Tohti Muzart, was sentenced for 14 years last Summer in Urumchi.

From: TudiH@aol.com

Somebody sent the following information in Uyghur.  I translated it into  English./ Turdi

           Dec. 9, 2000 / I am not sure if you heard about it yet, Tohti Muzart, who got his Ph.D in history in Japan was sentenced for 14 years last Summer in Urumchi.  Tohti Muzart graduated from the history department of Central Institute of  Nationalities in 1984 and was assigned to work for China National Standing
Committee. He studied at Tokyo University from 1990-1995 for his Ph.D degree.  He was majored in Uyghur history and ethnic relationships.  He published several papers on Uyghur history in Japan.  He also published a book in Beijing.  Tohti is from the Bay county of Aksu prefecture.  He adopted the name of the biggest river “Muzart” in Bay county as his pen name.   Tohti is a talented historian.  He is also a specialist on social issues  related to other   minorities in our homeland.   He had close relationship with former Xinjiang governors Seyfudin Eziz and  Ismail Emet during the years he was at the China National Standing Committee.     He was also involved in translation effort of Seyfudin Eziz’s works.    Tohti was arrested soon after he came to Urumchi in 1999 to collect material  for his research.  He had been reportedly watched by security police for   quite some time.  He was reportedly arrested with some alleged sensitive material.  There are  many different sayings about the content of those materials.  Some say it was  materials on ethnic relations which was published for inside circles only.   Some say it was material published for general public.    His was accused with the same charges as Rebiya Kadir-- “attempting to pass  secret information across the border”.    He was kept at a detention center for one year incommunicado. His wife in   Japan tried to learn his  whereabouts in vain during his detention.    His wife and kids in Japan are reportedly in difficult situation.   Tohti Muzart is one the few Uyghur Ph. Ds.  Especially, he is a Ph. D in the   much needed history.  Unfortunately, he could not escape the ill-fate of   Uyghur intellectuals.  I hope his case will come into light and he will be   free soon.     If you want to learn more about Tohti, please visit the following web sites.  
WWW.Misiran.com
Http://uighurboy.xiloo.com  
Sincerely,  \  Oghuz Soyu

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