Zhengis Zhanat, a Kazakh national, returned from China with serious health concerns after allegedly being drugged, detained, and beaten while attempting to file an official complaint regarding his family’s land dispute. His situation highlights ongoing tensions surrounding ethnic Kazakhs in Xinjiang, exacerbated by government hostility. Medical examinations suggest poisoning, and his family is seeking advanced treatment as discussions of land rights and safety continue.
Zhengis Zhanat, a 34-year-old Kazakh national, recently returned to Kazakhstan in an altered state after a trip to China. He previously emigrated from Xinjiang, China, and faced significant challenges regarding his family’s land dispute in Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture. Zhanat visited his birthplace to assist his mother, who was recovering from an earlier police attack, only to encounter further violence and mistreatment.
During his trip to Kaba county, Zhanat was allegedly drugged, detained, and beaten while attempting to file a complaint against the local government in Beijing. He recounted being invited to dinner and suspecting that the food had been poisoned. Upon returning to his hotel, he tried to seek medical assistance but was met with further aggression from local law enforcement.
Zhanat’s intention to petition the government coincided with the opening of the National People’s Congress on March 5, prompting authorities to intervene. He reported that local police had orchestrated his drugging, confinement, and subsequent claims of mental illness. Zhanat had been preparing to engage a lawyer in Urumqi to advocate for his family’s rights amid ongoing repression.
Medical examinations conducted by his physician in Kazakhstan indicate symptoms consistent with poisoning, leading healthcare professionals to conclude that he had been drugged. Zhanat’s condition remains precarious, with his family seeking to transfer him to an advanced medical facility. His sister expressed concern over his health and plans for possible treatment abroad.
The conflict revolves around land that local authorities seized from Zhanat’s family in 2012, which has led to ongoing disputes and violence against his mother. A human rights advocate highlighted the historical context of Kazakhstanis returning from China amid increasing hostility toward ethnic minorities, particularly in Xinjiang. As this situation develops, Zhanat’s family continues to face challenges, highlighting the struggles of ethnic Kazakhs in China.
Zhengis Zhanat’s distressing experience in China underscores the ongoing tensions surrounding ethnic Kazakhs and their rights in Xinjiang. After facing violence and being drugged during his attempt to support his family, Zhanat has returned to Kazakhstan seeking medical assistance. This case reflects broader issues of land disputes and suppression faced by ethnic minorities in the region, particularly amid concerns over safety and legal recourse. Zhanat’s ordeal illuminates the urgent need for attention to these human rights challenges.
Original Source: www.rfa.org
