A speech put 24 Uyghurs in danger

Among the 24 participants, 15 have been imprisoned, 2 have died, 3 are missing. There’s no further details about those 3 Uyghurs were missing in China.

Below are interrogation log in original language:

[1 – Times]

Interrogation Log

Time: From 2017 December 30, 10:38 to 2017 December 30, 11:50.

Location: Konashehir County Mush Police Station

The Interrogator (Signature)-                                Workplace-

The Stenographer (Signature)-                              Workplace-

Workplace: State Internal Security Protection Department, The Public Security Bureau of Konashahar County

The Suspect– Meremnisa Estilla ( مەرەمنىسا ئەستىللا) (3rd Group, Uruqchilik (Agricultural) Field, Ochar Country Yingsar County)

 

Question 1: we are the cadre police officers of the State Internal Security department of the Public Security Bureau in Konashahar County. Now, we will ask you questions about the case according to the law. You must answer the questions truthfully and precisely. If you lie or distort the evidence, you will be punished more severely according to the law. You have the right to refuse to answer unrelated questions. Do you understand?

Answer 1: I understand clearly.

 

Question 2: how is your health? Can you answer the questions asked?

Answer 2: my health is good, and I can answer the questions asked.

 

Question 3: Introduce yourself

Answer 3: My name is Meremnisa Estilla ( مەرەمنىسا ئەستىللا), Uyghur, born on February 4, 1986. My ID number is 653121198602042628. My profession is farmer. I have a middle school education. My registered residence and current address is No: 059, 3rd Group, Uruqchilik Field, Uchar Country, Yingsar County. There are five people in my family, including myself. I am married and have no criminal record.

 

Question 4: Briefly introduce your history

Answer 4: I was born in 1986 and stayed at home with family until 1993. From 1993 to 1999, I studied at the 5th Neighborhood Primary School in Mush country. From 1999 to 2002, I attended the middle school in this country. From 2002 to 2004, I stayed at home. In August 2004, I married Abduweli Yasin (ئابدۇۋىلى ياسىن ) (who is currently in prison), and we divorced in 2011 while he was still in prison (Dahiyen Prison). In July 2011, I married my current husband, Abdugheni Qadir (ئابدۇغىنى قادىر). After marrying in July 2011, we have been living in the 3rd team of the Uruqchilik (Agricultural) Field in Ochar Country, Yingsar County.

 

Question 5: Describe your family’s social relations?

Answer 5: Father: Estilla Rozi (ئەستىللا رۇزى), 65 years old, farmer, from 4th Neighborhood, 5th Village, Mush Country.
Mother: Hilimihan Memet (ھىلىمىخان مەمەت), around 62 years old, farmer, from 4th Neighborhood, 5th Village, Mush Counytry.
Elder Sister: Gile Qiz Estilla (گىلە قىز ئەستىىللا), around 42 years old, farmer, lives in 1st Village, Hangdi Country, Kashgar City.
Her Husband: Uraim Ghopur (ئۇرايىم غۇپۇر), around 40 years old, worker, lives in 1st Village, Hangdi Country, Kashgar City.

Elder Brother: Sadir Estilla (سادىر ئەستىللا), around 40 years old, went missing without a trace in May 2011.
His Wife: Mikaram Asim (مىكەرەم ئاسىم), around 29 years old, also went missing without a trace in May 2011.

Younger Sister: Qembernisa Estilla (قەمبەرنىسا ئەستىللا), around 36 years old, farmer, lives in 4th Village of Opal Bazaar.
Her Husband: Memetzunun Qurban (مەمەتزۇنۇن قۇربان), around 28 years old, farmer, lives in 4th Village of Opal Bazaar.

Younger Sister: Nursimangul Estilla (نۇرسىمانگۇل ئەستىللا), around 28 years old, farmer, from 13th Neighborhood, 7th Village, Mush Country.
Her Husband: Memetqari Yasin (مەمەتقارى ياسىن), around 28 years old, farmer, from 13th Neighborhood, 7th Village, Mush Country.

Younger Sister: Gulqiz Estilla (گۇلقىز ئەستىللا), around 27 years old, farmer, from 4th Neighborhood, 5th Village, Mush Country.

Younger Brother: Ghulamjan Estilla (غۇلامجان ئەستىللا), around 22 years old, worker, employed in a factory in Yopurga County.

 

Question 6: Among your relatives, are there any who have been punished or taken to re-education camps?

Answer 6: My husband, Abdugheni Qadir, was sentenced to a fixed term of 10 years in June 2017.
My father, Estilla Rozi, was sentenced to 6 years in February 2017.
My sister, Gulqiz Estilla, was sentenced to 7 years in June 2017.

