Nine members of a family imprisoned by Xinjiang authorities

Prisoners in “re-education camps” are
sometimes forced into positions such
as this one. (Photo: ChinaAid)

ChinaAid

(Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang—Oct. 4, 2018) Nine members of a single family have been arbitrarily arrested over the course of a year as Xinjiang authorities continue their persecution of ethnic minorities in the region.

Yeerkenbieke Sibake, who led a local mosque, was arrested and sent to one of China’s “re-education camps,” where prisoners are starved, tortured, and subjected to pro-communist propaganda study, in September 2017 because he prayed. Likewise, his brother, Yiliebieke Sibake, was arrested in the same month because of his belief in Islam, and Yeerkenbieke Sibake’s nephew was also taken into custody.

According to a local Muslim, police also arrested Yeerkenbieke Sibake’s other relatives, who live in Kuotuerhai Village, on March 8, 2018. They include Nuerbaheti Sawuti and Nisipihan Aliemujiang. The same day, his wife, Saireguli Ashenbai, was also arrested.

Their daughter, Hunidizi Yeerkenbieke, Yeerkenbieke Sibake’s sister-in-law, Saerseyenihan Zhumani, were detained in a camp for practicing their Muslim faith.

Their family members believe that they are all innocent and ask Xinjiang authorities to explain why they were taken. They also hope the international community will intervene so that they can be reunited with their family members.

In addition, Dinaera Yeerhali, a 13 year-old girl living in Kazakhstan with her father, was forced to return to China after the Chinese government pressured her relatives. When she arrived in China last June, her passport was confiscated and officials arrested her and placed her in a “re-education camp” without providing a reason.

Such camps have spread rapidly across Xinjiang as authorities target minorities, who are from mostly-Muslim backgrounds, living in the region. Pressing them with false terrorist charges for actions as trivial as planning to travel abroad, they place them in the camps and then subject them to torture, inadequate nutrition, and the forced study of pro-Communist Party propaganda. After prolonged exposure to these methods, some inmates have experienced mental breakdowns.

ChinaAid exposes these abuses to defend the rights of these innocent people and promote human rights, religious freedom, and rule of law.


ChinaAid Media Team
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Nine members of a family imprisoned by Xinjiang authorities

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