Campaign for Uyghurs (CFU) has commended the Senate Appropriations Committee’s unanimous endorsement of an amendment aimed at restricting U.S. visas for Chinese officials implicated in the unjust detention of Dr. Gulshan Abbas. This action, championed by Senator Dick Durbin, represents a critical move against those perpetrating arbitrary detentions of Uyghurs.

Dr. Gulshan Abbas was detained on September 10, 2018, following her sister Rushan Abbas’ condemnation of the mass internment and genocidal policies affecting Uyghurs in China. Dr. Abbas, now 62, suffers from severe medical conditions that necessitate continuous care. Her detention underscores the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) practice of transnational repression, targeting dissidents and their families beyond China’s borders through methods of kin punishment.

“I extend my deepest gratitude to Senator Durbin for his commitment to my sister’s case. The Senate Appropriations Committee’s unanimous decision is a victory and a resounding affirmation of the U.S. government’s support for the Uyghur people,” stated Rushan Abbas, Executive Director of Campaign for Uyghurs. “Gulshan has remained in unjust detention for far too long. We cannot and will not rest until she and all other unjustly imprisoned Uyghurs are freed. This amendment delivers a stark message to the CCP: detaining innocent people will have consequences.”

“Senator Durbin’s steadfast support and the Senate Appropriations Committee’s decision bring hope to our family and to all Uyghurs suffering under the CCP’s oppressive regime,” said Dr. Rishat Abbas, President of the Uyghur Academy and brother of Dr. Gulshan Abbas. “This amendment is not just about my sister; it’s about sending a clear signal that the international community stands with the Uyghur people both within the United States and within the Uyghur region.”

The global response to Dr. Gulshan Abbas’ situation has intensified in recent months. June 12 marked her 62nd birthday, her sixth under wrongful imprisonment, prompting a worldwide social media campaign. After years of advocacy, lawmakers from 37 countries have now demanded her release. Additionally, on June 19th, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders Mary Lawlor issued a statement urging China to disclose information about Dr. Abbas’ condition.

CFU remains resolute in its advocacy for the immediate release of all unjustly detained Uyghurs and calls on the international community to amplify pressure on China to terminate its genocidal policies in East Turkistan.