advocate for the uighur ethnic group unjustly jailed in china...

in the wake of the jewish holiday yom kippur - the day of atonement - i post the final of four ramadan human rights actions that ask you to send a card of support to buoy the spirits of a human rights activist who is being persecuted simply for exercising democratic rights...

husein dzhelil, a canadian citizen and ethnic uighur from xinjiang uighur autonomous region (xuar) in northwest china, was detained in uzbekistan on march 27, 2006...he was handed over to chinese authorities in june and tried before a court in urumqi, capital of xuar, on february 2, 2007...although authorities had previously indicated dzhelil was sought for "terrorist" activities, it appears that no such charges were read at his trial...instead, he was reportedly questioned about his activities and those of others from the uighur ethnic group...

husein dzhelil claims to have been tortured while in chinese custody...chinese authorities reportedly threatened that he would "disappear" and "be buried alive" unless he signed a document that was later presented as a confession in court...mr. dzhelil reportedly protested the court's appointment of a defense lawyer, asking instead for one of his choice, and also called for canadian representatives to be present...these requests reportedly went unheeded by the court...

chinese authorities continue to mount a crackdown on the so-called "three evil forces" of "separatism, terrorism, and religious extremism" in xuar, which has resulted in serious and widespread human rights violations directed against the region's uighur community...amnesty international urges chinese authorities to clarify any charges brought against huzein dzhelil and reminds them that he is a canadian citizen who should be given access to canadian consular officials, lawyers of his choice, and family members while he remains in detention...

please send cards of support...you may write in english...if you would like to say:

"We are thinking about you" in the pinyin form of Chinese, you may write: "Wo men kaolu ni."

write to:
Husein Dzhelil
Baijiahu Jianyu
Wulumuqishi 830000
Xinjiang Weiwuer Zizhiqu
PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

peace out <3