[wanabidii] Press Releases: Conviction and Sentencing of Ilham Tohti

You are subscribed to Press Releases for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Press Releases: Conviction and Sentencing of Ilham Tohti 09/23/2014 03:41 PM EDT Conviction and Sentencing of Ilham Tohti Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC September 23, 2014 The United States is deeply disturbed that Ilham Tohti has been convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment. Peaceful dissent is not a crime. This harsh sentence appears to be retribution for Professor Tohti’s peaceful efforts to promote human rights for China’s ethnic Uighur citizens. Ilham Tohti is known to the world for his many years working to foster mutual understanding, tolerance, and dialogue to peacefully promote harmony and unity between Uighurs and Han Chinese. His detention silenced an important moderate Uighur voice. Mr. Tohti and those like him are indispensable in helping to resolve the underlying causes of unrest and violence. Silencing them can only make tensions worse. I have raised Professor Tohti’s case repeatedly, including during the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue in July. Ambassador Baucus reiterated our calls for Professor Tohti’s release just last week during his visit to Xinjiang. And we again urge the Chinese authorities to release Professor Tohti, as well as his students who remain in detention. They deserve the protections and freedoms to which they are entitled under China’s international human rights commitments and its own constitution. Differentiating between peaceful dissent and violent extremism is vital to any effective efforts to counter terrorism. The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department. External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein. Stay connected with the State Department:       External links found in this content or on Department of State websites that go to other non-Department websites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.  Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please visit subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com. This service is provided to you at no charge by U.S. Department of State. This email was sent to wanabidii@googlegroups.com using GovDelivery, on behalf of: U.S. Department of State · 2201 C Street NW · Washington, DC 20520

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