Gulmira Imin (古丽米拉•艾明)
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Crime: “separatism,” “leaking state secrets,” and “organizing an illegal demonstration”
Length of Punishment: Life sentence, reduced to 19 years and 8 months
Court: Urumqi Intermediate Court
Trial Date: Unknown date in April 2010
Sentencing Date: Unknown date in April 2010
Dates of Detention/Arrest/Indictment: July 14, 2009 (detained), arrest and indictment dates unknown
Place of Incarceration: Xinjiang No. 2 Prison, Urumqi
Gulmira Imin is a Uyghur writer, poet, and contributor to the Uyghur-language website Salkin, which covered culture and news. The Urumqi Intermediate Court sentenced her to life in prison in 2010 on charges of “separatism,” “leaking state secrets,” and “organizing an illegal demonstration” for taking part in a protest in Urumqi in 2009, and for communicating with her husband, who was abroad. Her sentence was later reduced to 19 years and eight months. She had contributed poetry and short stories to Salkin that were critical of the Chinese government’s policies.
The WGAD determined in 2012 that her detention was arbitrary and called on the Chinese government to release her. She is being held at the Xinjiang No. 2 Prison for women in Urumqi and is reportedly allowed one family visit every three months. In 2012, she received the the Hellman/Hammett award in recognition of her efforts to promote free expression despite government persecution.
Further information
“China: End Long-Term Imprisonment of Human Rights Defenders”, CHRD, December 9, 2025[F1]
Tom Lantos Human Rights Comission, Gulmira Imin, Defending Freedom Project
