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East Turkistan (the so- called Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region ) is the only province in China where the execution of political prisoners is carried out. Even in Tibet and Inner Mongolia no political prisoner has been executed since 1990. This can only prove how specific and oppresive China`s policy is towards the people of East Turkistan.
In recent years, the Chinese government has intensified its control of those who have visited their family members, studied or vacationed abroad. Upon their return from overseas, these Uyghurs face questioning, detention or even torture. In some cases, the Chinese authorities create false evidences to use against them in order to put them behind bars. Anyone who was once involved with any organizations abroad that oppose Chinas occupation of East Turkistan faces serve punishment even if they decide to live by the Chinese law after they return home. For example, on 19 July 1999 Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region Ili Prefecture Middle Court sentenced Zulpiqar Memet to death ,Tursun Abdulla and Ablikim Memet five years imprisonment each for joining anti- government organization abroad. Zulpiqar Memet was executed on the same day. According to the No 138 document issued by the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region Ili Prefecture Middle Court, in 1996 Zulpiqar Memet, Tursun Abdulla and Ablikim Memet went to study in Egypt via Kazakhstan. In early 1997, the three young Uyghurs joined East Turkistan Liberation Organision. In December 1997 they returned to East Turkistan and soon were arrested by the Chinese authorities in spite of the fact that they did not involve in any anti government activities after they returned. They were kept in detention until the open court rally and sentencing in 1999. Zulpiqar Memets case was mentioned in Amnesty Internationals report published on June 16 2000. In recent years many Uyghur organizations in exile based their head quarters in countries within the European Union. For example, East Turkistan National Congress, World Uyghur Youth Congress, East Turkistan Union Europe, German Uyghur Association, Belgium Uyghur Association and Swiss East Tutkistan Association are all based in Europe. There are about 1000 Uyghur members who take part in the peaceful activities which aim to promote democracy and freedom for the people of East Turkistan. According to the information we obtained from contacts who wish to remain anonymous, the family members of Uyghur asylum seekers are often harassed by the Chinese authorities. Some of them are even detained or tortured. However it is very disturbing to see that some European countries are rejecting the applications for political asylum of those Uyghurs who had to escape from prosecution at home .Some Uyghurs even face deportation . Its not difficult to see from the case of Zulpiqar Memet what kind of fate awaits those Uyghurs if they are forced to return home. We also like to point out that the Chinese authorities had organized an overseas Chinese conference in the Chinese capital this June. At the conference, it is decided that all the Uyghurs who have traveled abroad should be investigated and Uyghurs living overseas should be carefully observed.( Free Asia Radio in America had broadcasted news about the conference earlier.) In his December 1999 speech, Wang Lequen ,the governor of the so- called Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region pointed out that all Uyghurs who have traveled abroad must be investigated and designated the police to take concrete steps to do so.
Therefore , we hope that European countries will take into consideration of the dire situation Uyghur asylum seekers face at home so that their cases will be processed in a fair and justifiable way. (We are ready to provide actual documents when necessary.)