An ethnic Uyghur from the Xinjiang Autonomous Region, Rahile was previously a member of the Chinese Communist Party for over 30 years.

Prior to her detention, she taught at Xinjiang University, where she founded the Minorities Folklore Research Center in 2007 and served as its director.

[4][5] In December 2017, Rahile reportedly told a relative of her plans to travel from Ürümqi to Beijing, after which her family and friends lost contact with her.

[6] According to an article in The New York Times, Rahile was one of a number of prominent intellectuals targeted as part of China's campaign to erase Uyghur identity.

"[13] On 4 September 2024, Rahile Dawut was awarded an Honorary Fellowship and Doctor of Literature by SOAS, University of London "in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the scholarship of Uyghur cultural heritage".