Editorial: Remembering the 5th anniversary of Ilham Tohti’s arrest

Remembering the Fifth Anniversary of Professor Ilham Tohti’s Arrest

Today marks the fifth anniversary of the arrest of Professor Ilham Tohti, a respected Uyghur scholar, economist, writer, and university professor. Chinese authorities detained Professor Tohti on January 15, 2014, and later that year sentenced him to life in prison on politically motivated charges.

Professor Tohti devoted his life to advocating for the legal and human rights of the Uyghur people through peaceful and scholarly means. As an academic, he sought dialogue, justice, and mutual understanding by communicating the urgent concerns of the Uyghur community to Han Chinese society and the international community. His work reflected moral courage, intellectual integrity, and a deep commitment to nonviolence. By sacrificing his own freedom, he became a powerful voice for Uyghurs who have been systematically silenced.

On this anniversary, Uyghur Times honors Professor Ilham Tohti and calls for his immediate release. The publication also recognizes the countless Uyghur intellectuals and community leaders who remain imprisoned or forcibly disappeared, and mourns the ongoing suffering of millions of Uyghurs subjected to repression. Uyghur Times reaffirms its commitment to advocating for justice, freedom, and fundamental human rights for the Uyghur people.