“Like we were enemies in a war”

China’s Mass Internment, Torture and Persecution of Muslims in Xinjiang

“Like we were enemies in a war” China’s Mass Internment, Torture and Persecution of Muslims in Xinjiang

Illustrations by Molly Crabapple

Yasin Abdurahman

亚鑫· 阿布都热合曼

Assumed Location

Prison, Aksu

Suspected Reasons for Arrest or Detention

Transfer of money to relatives abroad

Official Reason for Arrest or Detention

“Supporting terrorism”

Last Contact

March 2017

According to his son-in-law based in Turkey, Yasin was arrested in March 2017 and spent three years in an internment camp in Bugur county. At the end of 2020 he was sentenced to 20 years in prison charged with “supporting terrorism” solely because Yasin paid for the studies of his daughter and son-in-law in Malaysia. After the sentence he was transferred to a prison in Aksu. It is unclear whether Yasin had a trial or access to a lawyer of his choice and whether he is currently able to speak with his family. Yasin’s family had been petitioning the Chinese authorities for months without any response.

Personal Details

Yasin had nine different surgeries due some back problems. He was one of the richest men in the area, he was really charitable and always tried to help others.
Yasin’s three brothers, Kasim Abdurahman, Mehmet Abdurahman, and Omer Abdurahman, are also in detention.

Date of Birth

18 September 1963

Ethnicity

Uyghur

Hometown

Korla, Bugur county

Profession

Land owner

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