of first instance.  

[10] “Trial Record for Ilham Tohti’s Separatism Case” [Yilihamu tuheti fenlie guojia an tingshen jishi], Xinhua, 24 September 14 (https://news.xinhuanet.com/legal/2014-09/24/c_1112614703.htm).  

[11] “Ilham [Tohti]’s Defense Lawyers Question CCTV News Special Topic Film” [Yilihamu bianhu lushi zhiyi yangshi xinwen zhuanti pian], Radio France Internationale, 30 September 14 (https://www.chinese.rfi.fr/%E4%B8%AD%E5%9B%BD/20140930-%E4%BC%8A%E5%8A%9B%E5%93%88%E6%9C%A8%E8%BE%A9%E6%8A%A4%E5%BE%8B%E5%B8%88%E8%B4%A8%E7%96%91%E5%A4%AE%E8%A7%86%E6%96%B0%E9%97%BB%E4%B8%93%E9%A2%98%E7%89%87). 

[12] “Trial Record for Ilham Tohti’s Separatism Case” [Yilihamu tuheti fenlie guojia an tingshen jishi], Xinhua, 24 September 14 (https://news.xinhuanet.com/legal/2014-09/24/c_1112614703.htm).   

[13] Ibid.

[14] Ibid.

[15] Ibid. Chinese Central Television, “Record of Trial in the Case of a Minzu University Professor” [Zhongyang minda jiaoshi an tingshen jishi], 25 September 14 (https://tv.cntv.cn/video/C10336/674c4673cb594d93aadd0740a3530ff2).         

[16] “Trial Record for Ilham Tohti’s Separatism Case” [Yilihamu tuheti fenlie guojia an tingshen jishi], Xinhua, 24 September 14 (https://news.xinhuanet.com/legal/2014-09/24/c_1112614703.htm); Chinese Central Television, “Record of Trial in the Case of a Minzu University Professor” [Zhongyang minda jiaoshi an tingshen jishi], 25 September 14 (https://tv.cntv.cn/video/C10336/674c4673cb594d93aadd0740a3530ff2).          

[17] Chinese Central Television, “Record of Trial in the Case of a Minzu University Professor” [Zhongyang minda jiaoshi an tingshen jishi], 25 September 14 (https://tv.cntv.cn/video/C10336/674c4673cb594d93aadd0740a3530ff2).         

[18] Ibid. According to Radio Free Asia, on February 24, 2014, authorities notified the family of Halmurat, a Minzu University student and editor for Uyghur Online, that officials had arrested him on charges of separatism and were detaining him in Urumqi. “Three Students of Uyghur Scholar Ilham Tohti Formally Arrested,” Radio Free Asia, 26 February 14 (https://www.rfa.org/english/news/uyghur/arrest-02262014185533.html). Authorities previously detained Halmurat in September 2013 at the Beijing Capital International Airport for “attempting to flee the country.” “Chinese Authorities Detain Uyghur Web Editor at Beijing Airport,” Radio Free Asia, 30 September 13 (https://www.rfa.org/english/news/uyghur/detention-09302013190447.html). Halmurat had been preparing to travel to Turkey to study anthropology. “Chinese Authorities Detain Uyghur Web Editor at Beijing Airport,” Radio Free Asia, 30 September 13 (https://www.rfa.org/english/news/uyghur/detention-09302013190447.html).

[19] Li Fangping, “Lawyer Li Fangping: Defense Statement in Ilham Tohti Separatism Case” [Li fangping lushi: yilihamu tuheti fenlie guojia an bianhu ci], Invisible Tibet (blog), 27 September 14 (https://woeser.middle-way.net/2014/09/blog-post_27.html).

[20] Chinese Central Television, “Record of Trial in the Case of a Minzu University Professor” [Zhongyang minda jiaoshi an tingshen jishi], 25 September 14 (https://tv.cntv.cn/video/C10336/674c4673cb594d93aadd0740a3530ff2).            

[21] Li Fangping, “Lawyer Li Fangping: Defense Statement in Ilham Tohti Separatism Case” [Li fangping lushi: yilihamu tuheti fenlie guojia an bianhu ci], Invisible Tibet (blog), 27 September 14 (https://woeser.middle-way.net/2014/09/blog-post_27.html); Edward Wong, “3 Chinese Students, Missing for Months, Surface to Denounce Uighur Scholar,” New York Times, 26 September 14 (https://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/27/world/asia/3-Missing-Chinese-Students-Surface-to-Denounce-Uighur-Tohti.html?_r=1).   

[22] Joshua Rosenzweig (siweiluozi), Twitter post, 23 September 14, 8:28 a.m. (https://twitter.com/siweiluozi/status/514390949883936768/photo/1); Joshua Rosenzweig (siweiluozi), Twitter post, 23 September 14, 8:29 a.m. (https://twitter.com/siweiluozi/status/514391118092324864/photo/1).

[23] “Lawyer for Uyghur Scholar Denied Evidence Ahead of Trial,” Radio Free Asia, 13 August 14 (https://www.rfa.org/english/news/uyghur/evidence-08132014150925.html?searchterm:utf8:ustring=tohti).

[24] Ting Shi and Shai Oster, “Uighur Scholar Tohti Jailed for Life for Inciting Separatism,” Bloomberg, 23 September 14 (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-09-23/uighur-scholar-tohti-sentenced-to-life-for-inciting-separatism.html); “Ilham [Tohti]’s Defense Lawyers Question CCTV News Special Topic Film” [Yilihamu bianhu lushi zhiyi yangshi xinwen zhuanti pian], Radio France Internationale, 30 September 14 (https://www.chinese.rfi.fr/%E4%B8%AD%E5%9B%BD/20140930-%E4%BC%8A%E5%8A%9B%E5%93%88%E6%9C%A8%E8%BE%A9%E6%8A%A4%E5%BE%8B%E5%B8%88%E8%B4%A8%E7%96%91%E5%A4%AE%E8%A7%86%E6%96%B0%E9%97%BB%E4%B8%93%E9%A2%98%E7%89%87).

[25] Rights Defense Network, “Lawyers Liu Xiaoyuan and Li Fangping Say Today’s Xinhua Publication of “Trial Record for Ilham [Tohti]’s Separatism Case” Contains Many Falsehoods and Distortions, and the Court’s Allowing of the Media to Reveal the Trial Record and Evidence Constitutes a Serious Violation of the Law” [Liu xiaoyuan, li fangping lushi zhi jin xinhua she fabu de “yilihamu fenlie guojia an tingshen” jishi cunzai zhiduo bushi he yinman qie fayuan zai yilihamu shangsu qi yunxu meiti puguang anzhuang zhengju shu yanzhong weifa], 25 September 14 (https://wqw2010.blogspot.com/2014/09/blog-post_941.html); “Lawyers State Video Evidence in Ilham [Tohti] Separatism Case Taken Out of Context” [Lushi cheng yilihamu fenlie an shipin zhengju shexian duanzhangquyi], Radio France Internationale, 2 October 14 (https://www.chinese.rfi.fr/%E4%B8%AD%E5%9B%BD/20141002-%E5%BE%8B%E5%B8%88%E7%A7%B0%E4%BC%8A%E5%8A%9B%E5%93%88%E6%9C%A8%E5%88%86%E8%A3%82%E6%A1%88%E8%A7%86%E9%A2%91%E8%AF%81%E6%8D%AE%E6%B6%89%E5%AB%8C%E6%96%AD%E7%AB%A0%E5%8F%96%E4%B9%89). 

[26] “Lawyers State Video Evidence in Ilham [Tohti] Separatism Case Taken Out of Context” [Lushi cheng yilihamu fenlie an shipin zhengju shexian duanzhangquyi], Radio France Internationale, 2 October 14 (https://www.chinese.rfi.fr/%E4%B8%AD%E5%9B%BD/20141002-%E5%BE%8B%E5%B8%88%E7%A7%B0%E4%BC%8A%E5%8A%9B%E5%93%88%E6%9C%A8%E5%88%86%E8%A3%82%E6%A1%88%E8%A7%86%E9%A2%91%E8%AF%81%E6%8D%AE%E6%B6%89%E5%AB%8C%E6%96%AD%E7%AB%A0%E5%8F%96%E4%B9%89).

[27] Rights Defense Network, “Lawyers Liu Xiaoyuan and Li Fangping Say Today’s Xinhua Publication of “Trial Record for Ilham [Tohti]’s Separatism Case” Contains Many Falsehoods and Distortions, and the Court’s Allowing of the Media to Reveal the Trial Record and Evidence Constitutes a Serious Violation of the Law” [Liu xiaoyuan, li fangping lushi zhi jin xinhua she fabu de “yilihamu fenlie guojia an tingshen” jishi cunzai zhuduo bushi he yinman qie fayuan zai yilihamu shangsu qi yunxu meiti puguang anzhuang zhengju shu yanzhong weifa], 25 September 14 (https://wqw2010.blogspot.com/2014/09/blog-post_941.html).     

