CFU PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 7, 2024, 3:30 PM

Contact: [email protected]

+1 650-703-4523

www.campaignforuyghurs.org

Washington, D.C. – Campaign for Uyghurs (CFU), with the invaluable support of its partners and allies, successfully hosted the international screening of the documentary In Search of My Sister across 16 cities in nine countries to mark the six-year anniversary of Dr. Gulshan Abbas’ unjust detention by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Dr. Abbas, sister of CFU’s Executive Director Rushan Abbas, was forcibly disappeared and unjustly sentenced by the Chinese Government in retaliation to Rushan’s advocacy in the United States as an American citizen, exemplifying the CCP’s transnational repression.

Directed by Jawad Mir, In Search of My Sister follows Rushan Abbas on her ongoing pursuit to uncover the truth and find justice for her sister, who disappeared shortly after Rushan spoke out at a public panel criticizing the Chinese regime’s genocidal policies. Through the story of Rushan’s missing sister, the film reveals the vast scope of the Uyghur genocide, along with the CCP’s global influence and propaganda, as shared through the testimonies of camp survivors, Uyghur diaspora leaders, prominent scholars, and researchers. The documentary was acknowledged by the Morehouse College Human Rights Film Festival, the Muslim Film Festival, and This Human World Festival.

To mark the month that Dr. Abbas was forcibly disappeared and bring global attention to her case, In Search of My Sister was showcased to global viewers in 16 cities in Australia, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Norway, Turkiye, the United States, and Uzbekistan. These screenings were made possible through the strong support of our partners—including the Alberta Uyghur Association, Australian Uyghur Tangritagh Women’s Association, Canada-Uyghur Friendship Group, Dünya Uygur Kurultayı Vakfı, Irish Uyghur Cultural Association, Japan Uyghur Association, Justice for All Canada, McGill Students for Uyghur Solidarity, The Norwegian Uyghur Committee, Türk Ocakları, the U.S. Embassy in Uzbekistan, Uyghur Academy, Uyghur Mosque in Canada, and the World Uyghur Congress. We successfully raised awareness among a wide range of audiences, including lawmakers, students, public officials, diplomatic representatives, researchers, journalists, civil society actors, and the general public, about the ongoing genocide and other atrocities committed by the CCP in East Turkistan. Many participants were profoundly moved by the Uyghur people’s plight and expressed readiness to help.

“Through the worldwide screenings of In Search of My Sister this year, we have sent a powerful and united message that the case of my sister, Dr. Gulshan Abbas, and the plight of the Uyghur people will not be forgotten or abandoned,” CFU’s Executive Director Rushan Abbas said. “Behind every condemnation and every rally is a mother, daughter, son, or father whose life has been stolen by the CCP’s ongoing genocide. Audiences understood the harsh realities of CCP oppression and deeply empathized with our pain. We must channel this powerful emotion into action to end the Chinese regime’s human rights abuses once and for all,” Rushan added.   

CFU extends its deepest gratitude to all the organizations and individuals who contributed to the success of these screenings, as well as to all the viewers for their heartfelt comments and messages. We implore everyone to join our mission to bring justice and freedom to the Uyghur people enduring CCP’s ongoing genocide to safeguard humanity, democracy, and freedom.

Please join us for the upcoming screenings on October 10 in Seattle, U.S. organized in collaboration with Peace Catalyst International, Hillcrest Church, and Bellingham Covenant Church, and on October 15th in Prague, Czech Republic, hosted by the U.S. Embassy in Prague.