Ilham Tohti

Ilham Tohti is a Uyghur economist and activist who was sentenced to life in prison in 2014 for 'separatism' due to his advocacy for Uyghur rights and autonomy in China. His work has focused on promoting understanding between Uyghurs and Han Chinese, and he has been a vocal critic of the Chinese government's policies in Xinjiang, where he argues that the Uyghur people are facing systemic repression. Tohti's imprisonment has drawn international condemnation and highlighted the precarious situation of Uyghurs in China.