Rushan Abbas retweeted
Preserving Uyghur voices. Honoring lives the world must never forget. Keeping alive the hope of freedom and justice.
Proud of @UyghurJustice’s vital work. Buy Untold Uyghur Stories—and help these voices reach others.
🙏🏼@hagadax @bahtiyar_mer
amazon.com/Untold-Uyghur-…
Proud of @UyghurJustice’s vital work. Buy Untold Uyghur Stories—and help these voices reach others.
🙏🏼@hagadax @bahtiyar_mer
amazon.com/Untold-Uyghur-…
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Rushan Abbas retweeted
🇫🇷 🚨BREAKING: FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON:
“Let me be very clear. This is now the third time I have had to address the conduct of the Chinese government regarding this situation, and frankly, my patience is wearing thin.
A government that allows commercial disagreements international humiliation must seriously reconsider its priorities.
Kylian Mbappé is a French citizen, an international sporting figure, and a young man whose career deserves respect. You cannot demand respect for your own people while encouraging an atmosphere in which others are publicly punished for controversy.
China is an important economic partner of France, but partnership does not mean silence. We will not allow economic pressure to become a weapon against French citizens.
I hope Beijing understands that France will not be intimidated, and we will not apologise for defending our own.”
“Let me be very clear. This is now the third time I have had to address the conduct of the Chinese government regarding this situation, and frankly, my patience is wearing thin.
A government that allows commercial disagreements international humiliation must seriously reconsider its priorities.
Kylian Mbappé is a French citizen, an international sporting figure, and a young man whose career deserves respect. You cannot demand respect for your own people while encouraging an atmosphere in which others are publicly punished for controversy.
China is an important economic partner of France, but partnership does not mean silence. We will not allow economic pressure to become a weapon against French citizens.
I hope Beijing understands that France will not be intimidated, and we will not apologise for defending our own.”
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Rushan Abbas retweeted
On the International Day of Political Prisoners, we remember those who have been imprisoned for their beliefs, their words, and their courage to speak freely.
At JF Books, we have gathered a wide selection of writings by political prisoners, biographies, memoirs, and books for freedom, human rights, and democracy in Hong Kong, China, and beyond. Behind each book is a personal story, a piece of history, and often a voice that those in power have tried to silence.
We believe that keeping these stories accessible is one way to preserve memory, encourage understanding, and sustain hope. Explore our collection at jfbooks.org.
We will keep making room for these stories, and for the conversations they deserve.
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Behind every political prisoner’s name is a life interrupted, a family torn apart, and loved ones refusing to let the world forget.
On October 30, #PoliticalPrisonersDay, my brother @DrRishatAbbas and my niece @ziba116 joined allies at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington for a @NED, @HRF, @freedomhouse, and coalition partners. Together, they demanded freedom for my sister, Dr. #GulshanAbbas, and millions of innocent Uyghurs unjustly imprisoned, and an end to the persecution of the Uyghur people.
On October 30, #PoliticalPrisonersDay, my brother @DrRishatAbbas and my niece @ziba116 joined allies at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington for a @NED, @HRF, @freedomhouse, and coalition partners. Together, they demanded freedom for my sister, Dr. #GulshanAbbas, and millions of innocent Uyghurs unjustly imprisoned, and an end to the persecution of the Uyghur people.
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Rushan Abbas retweeted
Behind every political prisoner is a human story—a family separated, a voice silenced, a courageous life interrupted.
On Friday, 10/30, we will gather at the Lincoln Memorial to speak their names, honor their courage, and stand with those fighting for their freedom.
Join us at 5 PM.
#FreedomStartsWithAName
Register: ned.org/events/roll-ca…
On Friday, 10/30, we will gather at the Lincoln Memorial to speak their names, honor their courage, and stand with those fighting for their freedom.
Join us at 5 PM.
#FreedomStartsWithAName
Register: ned.org/events/roll-ca…
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Rushan Abbas retweeted
Today, on the International Day of Political Prisoners, we will gather at the Lincoln Memorial to honour all those imprisoned for their beliefs — and to be the voices for those whom dictatorships are trying to silence.
Please join us at 5:00pm at the Roll Call for Freedom.
