Thread by @jlfreeman6

The best thing about the Beijing #Olympics is that the word #Uyghur is now in the headlines every single day.

To help give a face to the million+ Uyghurs in China's camps, let me introduce you to my friend Rahile Dawut.

Rahile disappeared into China's camps four years ago.

1/

Rahile is a renowned anthropologist, specializing in Uyghur religious traditions and oral literature.

Respected in China and internationally, she has lectured at Harvard and Cornell.

She is also one of the warmest, funniest, most generous people I know.

2/

Rahile has been a mentor for a generation of Uyghur graduate students.

Her students revere her. Many have gone on to academic careers of their own.

Rahile is famous in the Uyghur region. People know her, and they're proud of her.

Yet she's completely humble about it all.

3/

I've known Rahile many years. I worked for her as a translator & we spent many hours discussing everything under the sun.

I learned so much from her. I consider her a good friend. She was one of my recommenders for grad school.

And now she's gone. Her crime—being born a Uyghur.

Rahile was taken away in December 2017. We still have no news of her.

The word #Uyghur should stay in the headlines even after these Olympics come to an end.

In the meantime, please share Rahile's story.

#FreeRahile

nytimes.com/2018/08/10/wor…