Uyghur Activist Jewher Ilham Speaks at NYC's Democracy Salon
The fight for democracy and freedom is shared between Uyghurs and Han Chinese
On Saturday, September 23, Uyghur activist Jewher Ilham visited Democracy Salon to speak about her father, Ilham Tohti, and the state of Uyghur activism today. Ilham Tohti is a renowned development economist who was sentenced to life in prison nine years ago on charges of “separatism,” and who has not been heard from since 2017.
Speaking passionately, Ms. Ilham expressed deep concern for her father’s situation over the past six years and explained her father’s belief that the Uyghur fight for freedom and democracy is inherently connected to the same fight for the Han Chinese.
Ms. Ilham also engaged in lively discussion with Tiananmen student leader Wu’er Kaixi, who spoke from his unique perspectives as a Uyghur, a Taiwanese person and an activist for a democratic China.
Ms. Ilham and Wuer Kaixi both attended the event at the invitation of Democracy Salon and HRIC Executive Director Zhou Fengsuo, a longtime friend.
