MEPs of Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), Committee on Development (DEVE) and Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI) exchange views with Jewher Ilham, daughter of Ilham Tohti, the 2019 Sakharov Prize laureate, during a joint meeting in the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Ilham Tohti is a Uyghur scholar and human rights activist, currently imprisoned for life in China.

Exchange of views with Jewher Ilham, daughter of Ilham Tohti, 2019 Sakharov Prize laureate: extracts from the joint meeting of Committee on Foreign Affairs, Committee on Development and Subcommittee on Human Rights

Title:  Exchange of views with ILHAM Jewher, daughter of ILHAM Tohti, 2019 Sakharov Prize laureate: extracts from the joint meeting of Committee on Foreign Affairs, Committee on Development and Subcommittee on Human Rights (I-181978)

Atmosphere before the exchange of views (3 shots)

SOUNDBITE (English), ILHAM Jewher, daughter of ILHAM Tohti, It is unfortunate that he is not able to accept this award by himself. I wish he could be here today. But what I also wish more is that an award like this does not have to exist in this world. Because that would mean there is no human rights violations existing in this world. And I wish one day no one will need to be recognized for a Human Rights Advocacy Act. And that my wish is that my father can be released and all the other human rights activists, all the noble man like my father can be released.

SOUNDBITE (English), ILHAM Jewher, daughter of ILHAM Tohti, My father did use one weapon. His words. He tried to use his words to find solutions to problems. The problems which existed in China are still existing and are causing a bigger damage. My father believed that an unsolved problem will lead to a bigger problem. He was trying to be a fixer. He tried to provide help to the Chinese Government? because he saw so many problems and he thinks it is doable, it is changeable. And he wanted to be involved and help. But instead of accepting my father's peaceful and moderate advices, the Chinese Government put my father in prison and sentenced him to life.

SOUNDBITE (English), ILHAM Jewher, daughter of ILHAM Tohti, There were so many times I decided to give up. I said: "This is a last event I will be attending. This is the last time I am going to sacrifice my time in this". I told myself so many times, but here I am today. After five years, still at this table, even though I know this meeting, this award could bring angers to the Chinese Government officials. But I know I have to do it. I know I cannot just sit back and give up and do nothing, because I know that if I do that, I cannot face my father. I want my father to be proud of me and I want him to be proud of himself, that he educated me and he taught me to the way that I am today. I want every person in this room, please be involved. Please help my father. Please help all the hundreds of thousands of millions of Uyghurs who are innocent and locked up in a concentration camp or a prison room for a wrong reason. Please be involved for this great cause.

SOUNDBITE (English), ILHAM Jewher, daughter of ILHAM Tohti, Let's fight together. This is not only about one person. This is not about one religion. This is not about one community. This is a humanitarian issue. This is about everyone. If this could happen to me, to my family, this could be happening to every other person on this planet. And this is a time we all need to stand together. Thank you so much.

Exchange of views with Jewher Ilham, daughter of Ilham Tohti, 2019 Sakharov Prize laureate: extracts from the joint meeting of Committee on Foreign Affairs, Committee on Development and Subcommittee on Human Rights

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Sakharov Prize 2019

DEVE - Committee on Development

DROI Subcommittee on Human Rights

AFET - Committee on Foreign Affairs