Additional Name(s): ئابدۇرەھىم ھېيت, 阿布杜热伊木·海提

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: China

Ethnic Group: Uyghur

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Unspecified/Other

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Date of Detainment: April//2017

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

Reason for Persecution: Ethnoreligious Identity Religious Expression Singing, Playing, & Producing Religious Songs & Music

Nature of Charges: Unknown

Abdurehim Heyit

Extra Bio Info:

Abdurehim Heyit is detained for his religious expression and ethnoreligious identity.

In April 2017, public security authorities in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) detained Heyit, a popular musician, reportedly in relation to lyrics he sung deemed to indicate religious extremism. Heyit's detention came amid mass detentions of largely Muslim ethnic minorities in XUAR.

Publicly Available Information:

Additional Name(s): Abdujelil Helil, ئابدۇجېلىل خېلىل

Gender: Male

Current Location: Kashgar

Perpetrator: China

Ethnic Group: Uyghur

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Unspecified/Other

Health Concerns: Yes

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Appeal: Conviction Overturned

Sentence: Originally between 11 to 18 Years' Imprisonment

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

Reason for Persecution: Ethnoreligious Identity Pilgrimage Praying Religious Activity

Nature of Charges: Unknown

Abdujelil Hajim

Extra Bio Info:

Abdujelil Hajim is detained for his religious belief, activity, and ethnoreligious identity.

In 2017, authorities in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) detained several Uyghur businessmen, including Hajim, chairman of the Kashgar Prefectural Trade Association, for allegedly displaying signs of "religious extremism." There are conflicting reports on the date of Hajim's arrest. A local security official reportedly said that the men "had also undertaken 'unapproved, private hajj' pilgrimages and had been involved with imams who were not sanctioned by the state." Other sources indicate that Hajim was arrested for wiring money to a friend from Turkey to buy gifts for her daughter’s wedding.

There are conflicting reports related to Hajim's initial sentencing. It was reported originally that Hajim had been sentenced to 18 years in prison on an unspecified date.  Later, it was reported that the Kashgar Intermediate People’s Court sentenced Hajim on May 18, 2017, to a prison term — variously reportedly by Radio Free Asia as 11 or 14 years — on charges related to “terrorism.”

On January 8, 2019, the XUAR High People’s Court overturned Hajim's conviction and ordered a retrial.

In March 2021, Hajim reportedly had his retrial.

Hajim was reportedly hospitalized twice while imprisoned due to unspecified health concerns.

Related Cases: Gheni Haji, Memet Tursun Haji, Imin Hajim

Publicly Available Information:

Additional Name(s): ئابلىكىم مەمتىمىن

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: China

Ethnic Group: Uyghur

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Unspecified/Other

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

Reason for Persecution: Ethnoreligious Identity Memorizing & Reciting Religious Texts

Nature of Charges: Unknown

Ablikim Memtimin

Extra Bio Info:

Ablikim Memtimin is detained for his ethnoreligious identity.

In 2017, authorities detained Memtimin reportedly in relation to either his travel to Turkey or his memorization of the Qur'an. Memtimin's detention came amid mass detentions of largely Muslim ethnic minorities in XUAR for reasons including ethnic identity and travel abroad, particularly to Muslim-majority countries such as Turkey.

Publicly Available Information:
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