Thread by @jlfreeman6

It's the 51st bday of #Uyghur scholar Ilham Tohti. He’s spending it in prison, where he’s been serving a life sentence since 2014. His crime: advocating equality for Uyghurs in China.

I listened to some old interviews w Ilham & translated a few of his powerful words. Pls RT

1/5

Ilham's requests for equality were modest:

“I believe that for the Uyghur people, if policies of equality and autonomy are implemented, if their language is protected, if they can trust the law, they will have confidence in the country.”

rfa.org/uyghur/xewerle…

2/5

Facing state pressure, Ilham didn't retreat:

“Law is the strongest tool. Even now I'm not alone; the law is on my side. I take the law to heart. These ideas aren't only mine…While it's me expressing them, they're not my ideas—they're the people’s."

rfa.org/uyghur/xewerle…

3/5

To promote Uyghur-Han dialogue, Ilham ran a Chinese-language website on Uyghur issues. The state shut it down.

Ilham: “If 10 million people have no voice, a society can’t function normally. If they silence one Ilham, a thousand Ilhams may emerge.”

rfa.org/uyghur/xewerle…

4/5

Listening to these interviews, I'm once more stunned by Ilham Tohti’s bravery. I keep remembering the moment I learned he'd been given a life sentence. I felt like the wind had been knocked out of me.

But the name “Ilham” means “inspiration.” Let everyone know it. #FreeIlham