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China - Uyghur Christian released after two years in labor camp

By the editorial team

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A Uyghur Christian from Xinjiang was released on 18.11.09 after two years in a labor camp for alleged "illegal proselytizing" and "leaking state secrets".

Authorities had called for 10-15 years in prison for Osman Imin (Wusiman Yaming in Chinese), but the sentence was significantly reduced after international media coverage.

As the leader of the Uyghur church in the region, he was first arrested in 2004. According to local sources, probably because of his church ministry. Working 12-15 hours a day in the prison camp, his health deteriorated due to malnutrition. Osman is married and has two young girls.

Another arbitrarily imprisoned is the Christian Uyghur, Alimjan Yimit (Alimujiang Yimiti in Chinese). First, in September 2007, police shut down the foreign company Alimjan worked for, accusing him of using the company as a cover to "preach Christianity." He was charged in January 2008 with endangering state security and arrested on 20.02.08 on charges of "inciting secession" and "leaking state secrets." The court sent Alimjan's case back to the prosecutor in May 2008 due to lack of evidence. Family, friends and colleagues claim that Alimjan is a loyal citizen, without access to state secrets, and that his imprisonment is due to his Christian faith and cooperation with foreign Christians. Government sources told Alimjan's mother on 21.05.09 that the Public Security Service (PSB) was quietly planning to sentence him to three years in re-education camp, thereby circumventing the judicial system.