By Uyghur Times Staff September
Sep 5, 2024
Ghazi Ehmet, one of the most revered Uyghur artists, was reportedly killed by Chinese military forces during the 2017 crackdown in the Uyghur homeland, according to multiple sources. The renowned painter, known for his depictions of historical Uyghur figures, was arrested, beaten, and ultimately died in custody during a surge of arrests in Urumqi.
Memet Tohti, a Canadian Uyghur advocate and Executive Director of the Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project, was the first to inform Uyghur Times of Ghazi Ehmet’s death. Tohti learned of the incident from a Uyghur contact in Canada. Uyghur Times confirmed the news through a voice message obtained with Tohti’s assistance and three other separate accounts from individuals who left China in the summer of 2024. These witnesses confirmed that Ghazi Ehmet’s body was returned to his family five days after his imprisonment, showing clear signs of severe beatings.
A Targeted Arrest
According to sources, Ghazi Ehmet was taken from his home in Urumqi after Chinese authorities deemed his artwork, which featured historical figures like Yusup Has Hajip and Mahmud Kashgari, as promoting religious extremism. The Chinese authorities, particularly the Armed Police, interrogated him, questioning his portrayal of figures they identified as religious extremists, or “Mullahs.” Despite Ghazi’s explanation that his paintings were based on historical texts and not religious extremism, he was labeled a threat.
One of the sources recounted:
“Ressam (painter) Ghazi Aka did not die naturally. The forces took him and questioned him, asking, ‘Did you paint this “Mollam”? Why did you paint?’ Ghazi explained that he was simply depicting historical figures as described in history books, not promoting extremism.”
Eyewitnesses reported that a neighbor tried to intervene when Chinese forces took the elderly artist, who suffered from diabetes, but was threatened with punishment. The neighbor eventually retreated in fear for their own safety.
Confirmation of Death After Years of Silence
Radio Free Asia’s Uyghur service had reported Ghazi Ehmet’s death in November 2017 at the age of 84, but confirmation of his death was difficult due to the Chinese government’s information blockade in the Uyghur homeland. It took six years for the Uyghur diaspora to confirm his death via Uyghur refugees who recently left China. These sources revealed that Ghazi Ehmet had died in detention after enduring severe torture.
Uyghur Times was told that witnesses at his funeral shared that his body was in such a mutilated state that it was clear he had been beaten with metal objects. His death is a stark example of the brutality Uyghur intellectuals and public figures have faced during the ongoing genocide.
A Legacy Tarnished by Oppression
Ghazi Ehmet was born in 1935 in Qoghan (now Nazarbagh), a village in Kashgar, into a religious family. He became one of the most successful Uyghur artists of his time, studying at “Xinjiang” University and later earning acclaim for his portraits of historical figures such as Amannisahan, Mahmud Kashgari, and Yusup Has Hajip. His work was celebrated across China, and his paintings were exhibited internationally, including in France, Japan, Russia, Turkey, and Kazakhstan.
However, starting in 2017, the Chinese government began targeting prominent Uyghurs, including intellectuals and artists like Ghazi Ehmet, as part of its wider campaign against Uyghur culture and identity. Figures once celebrated as part of China’s “national cultural treasures” were increasingly portrayed as enemies of the state. Despite this, Ghazi Ehmet’s work remains a testament to the rich cultural heritage of the Uyghur people.
Widespread Fear Among Uyghur Intellectuals
One Uyghur refugee told Uyghur Times:
“Many Uyghur intellectuals were arrested, and some were returned to their families dead. At the time, no one in Urumqi dared mention the names of those who disappeared or died. Even now, the names of those who have vanished are sensitive and could lead to serious trouble.”
The ability to obtain information from the Uyghur homeland remains extremely difficult, with communications severely restricted and independent media outlets unable to report freely.
Ghazi Ehmet’s Artistic Accomplishments
Before his tragic death, Ghazi Ehmet had made significant contributions to Uyghur and Chinese art. His works, including “Punishment” (1964) and “Mahmud Kashgari” (1981), won national awards and were preserved in prestigious galleries such as the China Fine Arts Gallery and the Beijing National Culture Palace. His series of portraits depicting figures like Mahmud Kashgari and Yusup Has Hajip stand as a monumental record of Uyghur cultural history.
