Rabiye Qadir Entrepreneur, prominent Uyghur dissident and human rights activist Date of Birth: 21.01.1947 Country: China

1. Early Life and Business Success
2. Political Activism and Criticism of China
3. Detention and Imprisonment
4. Release and Advocacy Abroad
5. Diplomatic Engagements and Controversy

Rebiya Kadeer: Entrepreneur, Uyghur Dissident, and Human Rights Activist

Early Life and Business Success

Rebiya Kadeer was a renowned entrepreneur, born in 1948 in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) into a family of businesspeople. After marrying Sidik Rouzi in 1965, she moved to Aksu and later relocated to Ürümqi in 1981. In Ürümqi, she established a small business selling traditional Uyghur clothing. Post the dissolution of the USSR, Kadeer shifted to cross-border trade with former Soviet republics and founded the wholesale trading company "Akida Industry and Trade Co."

Kadeer's business acumen propelled her to become one of China's wealthiest individuals. Her company traded across eastern China, Kazakhstan, and Russia. Her family owned several prominent shopping malls and business centers in Ürümqi, such as "Akida Trade Center" and "Kadeer Trade Center." She actively supported the Uyghur community through philanthropic endeavors.

Political Activism and Criticism of China

Kadeer's political involvement began in 1987 when she became a member of the Xinjiang government. She later served as a delegate to the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in 1992. However, her beliefs diverged from the Chinese government's policies towards the Uyghur people. Kadeer witnessed the Kulja incident in 1997, which led her to criticize Beijing's approach.

Detention and Imprisonment

In 1999, Kadeer sent newspaper clippings to her husband, Sidik Rouzi, who resided in the United States and was an outspoken critic of China's Uyghur policies. Arrested in August 1999, Kadeer faced charges of "divulging state secrets." On March 10, 2000, she was sentenced to eight years in prison for "endangering state security."

Despite her imprisonment for two years in solitary confinement, Kadeer was not subjected to torture. It is believed that her international reputation protected her from such treatment. In 2004, her sentence was reduced by one year.

Release and Advocacy Abroad

In March 2004, Kadeer was released on medical parole and was sent to the United States under house arrest ahead of US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's visit to the region. She joined her family in the US on March 17.

Upon her release, Kadeer continued her advocacy for Uyghur rights internationally. She received the Rafto Prize for her human rights work in 2004. In 2007, she was elected President of the World Uyghur Congress (WUC).

Diplomatic Engagements and Controversy

Kadeer met with President George W. Bush at the Conference on Democracy and Security in Prague in 2007. Subsequently, the United States House of Representatives passed Resolution 497 demanding the release of her imprisoned sons and the Chinese government's reconsideration of its policies towards the Uyghur people.

Jeff Daniels' documentary "10 Conditions of Love" (2009) chronicled Kadeer's life and advocacy. The film's screening at the Melbourne International Film Festival was heavily protested by the Chinese consulate in Melbourne. The festival organizers refused to withdraw the film, inviting criticism from Chinese producers and cyber attacks on the festival's website.

China has consistently denounced Kadeer's activities, accusing her of separatist and anti-Chinese sentiment. Nonetheless, Kadeer has maintained her commitment to advocating for the rights of the Uyghur people.