Human Rights Dispatch Sep 23, 2026 China Marks 12 Years Jailing Ilham Tohti, HRF Demands Release of Dr. Gulshan Abbas, Groups Call to Free Sophia Huang Xueqin Today marks 12 years since the Chinese regime sentenced Ilham Tohti, a respected Uyghur economist and academic, to life in prison for “separatism.” Ilham peacefully advocated for Uyghur rights through data, research, education, and open dialogue.