Ekpar Asat is a prominent Uyghur entrepreneur and philanthropist who has been imprisoned in China since 2016 under circumstances widely criticised by international human rights organisations. Before his detention, Asat was known as a successful technology founder who created a popular Uyghur-language social media platform promoting cultural discussion, social engagement, and public awareness. His work also included initiatives supporting elderly citizens and children with disabilities, reflecting a strong commitment to social responsibility.
In early 2016, Asat participated in the U.S. Department of State International Visitor Leadership Program, a long-standing exchange initiative designed to foster professional and cultural dialogue. Shortly after returning to China in April 2016, he disappeared and was later confirmed to have been detained by Chinese authorities. According to multiple human rights reports, he was tried in secret and convicted of “inciting ethnic hatred and ethnic discrimination,” receiving a 15-year prison sentence. His family reportedly never received official court documentation, and there has been no public confirmation that he had legal representation during proceedings.
For several years following his detention, Asat’s relatives had little or no information about his condition or whereabouts. His sister, Rayhan Asat, an international human rights lawyer, has led global advocacy efforts highlighting concerns about arbitrary detention and due process violations affecting Uyghur intellectuals and professionals. When the family was allowed a monitored video call in 2021, they observed signs consistent with malnutrition, limited exposure to sunlight, and inadequate medical care. Subsequent reports following an in-person family visit in mid-2025 further intensified fears that prolonged imprisonment has severely damaged his physical and psychological health.
International observers, including the United States Department of State, have repeatedly raised Asat’s case within broader concerns regarding mass arbitrary detention and restrictions on freedom of expression affecting Uyghurs in the Xinjiang region. Human rights organisations argue that the lack of transparency, secret trial procedures, and prolonged isolation fall far below international fair-trial and detention standards.
Rights Defenders Initiative (RDI) strongly condemns the continued imprisonment of Ekpar Asat and the serious human rights violations associated with his detention. RDI calls upon international organisations, including UN mechanisms and global human rights bodies, to urgently intervene, demand independent access, and ensure accountability. The Chinese authorities must be held responsible for breaches of international human rights law, guarantee due process, and immediately remedy violations affecting Ekpar Asat and other arbitrarily detained Uyghur individuals.
References
- https://www.amnesty.org/en/petition/help-bring-ekpar-home/
- [2026-04-09] Risch, Coons, Colleagues Statement on the 10th…
- US officials call for release of Uyghur entrepreneur jailed in 2016 – Radio Free Asia
- Calls for justice intensify over imprisonment of Uyghur-language website founder in China – ThePrint – ANIFeed
- A Sister’s Plea for Her Brother’s Freedom | Harvard Magazine
