CFU PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   

March 8th, 9:30 AM

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Campaign for Uyghurs www.campaignforuyghurs.org   

WASHINGTON D.C. – Campaign for Uyghurs (CFU) Executive Director, Rushan Abbas, was honored to attend the 2024 State of the Union Address, graciously invited by Representative Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ-4). In attendance at the State of the Union Address, Ms. Abbas had the opportunity to engage with lawmakers, and dignitaries, amplifying the urgent call for action to end the genocide perpetrated against the Uyghur people.

The annual State of the Union Address is delivered by the President to both the House and Senate, highlighting national developments and outlining the President’s vision. 

Representative Smith, a key advocate for the Uyghur cause, leads as co-chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) and has been pivotal in advancing human rights against the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) oppression. Leading legislative efforts, he introduced H.R.1154 and H.R.3654, two crucial pieces of legislation that directly address forced organ harvesting and transnational repression by the CCP. As a founder of the Congressional Uyghur Caucus, Rep. Smith spearheads congressional support for the Uyghur community.

“Rushan Abbas is a tremendous advocate, not only for her unjustly imprisoned sister, but all Uyghurs who are oppressed and jailed within the People’s Republic of China,” said Rep. Smith.  “The abuses they suffer at the hands of Xi Jinping’s genocidal ‘show-no-mercy’ regime are horrific—including and especially forced organ harvesting. The long arm of the Chinese Communist Party’s oppression even extends to the United States, where Uyghur Americans are harassed by Chinese agents. Rushan stands bravely against such repression and we stand with her,” he added. 

In gratitude for the invitation, CFU Executive Director Rushan Abbas expressed “Representative Chris Smith’s invitation to the State of the Union acknowledges our rightful advocacy against the CCP’s genocide and unthinkable oppression of Uyghurs — from forced birth rate suppression to forced organ harvesting to transnational repression. We will not be silenced, but our activism comes at a heavy cost, like the unjust detention of my innocent sister, Gulshan Abbas. I am grateful to Representative Smith’s leadership, continuous support, and yet another confirmation of his allyship in the fight for democracy and human rights.”

As an honored guest at the 2024 State of the Union Address, CFU reaffirms its commitment to advancing the cause of freedom, justice, and equality for the Uyghur community at the highest level of government. 

CFU is a Washington D.C. based non-profit organization committed to amplifying Uyghur voices and raising awareness of the atrocities being carried out in the Uyghur Region. In recognition of our efforts, CFU was awarded the World Democracy Courage Tribute in July 2021 and was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize in 2022.