Ilham Tohti, a former lecturer at the Minzu University of China, was Wednesday charged under suspicion of separatism by prosecutors in Urumqi, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

Police in Urumqi announced in January that Tohti had been arrested for alleged separatism. He reportedly has a close relationship with the World Uyghur Congress, which advocates the "independence of Xinjiang," and police said he has connections with the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, an overseas terrorist group.

He also described mobs that took part in some terrorist attacks as "heroes," and instigated students to hate the country and government.

Tohti was arrested several times for instigation and "spreading rumors," according to reports. He was frequently quoted by foreign media during incidents involving the Uyghur ethnic minority in recent years.