President Xi’s Upcoming Visit
When President Xi Jinping arrives at the White House later this month, Ziba Murat hopes her mother’s name will be on the agenda. Her mother, Dr. Gulshan Abbas, a 64-year-old retired physician, has spent eight years in a Chinese prison on what the U.S. government and human rights groups label as fabricated terrorism charges. The upcoming meeting is viewed by her family as a crucial opportunity for a potential release.
Efforts and Advocacy
Murat has stated her hope that the president can raise this issue with President Xi, similar to the previously successful intervention in Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri’s case. Gulshan’s sister, Rushan Abbas, has been campaigning for her release since her arrest in September 2018. She urges for the president’s involvement to bring Gulshan back to her family in the United States.
Bipartisan Support in Congress
The case has gained bipartisan support in Congress. A resolution introduced by Representative Chris Smith called on President Trump to prioritize the release of political and religious prisoners in China, including Abbas. The resolution passed the House with a unanimous 414-0 vote and the Senate agreed to its version as well.
Dr. Abbas’s Detainment
Dr. Abbas worked as a physician in Urumqi, Xinjiang. She retired early due to health concerns but continued to assist patients. Chinese authorities detained her five days after Rushan Abbas spoke about China’s treatment of Uyghurs. The family believes her arrest was retaliation for Rushan’s outspoken activism. Dr. Abbas was tried in secret and sentenced to 20 years on terrorism-related charges in March 2019, though her family learned this only in December 2020.
Health Concerns
Dr. Abbas has numerous relatives who hold U.S. citizenship, and most have barely known her due to her imprisonment. Her health has reportedly declined, with conditions such as high blood pressure and legal blindness, yet outside observation is limited as she’s been unseen by outsiders for eight years.
Political Efforts and Responses
Lawmakers from both parties have highlighted Abbas’s case. Republicans have notably emphasized it, with Speaker Mike Johnson and former Senator Marco Rubio involving Abbas’s family in prominent events. However, despite some secured releases by the Biden administration, Dr. Abbas’s case remains unresolved, reportedly due to her non-U.S. citizenship status.
Future Possibilities with Trump’s Involvement
Some advocates, citing Trump’s successful efforts with Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri, believe the upcoming summit offers another chance for intervention. Trump’s administration had previously recognized China’s actions against Uyghurs as genocide, and some see his relationship with Xi and leverage as potentially effective in negotiating Dr. Abbas’s release.
Advocates like Sarah Makin argue for stronger action against China’s transnational repression, suggesting that releasing political prisoners like Dr. Abbas could serve as a demonstration of U.S. diplomatic strength.
Ultimately, the family remains hopeful that this meeting could lead to a resolution, allowing Dr. Gulshan Abbas to reunite with her family in the United States.