Professor Tohti Analysis

In the United States, many people take for granted that we have the freedom of speech, while others in the world get persecuted for their voice of peaceful resistance. Ilham Tohti, an ethnic Uighur professor was sentenced to life in prison by being found guilty of separatism. “Separatism is when a group of people either advocate, or practice of separation from a larger body”. Although Professor Tohti was the symbol of a peaceful resistance of Uighurs to Chinese policies, many have thought that it was unjust, and far too harsh a punishment especially considering that Professor Tohti has a history of heart problems, along with bad lungs. Unfortunately, while the punishment of life in prison is rare, the authorities tend to pass much harsher punishment

Regardless, many people around the globe such as scholars, diplomats believe that their harsh policies particularly against people like the Professor Tohti will only lead more conflict and create more Uighur radicals. Professor Tohti had been assigned an ascribed status by the culture he was born to, but unfortunately the government is taking advantage of that while Professor Tohti just wanted separation from them, so they could be on equal ground in a peaceful just society. This article is applicable to Social Problems by showing, and giving examples of social disorganization, and even conflict perspective such as how the Xinjiang officials are trying to fight off the insurgencies, and while doing so trying to suppress different ethnic groups, and those who voice out the injustices of their

Even though they have been repeatedly asked to release Professor Uighur, and his seven students in prison from different governments around the world, they have denied doing so, and have given many different reasons as to why he should be in prison, such as the ruling of the court declaring that he had “bewitched and coerced young ethnic students” and that he built a “criminal syndicate”. Not only did the Professor know full well that what he was doing was illegal in China, he also built a website talking about his viewpoints on Chinas’ policies and also about Uighurs identity, most of which came from his teachings in the classroom. Although I think that to some extent is understandable about his ruling, considering that his protests were peaceful, as well as the unjust persecution of Uighurs which of course would mean that the ruling would also be extremely biased as well, but the fact of the matter is that even though he had done what he believed is right, you can’t deny that he violated the norms of society there were consequences should he get caught and persecuted, which meant that he received a formal sanction from the government, and he should just continue to fight for his believes, just in a different