 

Question 7: Do you know why we are talking to you right now?

One day during Ramadan in September 2010, my uncle Mukhtar Memet (who passed away in 2013) invited us as guests for Iftar. After having Iftar with the other guests, the men left to perform the Tarawih prayer. Later, after finishing our meal, the women stayed in the inner house while the men gathered in the outer house to perform the late-night prayer (Tahajjud).

Following this, a guest named Pettar Ablimit (from 4th Neighborhood of the 5th District in Mush village, currently in prison) gave us a talk about the virtues of Ramadan. He explained:
“Fasting during Ramadan brings rewards. During this time, it is necessary to perform the five daily prayers without fail. Staying awake during the Night of Power (Laylat al-Qadr) brings great blessings. If one prays 100 rakats (units) during this night, their wishes will be granted, and they will be fulfilled.”

I don’t remember the rest of his speech. The next morning, after having Suhoor (pre-dawn meal), we returned to our homes. That was what happened.

 

Question 8: Who were the people gathered with you listening to Pettar Ablimit’s above-mentioned speech?

Answer 8: The following individuals were present and listened to Pettar Ablimit’s speech:

1. My uncle Mukhtar Memet (مۇختەر مەمەت ) (from 4th Neighborhood of the 5th District, in Mush Village, currently in prison).
2. His wife Asimgul Kerim (ئاسىمگۇل كىرىم ) (from 4th Neighborhood of the 5th District, in Mush Village, currently in prison).
3. My niece Sherigul Mukhtar (شەرىگۇل مۇختەر ) (from 4th Neighborhood of the 5th District, in Mush Village, currently in prison).
4. Pettar Ablimit (پەتتار ئابلىمىت ) (from 4th Neighborhood of the 5th District, in Mush Village, currently in prison).
5. My grandmother Shehrinsakhan Yusup (شەھرىنساخان يۈسۈپ ) (passed away in 2014).
6. My mother Hilimkhan Memet (ھىلىمخان مەمەت ) (from 4th Neighborhood of the 5th District, in Mush Village).
7. Hajigul Memet (ھاجىگۇل مەمەت ) (from 4th Neighborhood of the 5th District, in Mush Village, currently in prison).
8. Ayshemgul Tawakkul (ئايشەمگۇل تەۋەككۇل ) (from 4th Neighborhood of the 5th District, in Mush Village, currently in prison).
9. Khalidam Ablimit (خالىدەم ئابلىمىت ) (from 4th Neighborhood of the 5th District, in Mush Village, currently in prison).
10. Nukhan Huseyin (نۇخان ھۈسىيىن ) (from 4th Neighborhood of the 5th District, in Mush Village).
11. Jemiligul Memet (جەمىلىگۇل مەمەت ) (from 4th Neighborhood of the 5th District, in Mush Village, currently in prison).
12. Mikarem Asim (مىكەرەم ئاسىم ) (from 4th Neighborhood of the 5th District, in Mush Village, whereabouts unknown).
13. Sadir Estulla (سادىر ئەستۇللا ) (from 4th Neighborhood of the 5th District, in Mush Village, whereabouts unknown).
14. Memeteli Turap (مەمەتئىلى تۇراپ ) (from 4th Neighborhood of the 5th District, in Mush Village, whereabouts unknown).
15. Patigul Tursun (پاتىگۇل تۇرسۇن ) (from 4th Neighborhood of the 5th District, in Mush Village).
16. Raziye Abliz (رازىيەم ئابلىز ) (deceased).
17. My father Estulla Rozi (ئەستۇللا روزى ) (from 4th Neighborhood of the 5th District, in Mush Village, currently in prison).
18. Memetimin Memet (مەمىتىمىن مەمەت ) (from 4th Neighborhood of the 5th District, in Mush Village, currently in prison).
19. Sadir Ghopur (سادىر غوپۇر ) (from 4th Neighborhood of the 5th District, in Mush Village, currently in prison).
20. Nurulla Obul (نۇرۇللا ئوبۇل ) (from 4th Neighborhood of the 5th District, in Mush Village, currently in prison).
21. My uncle Ilyas Memet (ئىلياس مەمەت ) (from 4th Neighborhood of the 5th District, in Mush Village, currently in prison).

This was the group that I remember gathering for the event.

 

Question 9: Did Pettar Ablimit deliver any other speeches on different topics?

Answer 9: No, Pettar Ablimit did not deliver any speeches on other topics.

 

Question 10: Have you attended other gatherings where you participated in night prayers and listened to speeches?