[28] Li Fangping, “Lawyer Li Fangping: Defense Statement in Ilham Tohti Separatism Case” [Li fangping lushi: yilihamu tuheti fenlie guojia an bianhu ci], Invisible Tibet (blog), 27 September 14 (https://woeser.middle-way.net/2014/09/blog-post_27.html).

[29] Ibid.

[30] Ibid.

[31] Chinese Human Rights Defenders, “[CHRD] Arrested Uyghur Scholar Ilham Tohti Suffering From Multiple Illnesses & Other News (June 20–June 26, 2014),” 27 June 14 (https://chrdnet.com/2014/06/chrbarrested-uyghur-scholar-ilham-tothi-suffering-from-multiple-illnesses-other-news-june-20-june-26-2014/); “Uygur Scholar Ilham Tohti Denies Charges in Separatism Trial,” South China Morning Post, citing Associated Press and Agence France-Presse, 17 September 14 (https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1594663/uygur-scholar-ilham-tohti-denies-charges-separatism-trial).  

[32] “Ilham [Tohti] Has Pre-Trial Hearing, Still No Date Set for Trial” [Yilihamu tingqian huiyi reng wei queding shenxun riqi], Radio Free Asia, 8 September 14 (https://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/dissident-09082014085435.html?encoding=simplified).  

[33] “Ilham [Tohti] Humiliated by Cellmates, Shackled for Resisting” [Yilihamu zao qiuyou wuru fankang bei dai jiaokao], Radio Free Asia, 4 September 14 (https://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/Tohti-Jailed-09042014100252.html); “Uyghur Scholar Tohti ‘Humiliated’ in Prison, Shackled Again,” Radio Free Asia, 4 September 14 (https://www.rfa.org/english/news/uyghur/shackled-09042014162301.html).  

[34] “Charged With Involvement in 7–5 Riot, Ilham (Tohti) Insists He Didn’t Split the Nation” [Bei kong sheji 7–5 saoluan yilihamu jiancheng mei fenlie guojia], Radio Free Asia, 18 September 14 (https://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/Tohti-09182014100205.html); Edward Wong, “3 Chinese Students, Missing for Months, Surface to Denounce Uighur Scholar,” New York Times, 26 September 14 (https://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/27/world/asia/3-Missing-Chinese-Students-Surface-to-Denounce-Uighur-Tohti.html?_r=1); “Ilham [Tohti]’s Defense Lawyers Question CCTV News Special Topic Film” [Yilihamu bianhu lushi zhiyi yangshi xinwen zhuanti pian], Radio France Internationale, 30 September 14 (https://www.chinese.rfi.fr/%E4%B8%AD%E5%9B%BD/20140930-%E4%BC%8A%E5%8A%9B%E5%93%88%E6%9C%A8%E8%BE%A9%E6%8A%A4%E5%BE%8B%E5%B8%88%E8%B4%A8%E7%96%91%E5%A4%AE%E8%A7%86%E6%96%B0%E9%97%BB%E4%B8%93%E9%A2%98%E7%89%87).       

[35] Edward Wong, “3 Chinese Students, Missing for Months, Surface to Denounce Uighur Scholar,” New York Times, 26 September 14 (https://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/27/world/asia/3-Missing-Chinese-Students-Surface-to-Denounce-Uighur-Tohti.html?_r=1).   

[36] Michael Martina, “China Separatism Trial of Muslim Scholar Ends, Verdict Next Week: Lawyer,” Reuters, 19 September 14 (https://www.reuters.com/article/2014/09/19/us-china-xinjiang-idUSKBN0HD08Y20140919).

[37] Edward Wong, “3 Chinese Students, Missing for Months, Surface to Denounce Uighur Scholar,” New York Times, 26 September 14 (https://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/27/world/asia/3-Missing-Chinese-Students-Surface-to-Denounce-Uighur-Tohti.html?_r=1); “Pretrial Hearing Scheduled for Detained Uyghur Scholar Tohti,” Radio Free Asia, 27 August 14 (https://www.rfa.org/english/news/uyghur/hearing-08272014121740.html).   

