LOS ANGELES—Renowned Uyghur economics scholar Ilham Tohti is serving a life sentence in China on charges of “separatism,” while thousands of human rights activists around the world are showing him support and raising awareness of his case.
A mural was dedicated to Tohti on Saturday, Dec. 10 at the second annual Art for Amnesty event at the Container Yard in downtown Los Angeles during Human Rights Day weekend, from December 7 through 11.
Amnesty International worked with American artists to create a total of twelve original five-foot by eight-foot murals for twelve prisoners of conscience around the world, including Tohti.
“We highlight them and ask our guests to sign letters to help release our prisoners of conscience, and to support them and uplift them. But it’s also just a great space for the community to come together, to see the work of local artists, to kind of mingle and have a good time,” said Muna Sharif, associate field organizer for Amnesty International’s western region.
