“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

Maimaitiabiti Zaiding

麦麦提阿比提 · 再丁

Assumed Location

Prison, Changji city

Suspected Reasons for Arrest or Detention

Family member studying abroad

Official Reason for Arrest or Detention

Unknown

Last Contact

April 2017

Maimaitiabiti is a businessman from Kashgar who went missing at the end of April 2017 after being told by police that he could be prosecuted if a family member then studying in Malaysia failed to return to Xinjiang.

In September 2020, the person interviewed by Amnesty International and based in the USA managed to get confirmation, through a connection close to Maimaitiabiti’s family still in Xinjiang, that Maimaitiabiti is in prison with a seven-year sentence. It is believed that he is being detained for having a family member living and studying abroad. The person Amnesty International spoke with believes Maimaitiabiti spent time in an internment camp before being sent to prison and doubts whether there was a fair trial or whether Maimaitiabiti has had access to a lawyer of his choice.

Personal Details

Maimaitiabiti enjoys reading and he used to do a lot of charity work in his community. He is described as introvert but really kind.

Date of Birth

22 February 1954

Ethnicity

Uyghur

Hometown

Kashgar

Profession

Businessman

Read More