Mevlüde Hilal
毛丽旦 · 依拉吾冬
Assumed Location
Prison
Suspected Reasons for Arrest or Detention
Ethnicity
Official Reason for Arrest or Detention
“Separatism”
Last Contact
End 2016-early 2017
The last time Mevlüde’s sister, who lives in Turkey, heard her voice was at end of 2016. At that time, Mevlüde was living in their hometown. She had moved back from Turkey, where she studied, to help their mother whose health was declining. Mevlüde married and had a daughter while living in Xinjiang, but she was planning to return to Turkey. Her plans did not become a reality because in 2017 Mevlüde was arrested and sent to an internment camp until May 2019, and later moved to a prison. Through a reliable source, Mevlüde’s sister discovered that Mevlüde was sentenced to 10 years in prison on a charge of “separatism”. The imprisonment was later confirmed by the Chinese embassy in Turkey. Despite reaching out several times to both the Chinese and Turkish authorities, Mevlüde’s sister was unable to gather any official documentation about Mevlüde’s case. Since late 2017, she has also lost contact with the rest of the family living in Xinjiang. Mevlüde’s sister believes that the real reason behind the arrest is Mevlüde’s ethnicity.
Personal Details
Mevlüde is married and has one daughter. She is a Turkish and English teacher and is described by her sister as a friendly person who likes to help people, read books and travel. Mevlüde’s sister ended the interview saying: “I hope she will be free as soon as possible. I want her to come back to Turkey.”
Date of Birth
1 July 1986
Ethnicity
Uyghur
Hometown
Ghulja (Yining)
Profession
Turkish and English teacher in private school
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