Renowned Uyghur academic, Professor Rahile Dawut, has reportedly been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Chinese government for allegedly endangering state security. The confirmation of her sentence comes after she appealed against her initial conviction in 2018. Human rights groups have accused China of committing crimes against humanity towards the Uyghur population, including mass detention and imprisonment in re-education camps.

The sentencing of Professor Dawut has been met with outrage from rights groups and academics alike, with calls for her immediate release and safe return to her family. Her daughter, Akeda Pulati, made a plea to the Chinese government, urging them to show mercy and release her innocent mother. Professor Dawut, an expert in Uyghur folklore and traditions, had been teaching at Xinjiang University College of Humanities and had conducted extensive fieldwork throughout Xinjiang.

Her case is one among many concerning Uyghur intellectuals who have been detained, arrested, and imprisoned since 2016. The international community, including the US, has accused China of genocide in Xinjiang, although China denies these allegations. The Uyghur population, which numbers around 12 million, is predominantly Muslim and resides in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.