• Urgent Action

Urgent Action: UYGHUR STUDENT CONVICTED FOR PROMOTING EXTREMISM (China: UA 33.23)

August 1, 2023

Kamile Wayit, a 19-year-old Uyghur female university student was sentenced on 25 March 2023 under the charge of “promoting extremism” after posting a video on WeChat about the November 2022 “A4 protests” in China. A spokesperson from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed her conviction to the Economist magazine but did not confirm the length of the sentencing. According to a source close to Kamile, she had been suffering from depression and was scheduled to have an eye surgery in the summer of 2023. Kamile must be released immediately as she was only peacefully exercising her right to freedom of expression. Pending her release, the Chinese authorities must ensure that she has access to adequate medical care when needed, access to her family and a lawyer of her choice and she is not subjected to torture and other ill-treatment.

TAKE ACTION:

  1. Write a letter in your own words or using the sample below as a guide to one or both government officials listed. You can also email, fax, call or Tweet them.

  2. Click here to let us know the actions you took on Urgent Action 33.23. It’s important to report because we share the total number with the officials we are trying to persuade and the people we are trying to help.

 

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Party Secretary of Xinjiang

Ma Xingrui
479 Zhongshan Lu, Tianshan Qu, Urumqi, 830041, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region,People’s Republic of China

Ambassador Mr. Xie Fang

Embassy of the People’s Republic of China

3505 International Place NW Washington, DC 20008

Phone: 202 495 2266 / Fax: 202 495 2138

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @ChineseEmbinUS ; @AmbQinGang

Salutation: Dear Ambassador

SAMPLE LETTER:

Dear Secretary Ma,

I am writing to express concern about the situation of Uyghur student Kamile Wayit (卡米莱.瓦依提), who was sentenced under the charge of “promoting extremism” on 25 March 2023. A spokesperson from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the news of her conviction to the Economist Magazine in early June 2023. It is unclear how long Kamile was sentenced for and where she is being held.

Kamile Wayit is a 19-year-old first-year student at the Shangqiu Institute of Technology (商丘工学院) located in Henan(河南). She was taken away on 12 December 2022 by the police after returning home to Atush, Xinjiang for a holiday. It is believed that her detention may be related to a video that she posted on WeChat in November 2022 about the protests that took place across China to commemorate the victims of a fire in Urumqi. Kamile should be released immediately as she was only peacefully exercising her rights to freedom of expression.

I am further concerned about Kamile’s health condition. According to a source close to Kamile, she had been suffering from depression, and was scheduled to have an eye surgery in the summer of this year. With little information about her situation in general, I am deeply worried about her wellbeing and the risk of her being subjected to torture and other ill-treatment.

I therefore urge you to:

  • Immediately release Kamile Wayit, unless there is sufficient, credible and admissible evidence that she has committed an internationally recognisable criminal offence;
  • Pending her release, reveal her whereabouts, allow her regular access to her family and a lawyer of her choice;
  • Pending her release, ensure that Kamile Wayit has access to adequate medical care, and she is not subjected to torture and other ill-treatment;

Yours Sincerely,

[YOUR NAME]

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES