ICC Note:
The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has rendered the opinion that Mr Yimit has been arbitrarily detained in China. The authorities convicted him of “illegally providing state secrets to foreign nationals” and he is currently serving a 15-year prison sentence for that. Yimit denies the charges and many believe the charges against him are actually connected to him being a leader of an unregistered church. CSW claims the charges against him are groundless and that he is being penalized for his peaceful religious activities as an unregistered church leader. Therefore, they are urging the authorities to re-assess his case thoroughly, impartially and without delay, with a view to securing his unconditional release.
09/01/2016 China (CSW News) – Alimujan Yimit (also written Alimjan Yimit or Alimujiang Yimiti) is a Uyghur Christian from Xinjiang in Northwest China. In 2009, he was convicted of “illegally providing state secrets to foreign nationals” and is currently serving a 15-year prison sentence. Mr Yimit has denied these charges. Those familiar with the case believe his detention is connected with a set of earlier charges put forward by the Kashgar Municipal Bureau for Ethnic and Religious Affairs in Xinjiang, relating to his “illegal” religious activities as the leader of an unregistered church.
The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has rendered the opinion that Mr Yimit has been arbitrarily detained.
A Chinese author close to Mr Yimit’s family claims that his case could be reopened in connection with China’s nationwide anti-corruption campaign, which has resulted in the ousting of officials who handled Yimit’s case. CSW has not yet been able to verify this report.
…
