Contact: Katherine Cason, 267-210-8278, Katherine@ChinaAid.org; Washington DC contact: Jenny McCloy, 202-213-0506, Jenny@ChinaAid.org; www.ChinaAid.org, www.MonitorChina.org

XINJIANG, April 28 /Christian Newswire/ -- On April 21, imprisoned Uyghur Christian Alimujiang Yimiti was allowed to meet with his attorney Li Dunyong. Attorney Li had concerns for Alimujiang's well-being after eyewitnesses saw Alimujiang being forcibly escorted to Nongsanshi (Military Farm) Hospital in Kashgar at 10 a.m. on March 30. Alimujiang's hands were bound and he was observed being roughly escorted by police and a prison doctor while repeatedly crying out to onlookers in Chinese, "I'm sick. Tell my lawyer to come quickly to see me."

Photo: Alimujiang's wife Guli Nuer and their sons

Attorney Li petitioned the People's Prosecutor, and was allowed to meet with Alimujiang last week.  Attorney Li described Alimujiang as "extremely happy" and said Alimujiang was thankful for the concern shown for him from all over the world. However, when Attorney Li asked about his health, Alimujiang gestured that he was not allowed to talk about that.

Attorney Li has spent last week petitioning local court and government in Kashgar for Alimujiang's release. Alimujiang's elderly mother and wife, Guli Nuer, with their youngest son were also present. Alimujiang's mother also spent the previous week petitioning the offices in Kashgar government for release of her son.

Alimujiang Yimiti has been arbitrarily detained at Kashgar, Xinjiang detention center for more than one year. He is charged with "suspicion of inciting secession and organizing people in stealing, spying, buying and illegally providing state secrets or intelligence to overseas organizations." However, ChinaAid contacts say the reason for his imprisonment is his Christian faith and witness among the Uyghur people.

On September 12, 2008, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention issued Opinion No. 29/2008 stating that Alimujiang Yimiti's detention for more than one year is arbitrary and that the Chinese government should take the necessary steps to correct the situation. 

ChinaAid calls the international community to speak out on behalf of Alimujiang Yimiti, and to petition the UN to press the Chinese government for his release.

Contact the following Chinese government offices to express your concern for Alimujiang Yimiti (pronounced A-leem'jan Yi-mit'). Offices are generally open 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. - 6 p.m. local time in China.

Xinjiang Government Leadership Office Tel./Fax: +86-991-280-3226

Xinjiang Government Law Management Office Tel./Fax: +86-991-235-6033

Contact the Chinese Embassy in Washington D.C. to urge them to release Alimujiang Yimiti:

Ambassador Zhou Wenzhong
3505 International Place, NW, Washington, D.C. 20008
Tel: (202) 495-2000
Fax: (202) 495-2190

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