The Xinjiang  High People’s Court on November 21, 2014, upheld a life sentence for “separatism” against prominent Uighur scholar Ilham Tohti in proceedings that, according to Human Rights Watch, grossly violated his basic rights. The Xinjiang High People’s Court did not hear Tohti’s appeal in public, ignored his lengthy submission, and took the highly unusual step of announcing its ruling at a sentencing session inside the detention center where Tohti is being held. Tohti’s lawyer received insufficient notice to attend the ruling, which only two of Tohti’s relatives were allowed to attend.