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Please join us at 5:00pm at the Roll Call for Freedom.
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Rushan Abbas retweeted
I’m at the Lincoln Memorial at the moment, where @NEDemocracy and a coalition of organizations dedicated to freedom will mark the International Day of Political Prisoners
Join us:
ned.org/events/roll-ca…
Join us:
ned.org/events/roll-ca…
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Rushan Abbas retweeted
@spycraft101 @elsajohnson This was a very disturbing case. How was one suspected spy allowed to target so many women?
The unfortunate reality is our counter intelligence forces are being overwhelmed by China 🇨🇳 They are going after students and CEO's like Jensen Huang etc...
x.com/mrbcyber/statu…
The unfortunate reality is our counter intelligence forces are being overwhelmed by China 🇨🇳 They are going after students and CEO's like Jensen Huang etc...
x.com/mrbcyber/statu…
The US is facing the greatest espionage threat in its history. China has an army of spies targeting the military, industry and Universities. Recent examples.
Two men (pictured below) were just sentenced to prison for spying on nuclear weapons facilities. They also targeted ompromise.
The head of NVIDIA appears to have been targeted by a female Chinese spy. While the company denies any impropriety photos showing a very friendly embrace have been released.
A female researcher at Stanford was stalked and threatened for doing research on Chinese espionage.
All Chinese citizens must assist with spying, giving the CCP endless resources for espionage
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Rushan Abbas retweeted
Stanford University student Elsa Johnson became a target of the Chinese Communist Party in 2024.
Elsa attended a private school as a child with a heavy focus on foreign languages and became fluent in Mandarin Chinese while still in elementary school. Years later after she was he studied international relations and researched Chinese industry and military tactics while working at the Hoover Institution on campus.
She soon came to the attention of members of the Chinese Communist Party, which has a heavy presence at Stanford and throughout Southern California. There are currently more than 1,000 Chinese students attending Stanford each year, and the university has received more than $64,000,000 in private donations from Chinese individuals and organizations since 2010.
In June 2024, a man claiming to be a fellow Stanford student named Charles Chen contacted her online. She was not initially suspicious as they had many mutual associates, and his photos and posts appeared to be centered on campus. But his questions and requests quickly put her on edge as he invited her on a paid trip to China. And he seemingly knew details about her that she had never shared with him.
When she tried to disengage with him, she began receiving threatening phone calls by Chinese speakers. Elsa contacted Stanford administrators and the FBI, who told her Charles was likely affiliated with the Ministry of State Security, had been posing as a Stanford student for years, and had targeted at least ten other female students since 2020 in a similar manner. They also told her she was under physical surveillance on campus by the Chinese Communist Party.
Elsa wrote articles in the Stanford Review and The Free Press about Chinese influence on campus, and in March 2026 testified about espionage threats on college campuses before the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
For episode 270 of the Spycraft 101 podcast I spoke with Elsa about being targeted by a foreign government right in the middle of a US college campus. The episode is available now.
#stanford #college #student #china #hooverinstitute
open.spotify.com/episode/6KOjwI…
Elsa attended a private school as a child with a heavy focus on foreign languages and became fluent in Mandarin Chinese while still in elementary school. Years later after she was he studied international relations and researched Chinese industry and military tactics while working at the Hoover Institution on campus.
She soon came to the attention of members of the Chinese Communist Party, which has a heavy presence at Stanford and throughout Southern California. There are currently more than 1,000 Chinese students attending Stanford each year, and the university has received more than $64,000,000 in private donations from Chinese individuals and organizations since 2010.
In June 2024, a man claiming to be a fellow Stanford student named Charles Chen contacted her online. She was not initially suspicious as they had many mutual associates, and his photos and posts appeared to be centered on campus. But his questions and requests quickly put her on edge as he invited her on a paid trip to China. And he seemingly knew details about her that she had never shared with him.
When she tried to disengage with him, she began receiving threatening phone calls by Chinese speakers. Elsa contacted Stanford administrators and the FBI, who told her Charles was likely affiliated with the Ministry of State Security, had been posing as a Stanford student for years, and had targeted at least ten other female students since 2020 in a similar manner. They also told her she was under physical surveillance on campus by the Chinese Communist Party.
