The Rafto Foundation for Human Rights has issued an appeal to Chinese authorities urging it to put an end to the reported harassment of the 2004 Rafto Prize Laureate Rebiya Kadeer´s family as a reaction to her peaceful human rights activities. If you wish to support the action, print out the appeal, sign it and post it by air mail to the Chinese authorities. Thank you! (20-JAN-07)
  

Prime Minister of the People´s Republic of China
WEN Jiabao Guojia Zongli
The State Council 9 Xihuangcheng Genbeijie
Beijingshi 100032
People´s Republic of China

       
Your Excellency,


I am deeply concerned about the ongoing detention of Abilikim Abdiriyim, and the legal and physical treatment of his brothers Alim and Kahar Abdiriyim during their period of detention and their subsequent trial on November 27, 2006. I call on the Chinese government to guarantee that Abilikim Abdiriyim has full and unfettered access to legal counsel of his choosing, and to ensure that Alim and Kahar Abdiriyim can fairly appeal against their convictions of tax fraud.

Under international human rights law, Alim and Kahar Abdiriyim must also have unfettered access to legal representation who in turn have full access to all of the documentary and other evidence against them – a right that was possibly denied to them at their first trial. Alim was sentenced to seven years in prison and fined a substantial amount of money, and Kahar was also fined although he was not given a custodial sentence.

Abilikim Abdiriyim remains in custody awaiting trial on unknown charges amid persistent and reliable reports that he has been tortured. I therefore urge you to immediately offer medical treatment to Abilikim Abdiriyim. I further urge you to conduct a full enquiry into the allegations that Alim and Kahar were also beaten and tortured by law officials, and to ensure that anyone found guilty of perpetrating torture against any one of these three brothers should be held accountable under relevant Chinese and international laws.

I am deeply concerned that the main reason for the severe treatment of these three brothers may be the activities of their mother Rebiya Kadeer in peacefully promoting human rights for the Uighur people of the XUAR. I appeal to you to put an end to the reported harassment of Rebiya Kadeer´s family as a reaction to her peaceful human rights activities.

Yours sincerely,