Family Seeks Trump’s Help for Prisoner’s Release

As President Xi Jinping prepares for his White House visit, Ziba Murat hopes the case of her imprisoned mother will be highlighted. Dr. Gulshan Abbas, a 64-year-old retired doctor, has been in a Chinese prison for eight years on disputed terrorism charges according to the U.S. government and human rights groups. Her family views the upcoming meeting with President Trump as a hopeful chance for her release. Murat expressed her wishes to Newsweek, drawing parallels to the release of Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri after similar diplomatic engagement.

Family’s Longstanding Campaign

Rushan Abbas, Dr. Gulshan’s sister, actively advocates for her release since her arrest in 2018. She urged President Trump to prioritize this humanitarian issue during the forthcoming summit. The case garners bipartisan backing in Congress, with resolutions urging Dr. Abbas’s release receiving unanimous support. Senator Chuck Grassley emphasized the importance of discussing her case with Xi. The State Department has condemned China’s actions against Uyghurs, emphasizing enforced disappearances and pressure on expatriates.

Dr. Abbas’s Disappearance

Dr. Abbas practiced medicine in Urumqi, Xinjiang region, helping patients from remote areas. Her family recounts her devotion to her patients even after retirement due to health issues. In 2018, Chinese authorities detained Dr. Abbas following Rushan Abbas’s public speech criticizing China’s policies on Uyghurs. Rushan believes her sister’s arrest was a reprisal for her advocacy. For years, information about Dr. Abbas’s whereabouts remained unknown until it was disclosed she had been secretly tried and sentenced to 20 years in prison. Reports accuse Rushan Abbas of fabricating stories about her sister, further complicating the case.

Health Concerns and Family Struggles

Dr. Abbas’s health has reportedly deteriorated during her imprisonment. She suffers from untreated conditions such as high blood pressure and macular retinal issues. Family members, including her grandchildren, have suffered from the separation. Despite bipartisan political support, they have faced frustrations with lack of decisive action from the Biden administration. The administration previously negotiated the release of certain detainees but not Dr. Abbas, who lacks U.S. citizenship.

Potential for Future Diplomatic Solutions

Rushan Abbas stressed that bipartisan support for her sister’s case is crucial, while Sarah Makin, an advocate, criticized the Biden administration’s inconsistent support on religious persecution issues. The family believes that Trump’s established rapport with Xi might lead to Dr. Abbas’s release, drawing on the example of Pastor Jin Mingri and advocating that the issue of transnational repression should be addressed more assertively by the U.S.

For the family, the goal remains straightforward: they want Dr. Abbas home. Murat expressed hope that President Trump could influence President Xi to make the “right decision” and reunite her mother with her family.

Contact Newsweek editors for this story: Jason Lemon and Geoffrey Rowland.