Answer 10: Yes, there was another occasion in September 2010 during Ramadan when I attended a night prayer at my grandmother Shehrinsakhan Yusup’s house (who passed away in 2014). During the prayer, Pettar Ablimit gave a sermon about the special qualities of Ramadan. He mentioned that fasting during Ramadan brings great reward and emphasized the importance of performing the five daily prayers without neglect. He also spoke about the great reward of praying during the Night of Qadr, stating that if one prays 100 rakats during the night, their wishes would be granted and fulfilled.

 

Question 11: Who was there during this gathering?

Answer 11: My uncle Mukhtar Memet, his wife Asimgul Kerim, my niece Sherigul Mukhtar, Pettar Ablimit, my mother Hilimkhan Memet, Hajigul Memet, Ayshamgul Tewekkul, Nukhan Husyin, Jemiligul Memet, Mikarem Asim, Sadir Esetulla, Memeteli Turap, Patigul Tursun, Raziye Abliz, Memetimin Memet, Sadir Ghupur, Nurulla Obul, my uncle Ilyas Memet, Khanzurem Ablimit (4th neighborhood of 5th district in Mush village, currently in prison), Abla Siyit (2th neighborhood of 9th district in Mush village, currently in prison), and others were present.

 

Question 12: Have you attended other night prayers anywhere else besides the above-mentioned places?

Answer 12: No.

 

Question 13: Did Pettar Ablimit preach to you and others about migration (Hijra) and battle (jihad)?

Answer 13: No.

Question 14: What other topics of preaching did you listen to besides the above?

Answer 14: Around May of 2011, I listened to my sister, Bilqiz Estilla (who passed away in 2012), preach about women wearing jilbabs and observing hijab.

Question 15: Can you describe the content of the sermon that Bilqiz Estilla delivered in detail?

Answer 15: She preached that if women do not wear jilbabs and observe hijab, it would be wrong. Women should obey their husbands, and if they wear jilbabs and observe hijab, they will enter paradise in the hereafter. She also preached that if you get married, you should wear long clothes.

 

Question 16: How did you feel after listening to the above sermon?

Answer 16: After listening to my sister Bilqiz Estilla’s sermon, I wore jilbabs and observed hijab from June 2011 until May 2012.

 

Question 17: Did you encourage others to wear jilbabs and observe hijab?

Answer 17: No.

 

Question 18: How much do you know about religion?

Answer 18: I know two surahs (verses) of the Quran.

 

Question 19: From whom have you taken religious lessons?

Answer 19: Around July of 2005, my grandmother, Sherinsakhan Yusuf (who passed away in 2014), told me, ‘You are growing up, you will get married soon, and if you do not know how to pray, it will be a problem.’ She taught me to pray, and I learned the two surahs related to prayer within about seven days.

 

Question 20: Who else did you take religious lessons with from Sherinsakhan Yusuf?

Answer 20: I was alone, there was no one else.

 

Question 21: Did Sherinsakhan Yusuf preach to you while giving you religious lessons?

Answer 21: No, that did not happen.

 

Question 22: Who else have you taken religious lessons from?

Answer 22: I haven’t taken religious lessons from anyone else.

 

Question 23: How many telephone cards do you have under your name?

Answer 23: Under my name, in July 2017, I registered a phone card with the number 15276013465 from the mobile communication center in Mush village, and I have been using it normally ever since.

 

Question 24: Has your above phone number been suspended by Public Security Bureaus?

Answer 24: No

 

Question 25: Have you ever registered a SIM card in your name for someone else?

Answer 25: No.

 

Question 26: Do you access the internet on your mobile phone?

Answer 26: No, I do not access the internet.

 

Question 27: Have you ever used a VPN or firewall bypass software on your mobile phone?

Answer 27: I do not know that kind of thing, I have never used it.

 

Question 28: Have you ever communicated with someone abroad? Have you received a call from abroad?

Answer 28: No.

 

Question 29: What other apps have you installed and used on your mobile phone besides the ones mentioned above?

Answer 29: I only know how to make phone calls.

 

Question 30: Have you ever viewed, shared, or stored illegal content on WeChat?

Answer 30: No

 

Question 31: Have you ever stored illegal religious books in your home?

Answer 31: I have never tried to store other religious books.

 

Question 32: Have you ever encouraged others to gain religious knowledge or to pray?

Answer 32: No, I have not encouraged anyone.

 

Question 33: Do you know if others have committed illegal actions?

Answer 33: No, I do not know.

 

Question 34: Is there anything else you would like to add?

Answer 34: No.

 

Question 35: Is what you said above true?

Answer 35: Yes, it is.

 

Question 36: After reading the above statement, if what you said matches, sign your signature and press your finger.

Answer 36: –

 

The Interrogator:

The Stenographer:

On the 30th of December 2017