A testimony from our “100 Camp Testimonies” Book
I am originally from Turpan, East Turkistan. I came to Turkey in August 2013. I would like to testify for my family members.
Ishaq Ablim, my father, was born in 1959, who was a farmer. He was detained for nine months in 1999 for studying and teaching others Islam, and for providing a classroom. On November 25, 2007 he was detained again for teaching Islam and given “separatism” charges. All these accusations were absurd, and my father was sentenced to life in prison. He has been incarcerated for 15 years now.
Sheripe Shükür, my mother, was born on August 16, 1962, who was a farmer and a housewife at the Üzümchilik village of Turpan. Before 2017 she was forced to attend short-term “reeducation” programs, but in April 2017 she was detained for practicing Islam (praying) and sent to an internment camp, where she was held for a year. She was then transferred to a prison, and in October 2018 she was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Osmanjan Ishaq, my younger brother, was born on May 21, 1985, who was taken to an internment camp in April 2017 for practicing Islam probably, where he was held for a year or so. Circa October 2018 he was sentenced to five years in prison.
Burhan Ishaq, my younger brother, was born in March 24, 2000, who was taken to an internment camp in April 2017 for no reason. He was later released circa May 2019.
Ibrahim Ishaq, my elder brother, was born May 15, 1981, who was a farmer and a businessman. He was first detained back in April 2008 and incarcerated for eight years for studying Islam. He was detained again in April 2017 for no reason, and sent to an internment camp, where he was held for two years or so. He was released circa August 2019, and since then he has been detained and sent to an internment camp three times or so, where each time he was held for two or three months. He now suffers from psychological distress after multiple internments.
Haliz Abdurahman, my ex-husband, was born in 1980, who was first detained back in April 2002, accused of planning to carry out “terrorist activity,” and held in a detention center in Ürümchi for six to eight months. He was then transferred to a prison in Sanji, where he was held for three years with no trial. He was released in April 2005. In late 2007 he was detained again for spreading anti-China information, which was untrue. He was then held in Liudaowan detention center (乌鲁木齐六道湾看守所) for three years, and in October 2010 he was sentenced to 11 years in prison (held in Sanji). He was released in late 2018, but he became sick and suffers from psychological issues, and later admitted to a psychiatric hospital up until now, as of early 2022.
Risalet Ablim, my aunt, was born in 1972, who was first detained back in 2004 for studying Islam and sentenced to five years to prison. She was detained again in April 2017 for no reason and sent to an internment camp, and released two years later circa June 2019.
Abduqadir Ablimit, Risalet Ablim’s husband, was born in 1969, who was detained in April 2017 for no reason and sent to an internment, and later released in August 2019.
Sirajidin Ablim, my uncle (my father’s brother), was born in 1965 in Turpan, who was an imam of our neighborhood. He was detained and incarcerated for four years for teaching Islam, and was released in 2006. In late 2016 he was detained again and sent to an internment camp, where he was held for more than a year. At the end of 2017 he was sentenced to more than 10 years in prison.
Aytullah Ablim, my uncle’s wife, was born in 1968, who was a housewife. She was detained in April 2017 for no reason, and sent to an internment camp. In October 2018 she was sentenced to prison, but I don’t know the length of her prison term.
Yüsüp Ablim, my uncle (my father’s younger brother), was born 1962 in Turpan, who was first detained back in 2015 and sent to an internment camp, where he was held for a year or so. When he was released, he could barely walk. He was detained again in April 2017, and sent to an internment camp. After a year, in 2018, he was transferred/sentenced to prison, but I do not know the length of his prison term.
Aygül Hemdulla, Yüsüp Ablim’s wife, was born in 1964, who was detained in April 2017 for teaching Islam to kids, and sent to an internment camp. In 2018, she was transferred/sentenced to prison, but I do not know the length of her prison term.
Adil Niyaz, my aunt Ibadet Ablim’s husband, was born in 1972, who was detained in early 2017 and sent to an internment camp, and later released at the end of 2018.
Ziper Shükür, my uncle (my mother’s younger brother), was born in 1964, who was detained and sent to an internment camp in January 2017 because his daughter was studying in Japan. He was later released in October 2018.
Memetjan Ziper, my cousin (Ziper Shükür’s son), was born in 1992, who was detained and sent to an internment camp in January 2017 because his sister was studying in Japan. He was released in October 2018.
Nizamdin Shükür, my uncle (my mother’s elder brother), was born in 1953, who was detained and sent to an internment camp in February 2017 for no reason. He was released in October 2018.
Abdusatar Nizamdin, my cousin (Nizamdin Shükür’s son), was born in 1975, who was an imam approved and appointed by the Chinese authority in Yenisar County. He was taken to an internment camp circa May 2017, and later released, but I don’t know when.Adil Karajim, my aunt’s husband, was a religious figure in our county, who was taken to an internment camp in early 2017, and was released three years later.