Elsa wrote articles in the Stanford Review and The Free Press about Chinese influence on campus, and in March 2026 testified about espionage threats on college campuses before the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
For episode 270 of the Spycraft 101 podcast I spoke with Elsa about being targeted by a foreign government right in the middle of a US college campus. The episode is available now.
#stanford #college #student #china #hooverinstitute
open.spotify.com/episode/6KOjwI…
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Rushan Abbas retweeted
Grateful to the @TheRWCHR for its tireless advocacy for political prisoners worldwide.
A special thank you to @VMehrannia for speaking so movingly to our @NEDemocracy team and the October 30 Coalition yesterday about her husband, Ahmadreza Djalali, imprisoned in Iran.
Her courage inspires us. #FreedomStartsWithAName
Join her and so many others speaking up for their loved ones today at 5pm at the Lincoln Memorial: ned.org/events/roll-ca…
A special thank you to @VMehrannia for speaking so movingly to our @NEDemocracy team and the October 30 Coalition yesterday about her husband, Ahmadreza Djalali, imprisoned in Iran.
Her courage inspires us. #FreedomStartsWithAName
Join her and so many others speaking up for their loved ones today at 5pm at the Lincoln Memorial: ned.org/events/roll-ca…
Powerful evening of solidarity hosted by @NEDemocracy where we had the privilege of paying tribute to some of the world's premier human rights defenders.
Joined the courageous @VMehrannia for this meaningful program and to advocate on behalf of her husband, Swedish-Iranian ally-recognized scholar, Ahmadreza Djalali, arbitrarily and unjustly detained by the Iranian regime more than a decade ago.
Inspired by Vida and all the families of political prisoners in attendance. They are our driving force. We will not relent until their loved ones are free.
#FreeDjalali #FreePoliticalPrisoners #FreedomStartsWithAName
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Rushan Abbas retweeted
For nearly 7 years, Sophie Luo @luoshch has not heard her husband Ding Jiaxi’s voice. China imprisoned him for peacefully advocating freedom and the rule of law.
Today at the Lincoln Memorial, we will speak his name—and those of other political prisoners.
Join us at 5pm. #FreedomStartsWithAName
ned.org/events/roll-ca…
Today at the Lincoln Memorial, we will speak his name—and those of other political prisoners.
Join us at 5pm. #FreedomStartsWithAName
ned.org/events/roll-ca…
#FreedomStartsWithDingJiaxi On #PoliticalPrisoners Day, I call on the government of China to release my husband Ding Jiaxi. He has been unjustly imprisoned since December 26, 2019, simply for advocating peacefully for civic engagement, freedom of speech, and the rule of law. n he has been suffering no daily yard time torture. We have only been able to communicate by strictly censored letters. He was not allowed to call me and we have not heard each other's voice since his detention. I ask democratic governments to raise his case and help bring my husband home to our family.
@HRF @NEDemocracy @LantosFndn @McCainInstitute @USA_China_Talk @TheRWCHR @WLCongress @freedomhouse @3Ooctober @4freerussia_org
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Rushan Abbas retweeted
“在政治犯日（#PoliticalPrisonersDay） 之际，我呼吁中国政府立即释放我的姐姐Gulshan Abbas。
自2018年9月被关押以来，我的姐姐至今未获自由。她之所以遭到如此对待，仅仅因为我一直为维吾尔人的处境发声，以及我作为一名维吾尔裔美国公民，在美国行使言论自由的权利。
姐姐被关押至今，我们始终无法获知她目前的健康状况，也已经超过八年没有见过她的任何照片或影像。
我呼吁各民主国家政府关注并推动解决姐姐的案例，帮助她早日获释，与家人团聚。#FreedomStartsWithAName
感谢每一位与我们并肩努力的人，让政治犯不再只是冰冷的数字，而是一个个有姓名、有家人、有故事、值得被铭记，也理应重获自由的人。” --@RushanAbbas
自2018年9月被关押以来，我的姐姐至今未获自由。她之所以遭到如此对待，仅仅因为我一直为维吾尔人的处境发声，以及我作为一名维吾尔裔美国公民，在美国行使言论自由的权利。
姐姐被关押至今，我们始终无法获知她目前的健康状况，也已经超过八年没有见过她的任何照片或影像。
我呼吁各民主国家政府关注并推动解决姐姐的案例，帮助她早日获释，与家人团聚。#FreedomStartsWithAName
感谢每一位与我们并肩努力的人，让政治犯不再只是冰冷的数字，而是一个个有姓名、有家人、有故事、值得被铭记，也理应重获自由的人。” --@RushanAbbas
There are more than 1 million political prisoners around the world, behind bars for daring to speak, worship, assemble, and express themselves freely.
