Despite its efforts to hide it, China's ongoing genocide of its Uyghur population and other ethnic minorities continues to attract outrage around the world. Representative Mike Waltz (R-FL) recently spearheaded a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield, demanding they continue pushing for the Uyghurs' freedom after the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) conducted by the U.N. in January.
"The PRC’s blatant disregard for, and exploitation of, the human rights of Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in China is abhorrent," Rep. Waltz said in his letter, noting that the Chinese are not just abusing these groups domestically, but internationally.
The Uyghur Human Rights Project in 2017 detailed how the Chinese government harasses Uyghurs abroad into keeping silent about their people's ongoing persecution, threatening their loved ones remaining in China.
"Not only are members of the Uyghur community overseas faced with the possibility of never being able to see or speak to their family members again, but they are also running the risk of their family being targeted for their non-cooperation," the Project noted.
Not even the United States is a safe haven for Uyghurs, as Rep. Waltz provided several examples, including Dr. Gulshan Abbas, wrongfully detained in 2018. Dr. Abbas has multiple family members in the U.S. who are citizens, including her two daughters.
The Florida Congressman highlighted her in his press release, saying "This month marks the fifth anniversary of the unjust 20-year sentencing of Dr. Gulshan Abbas, a retired medical doctor, Uyghur, and mother who was imprisoned by the Chinese government in retaliation for her sister’s advocacy for Uyghur human rights abuses."
Other Uyghurs with American family members mentioned include Kamile Wayit, Qurban Mamut, and Ahmetjan Jume, all detained by the Chinese government for their relatives speaking out in the United States.
"No American citizen should be victimized by the repressive practices of the People’s Republic of China. We thank you for representing the values of the United States at the United Nations Human Rights Council, support your continued efforts to end the PRC’s ongoing human rights abuses, and we urge you to continue public pressure on the PRC to release wrongfully detained Uyghurs – especially the individuals highlighted above," Waltz's letter concluded.
