Innocence in Captivity: China’s Long Imprisonment Policy
Executive Summary
The unjust, long imprisonments in the Uyghur region are one of the most critical dimensions of the ongoing genocide against Uyghurs and other Turkic people of the region. The trend started in 2016 and is continuing at an unprecedented pace. The lack of transparency in the justice system in the Uyghur region and the criminalization of minor or vague charges as an instrument of control raise serious concerns at the international level. The due process does not presume the innocence of individuals, where most convictions are without a known trial. One of the highest imprisonment rates in the world is recorded in Konasheher County, where approximately one in 25 people are imprisoned for “terrorism” charges. Victims have no right to object to conviction and, most of the time, have no communication with the outside world, including their family members. According to studies, Uyghur political prisoners are 93% less likely to be released compared to Han prisoners. They are nine times more likely to die in prison compared to other ethnic minorities.