Today, @NEDemocracy honored leaders who have worked tirelessly to free them. Their efforts remind us that standing with those proud American tradition.
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Rushan Abbas retweeted
CFU Joins HRF Campaign Calling for Dr. Gulshan Abbas's Release: CFU joined the Human Rights Foundation and October 30 Coalition's #FreedomStartsWithAName campaign to demand the release of Dr. Gulshan Abbas, who has been imprisoned since 2018 in retaliation for her sister , and draw attention to other Uyghur political prisoners.
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Rushan Abbas retweeted
Heartbreaking words from @JewherIlham , Uyghur human rights activist and daughter of Ilham Tohti, sentenced to life imprisonment in China for advocating peaceful dialogue between Uyghurs and Chinese communities.
At our EDP Congress in Athens, Jewher shared her father’s story. nce 2017, his fate remains unknown to his loved ones.
Thank you, Jewher, for your courage and powerful testimony: we stand with you in calling for your father’s freedom.
At our EDP Congress in Athens, Jewher shared her father’s story. nce 2017, his fate remains unknown to his loved ones.
Thank you, Jewher, for your courage and powerful testimony: we stand with you in calling for your father’s freedom.
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My sister, Dr. Gulshan Abbas, was taken hostage by the Chinese government on 10th of Sept 2018.
Gulshan is a retired medical doctor. A mother. A grandmother. A sister. The kindest person I have ever known—a woman who spent her life healing others. For over eight years she has suffered in China’s dark dungeon, cut off from her daughters, her granddaughters, her siblings, and the world.
In 2018 I gave my first public speech at the Hudson Institute about the genocide against the Uyghur people. Six days later, Gulshan disappeared. She was sentenced in secret to 20 years for a fabricated crime she never committed. Seven years without due process. Seven years without justice.
This is the cost of speaking out against the Chinese Communist regime. From the UN to the European Parliament, policymakers, civil society, academics, and faith leaders have demanded her release. We must keep building this movement. We will not stop until she is free. We will not stop until this genocide is over. We will not stop until all Uyghurs are free.
I need your help. Share her story. Amplify our voices. Demand the release of my sister and every innocent Uyghur still detained.
Seven years is too long. Not one more day.
#FreeGulshanAbbas
#InternationalDayofPoliticalPrisoners
Gulshan is a retired medical doctor. A mother. A grandmother. A sister. The kindest person I have ever known—a woman who spent her life healing others. For over eight years she has suffered in China’s dark dungeon, cut off from her daughters, her granddaughters, her siblings, and the world.
In 2018 I gave my first public speech at the Hudson Institute about the genocide against the Uyghur people. Six days later, Gulshan disappeared. She was sentenced in secret to 20 years for a fabricated crime she never committed. Seven years without due process. Seven years without justice.
This is the cost of speaking out against the Chinese Communist regime. From the UN to the European Parliament, policymakers, civil society, academics, and faith leaders have demanded her release. We must keep building this movement. We will not stop until she is free. We will not stop until this genocide is over. We will not stop until all Uyghurs are free.
I need your help. Share her story. Amplify our voices. Demand the release of my sister and every innocent Uyghur still detained.
Seven years is too long. Not one more day.
#FreeGulshanAbbas
#InternationalDayofPoliticalPrisoners
TODAY: Join us at the Lincoln Memorial on the International Day of Political Prisoners to demand the release of people imprisoned worldwide for exercising their fundamental freedoms.
At the Roll Call for Freedom ceremony, former political prisoners, their families, and advocates es of those unjustly imprisoned to make their voices heard in the nation's capital.