[38] Tania Branigan, “Chinese Police Detain Leading Uighur Academic Ilham Tohti,” Guardian, 16 January 14 (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/16/chinese-police-uighur-academic-ilham-tohti).

[39] “Uyghur Scholar, Daughter Held,” Radio Free Asia, 1 February 13 (https://www.rfa.org/english/news/uyghur/scholar-02012013225438.html); Andrew Jacobs, “Uighur Scholar in Ugly Confrontation With Security Agents,” New York Times, Sinosphere (blog), 4 November 13 (https://sinosphere.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/11/04/uighur-scholar-ilham-tohti-in-ugly-confrontation-with-security-agents/?emc=edit_tnt_20131104&tntemail0=y&_r=1); “Detained Beijing-Based Uyghur Scholar Taken to Xinjiang?” Radio Free Asia, 27 January 14 (https://www.rfa.org/english/news/uyghur/tohti-01272014193424.html); “Ilham [Tohti] Has Been Held for Nearly a Month, but His Family Still Hasn’t Received Any Notice” [Yilihamu beibu jin yue jia ren reng wei huo tongzhi], Radio Free Asia, 12 February 14 (https://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/Uyghurs-b-02122014104629.html?searchterm%3Autf8%3Austring=%E6%96%B0%E7%96%86&encoding=simplified); Ben Blanchard et al., “China Decries Foreign Interference in Detained Academic Case,” Reuters, 17 January 14 (https://www.reuters.com/article/2014/01/17/us-china-xinjiang-idUSBREA0G0D920140117). For Commission Analysis on Tohti’s February 2013 detention, see “Authorities Block Uyghur Scholar From Leaving China, Refuse To Grant Passport to Uyghur Student,” Congressional-Executive Commission on China, 7 March 13 (https://www.cecc.gov/publications/commission-analysis/authorities-block-uyghur-scholar-from-leaving-china-refuse-to-grant).

[40] Andrew Jacobs, “Uighur Scholar in Ugly Confrontation With Security Agents,” New York Times, Sinosphere (blog), 4 November 13 (https://sinosphere.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/11/04/uighur-scholar-ilham-tohti-in-ugly-confrontation-with-security-agents/?emc=edit_tnt_20131104&tntemail0=y&_r=1).

[41] Rui Di, “Ilham [Tohti]: Beijing Explosion Incident May Worsen the Situation of the Uyghurs” [Yilihamu: beijing de baozha shijian keneng ehua weizu ren de chujing], Radio France Internationale, 29 October 13 (https://www.chinese.rfi.fr/%E4%B8%AD%E5%9B%BD/20131029-%E4%BC%8A%E5%8A%9B%E5%93%88%E6%9C%A8%EF%BC%9A%E5%8C%97%E4%BA%AC%E7%9A%84%E7%88%86%E7%82%B8%E4%BA%8B%E4%BB%B6%E5%8F%AF%E8%83%BD%E6%81%B6%E5%8C%96%E7%BB%B4%E6%97%8F%E4%BA%BA%E7%9A%84%E5%A4%84%E5%A2%); Andrew Jacobs, “China Focuses on an Ethnic Minority in a Car Explosion,” New York Times, 29 October 13 (https://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/30/world/asia/china-beijing-car-explosion.html); Yu Han, “Uyghur Scholar Discusses Tiananmen Attack Incident” [Weizu xuezhe tan Tiananmen xiji shijian], Deutsche Welle, 30 October 13 (https://www.dw.de/%E7%BB%B4%E6%97%8F%E5%AD%A6%E8%80%85%E8%B0%88%E5%A4%A9%E5%AE%89%E9%97%A8%E8%A2%AD%E5%87%BB%E4%BA%8B%E4%BB%B6/a-17194992).

[42] Andrew Jacobs, “Uighur Scholar in Ugly Confrontation With Security Agents,” New York Times, Sinosphere (blog), 4 November 13 (https://sinosphere.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/11/04/uighur-scholar-ilham-tohti-in-ugly-confrontation-with-security-agents/?emc=edit_tnt_20131104&tntemail0=y&_r=1).

[43] UN Human Rights Council, Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, Opinions Adopted by the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention at Its Sixty-Ninth Session, 22 April–1 May 2014, No. 3/2014 (China), A/HRC/WGAD/2014/xx, 3 June 14, para. 23.

[44] Ibid., para. 24.