Additional Name(s): Alimjan Yimit, Alimjan Hemit, Ahlimujiang, ئالىمجان ھىمىت, 阿里木江*依米提

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: China

Ethnic Group: Uyghur

Religion or Belief: Christian – Protestant

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Appeal: Rejected

Sentence: 15 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: January/12/2008

Date of Sentencing: August/6/2009

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: Yes

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Ethnoreligious Identity Religious Activity Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Leaking State Secrets

Alimujiang Yimiti

Extra Bio Info:

Alimujiang Yimiti was imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On January 12, 2008, authorities detained Yimiti, a house church minister, in Kashgar, Xinjiang, after accusing him of inciting separatism and leaking state secrets.  The accusations reportedly stem from a conversation Yimiti had with an American colleague about an interview he had with local authorities about his preaching activities.

On February 28, 2008, Yimiti was formally charged.

 In April 2008, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention sent a communication to authorities recognizing Yimiti's detention as arbitrary and because of "religious faith and religious activities."

On August 6, 2009, Kashgar Intermediate People's Court sentenced Yimiti to 15 years in prison for "leaking state secrets" to foreign organizations (Art. 111 CCL).

On March 16, 2010, the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region High People's Court rejected Yimiti's appeal.

In March 2023, it was reported that Yimiti had been released from prison.

Yimiti is married with two children.

Rep. Rick Allen (R-GA) advocated for Yimiti as part of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission's Defending Freedoms Project.

Sources: