Saifuddin Azizi

Saifuddin Azizi (officially transcribed as Seypidin Azizi; 12 March 1915 – 24 November 2003) was a Chinese politician who occupied several top positions in the government of the People's Republic of China (PRC), including Vice Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and Vice Chairperson of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. An ethnic Uyghur, he is best known for serving as the first chairman of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and its regional CCP committee. Before the proclamation of the PRC in 1949, he was a leader of the Ili Rebellion, which sought to establish an independent East Turkestan. Provided by Wikipedia