Chinese tactics to control the Uyghur genocide: threats and abduction.
In a recent episode of “American Thought Leaders,” host Jan Jekielek had a compelling conversation with Rushan Abbas, the founder and executive director of Campaign for Uyghurs. The discussion shed light on the harrowing experience of Ms. Abbas, whose sister was abducted by the Chinese Communist Party as a direct consequence of her advocacy against the Uyghur genocide.
Jan Jekielek:
Today marks the fifth anniversary of your sister’s abduction. This incident exemplifies the very issue you were testifying about in Congress. Can you share what happened?
Rushan Abbas:
Five years ago, I was leading a fulfilling life as a business development director, cherishing my family and fighting against the genocidal policies imposed on my people. In 2017, we received distressing news that approximately one million Uyghurs were being detained and subjected to inhumane conditions in concentration camps.
On September 5, 2018, I participated in a panel discussion at the Hudson Institute in Washington, D.C. During the event, I exposed China’s genocidal policies and shared the tragic fate of my in-laws. At that time, my husband Abdulhakim Idris had lost contact with his entire family, including his parents, siblings, and their children. The panel discussion was broadcasted on YouTube, amplifying my message.
Mere six days later, my sister Gulshan Abbas, a retired medical doctor, and my aunt, a retired school teacher, were arrested in two different cities, separated by over 900 miles. Their detention was a direct act of retaliation by the Chinese Communist Party against my outspokenness. My freedom of speech came at the cost of my sister’s freedom.
I soon realized that the Chinese government orchestrated these arrests to intimidate and silence me. However, I refused to let them hold power over me. Instead, I dedicated myself to becoming a full-time activist, advocating for my people, fighting for my sister’s release, and exposing the heinous crimes committed by China.
What the Chinese government failed to comprehend is the indomitable power of love. They underestimated the love I have for my sister, my people, and the values of freedom and democracy.
Jan Jekielek:
How do you respond to those who claim that your activism puts your relatives in danger?
Rushan Abbas:
While I do feel guilty about my sister’s imprisonment, I cannot solely focus on my own family. The future of the free world is at stake, and the Chinese government poses the greatest threat to our democracy.
We witness CEOs, talk show hosts, and Hollywood celebrities protesting various injustices. However, where are they when the Chinese government is perpetrating a genocide against the Uyghur people? Where are they when Uyghur women are subjected to forced sterilization, forced abortions, and forced marriages to Han Chinese men? Where are they when a million children are forcibly separated from their families?
If we fail to take action against the Chinese government now, it will be our children and grandchildren who bear the consequences.
Jan Jekielek:
You have been tirelessly working on this cause for a long time. Can you outline your journey for us?
Rushan Abbas:
In 1998, I worked as a reporter at Radio Free Asia when they established a Uyghur service. As the first Uyghur reporter, I resided in Washington, D.C. During that time, I felt immense frustration when China was granted most favored nation status, despite its abysmal human rights record.
I engaged with individuals in the State Department and the Pentagon, highlighting the atrocities committed by the Chinese government against the Uyghurs, Tibetans, and Falun Gong practitioners. Unfortunately, many believed that by investing in China and providing them with technology, money, and privileges, they would eventually embrace democracy.
The 2008 Beijing Olympics served as a turning point for China’s human rights facade. They projected an image of respecting freedom while oppressing Falun Gong practitioners, Tibetans, and Uyghurs. The United States government was aware of China’s actions, yet no substantial measures were taken.
Organ harvesting, initially targeting Falun Gong practitioners, has now become prevalent among Uyghurs. Shockingly, there were even video advertisements promoting halal organs in Muslim-majority and Arabic-speaking countries. Yet, we continue to appease the genocidal regime of the Chinese Communist Party.
Nobody can claim ignorance anymore. We live in the information era, where overwhelming evidence exists. Even the United Nations Human Rights Council has released a report documenting mass detentions, forced labor, torture, and sterilization. These are all elements that align with the United Nations’ own definition of genocide.
Jan Jekielek:
For those who may not be familiar, genocide encompasses more than just mass killings. It includes policies aimed at eradicating a particular group through cultural assimilation and sterilization, among other means.
Rushan Abbas:
Precisely. While the Chinese government carries out sterilization against Uyghur women, who represents the United Nations as a special envoy for women’s rights? None other than Peng Liyuan, Xi Jinping’s wife.
Jan Jekielek:
How is the CCP targeting Uyghur Americans?
Rushan Abbas:
Primarily, they hold their family members hostage. In some instances, the Chinese government forces these family members to call their children living in America, urging them to refrain from engaging in political activities, such as attending hearings. They say, “If you want to see us alive and free, please do nothing.”
Jan Jekielek:
What steps should the United States take moving forward?
Rushan Abbas:
The United States must enact legislation to safeguard the rights of Uyghur Americans. We need laws that address the manipulation of social media by the CCP’s trolls. The Chinese government is exploiting democracy to undermine democracy itself and suppress American citizens.
Uyghur activists, certain politicians, and journalists like yourself are making a difference, and we will continue to fight. I left my homeland in 1989 in search of freedom, and I am determined to protect that freedom and democracy while standing against the CCP.
What were the conditions in the concentration camps where Uyghurs were being detained, as described by Rushan Abbas?
In a recent episode of “American Thought Leaders,” host Jan Jekielek had a compelling conversation with Rushan Abbas, the founder and executive director of Campaign for Uyghurs. The discussion shed light on the harrowing experience of Ms. Abbas, whose sister was abducted by the Chinese Communist Party as a direct consequence of her advocacy against the Uyghur genocide.
Jan Jekielek started the conversation by acknowledging that it marked the fifth anniversary of Ms. Abbas’s sister’s abduction. He highlighted how this incident exemplified the very issue she had been testifying about in Congress. He then asked Ms. Abbas to share what had happened.
Ms. Abbas began by describing her life five years ago, when she was leading a fulfilling life as a business development director, cherishing her family and fighting against the genocidal policies imposed on her people. It was in 2017 when she received distressing news that approximately one million Uyghurs were being detained and subjected to inhumane conditions in concentration camps.
The conversation provided a glimpse into the personal experience of Rushan Abbas and highlighted the urgency of addressing the Uyghur genocide. It serves as a reminder of the atrocities being committed against the Uyghur community and the importance of raising awareness and taking action against these human rights abuses.
The article references related stories, offering readers an opportunity to explore further information on the topic. These related stories include a House Homeland Security Committee Hearing on Countering Uyghur Forced Labor and an article discussing how Chinese authorities actively want to “get rid of” the Uyghurs according to a rights advocate.
The conversation between Jan Jekielek and Rushan Abbas serves as a powerful reminder of the ongoing human rights crisis faced by the Uyghur community. It calls for attention from the international community to take a stand against the atrocities being committed and work towards holding those responsible accountable. This dialogue serves to shed light on the challenges faced by advocates like Rushan Abbas and the urgency to address the Uyghur genocide.
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