'Cruel Tragedy': Uighur Muslim Scholar Sentenced to Life in China

 

Raheel Dawut

Uighur scholar Rahile Dawut, known for her expertise in the folklore and traditions of her people, has been sentenced to life in prison

This distressing development stems from her conviction on charges related to endangering state security in a secret trial that took place in December 2018. Despite her appeal, her conviction was upheld, as reported by the San Francisco-based Dui Hua Foundation.

John Kamm, the executive director of the Dui Hua Foundation, expressed deep sorrow over Dawut's sentencing, calling it a "cruel tragedy" and a significant loss for the Uighur community and advocates of academic freedom. Professor Rahile Dawut served as a professor at Xinjiang University and was the founder of the university's Ethnic Minorities Folklore Research Center.

Dawut's disappearance occurred in late 2017 amid a government crackdown specifically targeting the Uighur population, an ethnic group of predominantly Muslim heritage native to China's northwest Xinjiang region.

For years, her whereabouts remained unknown, and the Chinese authorities did not disclose details about the charges against her. This month, the Dui Hua Foundation uncovered a Chinese government document revealing her life sentence.

Despite her international recognition for her research on sacred Islamic sites and Uighur cultural practices in Xinjiang and Central Asia, which included lectures as a visiting scholar at institutions like Cambridge and the University of Pennsylvania, Dawut has become one of over 400 prominent academics, writers, performers, and artists detained in Xinjiang.

Critics argue that the Chinese government's actions are aimed at undermining and erasing Uighur culture, language, and identity.

Joshua Freeman, a researcher at Academia Sinica and former translator for Dawut, noted that the government's targeting of intellectuals appears indiscriminate, and it may not be related to her academic work but rather her Uighur ethnicity.

Rahile Dawut talks with a man in northwestern China

Dawut's daughter, Akeda Pulati, expressed shock and called for her mother's release, emphasizing her innocence and the cruelty of the life sentence. She described her mother as an incredibly dedicated and hardworking person who sought to contribute positively to society.

Mukaddas Mijit, a Uighur ethnomusicologist based in Brussels, underscored Dawut's role as an adviser and mentor to scholars, acting as a bridge between global academia and Uighur culture. Mijit emphasized that Dawut was a guardian of Uighur identity, a target of the Chinese government's efforts to erase the rich cultural heritage of the Uighur people.

This troubling development adds to ongoing concerns about the treatment of Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang, with estimates of over one million individuals in detention in "counter-extremism centers." China has defended its actions, citing the need to combat extremism and terrorism, but international scrutiny and condemnation persist.

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