Sentenced to life imprisonment – Axel Springer Freedom Foundation honors Uighur scientist

The Axel Springer Freedom Foundation has honored Rahile Dawut, a Uyghur scientist imprisoned in China, with the Award for Courage. The award ceremony took place on Monday in the German Bundestag as part of the Freedom and Security Women Summit. The prize is endowed with 50,000 euros and is donated by the Postcode Lottery.

Dawut is an internationally renowned ethnologist and expert on Uighur folklore. She dedicated her academic work to researching and preserving Uyghur culture. She disappeared in 2017. The following year she was sentenced to life imprisonment in a secret trial on charges of separatism and endangering state security. Her appeal was dismissed. Her current whereabouts are not publicly known to this day.

Daughter appeals to the public

The eulogy for Dawut was given by Evelyn Zupke, Federal Commissioner for the Victims of the SED Dictatorship. She criticized the fact that the Chinese authorities viewed scientific research on Uyghur culture as a threat to state security.

"The Chinese state is of the opinion that research on Uyghur culture is a threat to state security. What an indictment! It is obvious: Rahile Dawut is in prison for political reasons. Because she is a proud Uyghur. A state can lock people away. But it cannot imprison the longing for freedom. China cannot suppress the Uyghurs' longing for freedom, for self-determination, for dignity," said Zupke.

The award was accepted on behalf of Rushan Abbas, founder of the organization “Campaign for Uyghurs” and chairwoman of the advisory board of the Axel Springer Freedom Foundation. She read a letter from Dawut's daughter Akida Pulat.

"My mother, Rahile Dawut, dedicated her life to preserving Uighur culture, history and identity and was sentenced to life in prison for it. Courage does not mean not being afraid, but refusing to allow fear to erase the truth. They may have taken away my mother's freedom, but they will never take away her legacy or break my resolve to speak out until my mother is free," it said.

Prize for commitment to freedom and democracy

Since 2022, the Axel Springer Freedom Foundation has been honoring people who work for democracy and freedom in their home countries - often at personal risk - with the Award for Courage. Previous winners include the imprisoned Istanbul mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, his wife, the politician and human rights activist Dilek İmamoğlu, and the Hong Kong publisher and democracy activist Jimmy Lai.

The award ceremony was part of the Freedom and Security Women Summit, which took place on November 9th in the German Bundestag. The event is part of the Berlin Freedom Week 2026 and was organized by the SED victims' representative Evelyn Zupke, My Stealthy Freedom, Women for Freedom and the Axel Springer Freedom Foundation.