Tohti was convicted of “separatism,” according to a Sept. 16 release made by international humanitarian organization Amnesty International.
Separatism is defined as advocating or practicing against a group of people and, in this case, the Chinese government.
Previously, Tohti was traveling with his daughter to IU as a visiting scholar with the Institute of International Education when he was detained in February 2013.
While Tohti never made it to IU, Land said his daughter has remained in Bloomington since.
“He’s not a radical guy at all, but he’s been charged with stirring up trouble for the government and between ethnic groups,” said Mark Land, associate vice president for IU communications.
Tohti, a globally known scholar who was working to reduce tensions between ethnic groups in China, was arrested in January, according to a statement issued by the University.
Seven Uighur students were arrested at the same time as Tohti, according to Amnesty International.
His focus was on the ethnic groups Uighurs and Han Chinese, according to the University.
The University also expressed concern for some IU faculty members who are having trouble currently traveling in China.
“We’re obviously monitoring these sort of situations very carefully,” Land said.
IU’s goal is to join others in speaking out in what is thought to be an unjust resolution, Land said.
“We believe very strongly that part of academic freedom is to go where you need to go and do what you need to do, to collaborate with your academic colleagues,” he said.
Kathrine Schulze
