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Those in Washington could influence US policy towards China at a time when the authorities are arguing for a much tougher stance on Uighur defense. Some, like Ms. Abbas, have met with think tanks, including at the Hudson Conservative Institute where she spoke on September 5, as well as in Congress and the White House. Abbas also spoke to staff of the Congressional Executive Committee on China, led by Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, and Republican Representative Christopher H. Smith of New Jersey.
"Harassing relatives of US citizens is what President Mao once called," said Michael Pillsbury, director of Chinese strategy at the Hudson Institute, stressing that Uighurs repression would also undermine relations between China and the United States. Muslim countries. .
This month, a daughter of Ms. Abbas' sister-in-law wrote to Mr. Rubio about her mother's fate. The girl, an American citizen, lives in Florida, the home state of Mr. Rubio. The other girl, permanent legal resident, resides in Maryland. Their mother, Gulshan Abbas, 56, suffers from serious health problems.
Asked about the problems faced by Uighur Americans, Mr. Rubio said: "The long leg of the Chinese government's internal repression has a direct impact on the wider Uyghur diaspora community, including the United States."
"This is unacceptable and these people need a lot of courage to come forward because of the growing number of reports of harassment, intimidation and threats by the Chinese government against diaspora communities. Chinese, Uyghur and Tibetan living in the United States, "said Rubio added.
Mr. Rubio is pushing for a law that obliges the United States to act on behalf of the Uyghurs. He says the F.B.I. and other government agencies "should monitor and take action to hold accountable" Chinese authorities that harass or threaten Chinese people from China who live or study here, including Uyghurs.