Be part of this movement to support those behind bars for daring to speak, worship, assemble, and express themselves freely.
5:00 PM | Lincoln Memorial
#FreedomStartsWithAName
Learn more: ned.org/events/roll-ca…
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Rushan Abbas retweeted
China's censorship is so extreme that even a footballer's remarks about a Chinese leader can spark outrage while leaving people in China unable to see what was actually said.
As @BBCNews reports, Kylian Mbappé's comments exposed how Beijing's information controls shape what the public is allowed to hear and discuss. For Uyghurs, these restrictions are part of a familiar and broader system of censorship and repression.
Mbappé and other public figures should not apologize for speaking the truth or face pressure to remain silent to appease the CCP. Speaking openly about China's repression should never be treated as something to apologize for.
Read here: bbc.com/news/articles/…
As @BBCNews reports, Kylian Mbappé's comments exposed how Beijing's information controls shape what the public is allowed to hear and discuss. For Uyghurs, these restrictions are part of a familiar and broader system of censorship and repression.
Mbappé and other public figures should not apologize for speaking the truth or face pressure to remain silent to appease the CCP. Speaking openly about China's repression should never be treated as something to apologize for.
Read here: bbc.com/news/articles/…
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Rushan Abbas retweeted
TODAY: Join us at the Lincoln Memorial on the International Day of Political Prisoners to demand the release of people imprisoned worldwide for exercising their fundamental freedoms.
At the Roll Call for Freedom ceremony, former political prisoners, their families, and advocates es of those unjustly imprisoned to make their voices heard in the nation's capital.
Be part of this movement to support those behind bars for daring to speak, worship, assemble, and express themselves freely.
5:00 PM | Lincoln Memorial
#FreedomStartsWithAName
Learn more: ned.org/events/roll-ca…
At the Roll Call for Freedom ceremony, former political prisoners, their families, and advocates es of those unjustly imprisoned to make their voices heard in the nation's capital.
Be part of this movement to support those behind bars for daring to speak, worship, assemble, and express themselves freely.
5:00 PM | Lincoln Memorial
#FreedomStartsWithAName
Learn more: ned.org/events/roll-ca…
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Rushan Abbas retweeted
.@SecWar Pete Hegseth announced the Pentagon has designated China-funded Confucius Institutes as a national security threat. Chairman @RepMoolenaar made the following statement:
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Rushan Abbas retweeted
The October 30 Coalition encourages loved ones and advocates of political prisoners everywhere to join the “Freedom Starts with a Name” social media campaign.
On October 30, the Coalition invites people around the world to post a photo of themselves holding a sign with the name and photo of their loved one who is held as a political prisoner, calling for their release and using #FreedomStartsWithAName. Participants are encouraged to include a brief account of their loved one’s story. The coalition will amplify these posts to bring wider attention to individual cases and connect communities advocating for their release.
The October 30 Coalition:
@FREETHEM1by1
@HRF
@NEDemocracy
@3Ooctober
@LantosFndn
@4freerussia_org
@McCainInstitute
@TheRWCHR
@WLCongress
@freedomhouse
On October 30, the Coalition invites people around the world to post a photo of themselves holding a sign with the name and photo of their loved one who is held as a political prisoner, calling for their release and using #FreedomStartsWithAName. Participants are encouraged to include a brief account of their loved one’s story. The coalition will amplify these posts to bring wider attention to individual cases and connect communities advocating for their release.
The October 30 Coalition:
@FREETHEM1by1
@HRF
@NEDemocracy
@3Ooctober
@LantosFndn
@4freerussia_org
@McCainInstitute
@TheRWCHR
@WLCongress
@freedomhouse
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Rushan Abbas retweeted
.@ChinaSelect Chairman @RepMoolenaar released this statement today for the International Day of Political Prisoners:
“October 30 is International Day of Political Prisoners. The day is meant to put a spotlight on those individuals who are imprisoned for their political beliefs. in imprisoning political dissidents and Chairman John Moolenaar of the Select Committee on China has called for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to release all political prisoners and allow them to be reunited with their families.
“The tragic cases of Joshua Wong, Jimmy Lai, Dr. Youlin Chen, Min Zin, Pastor Gao Quanfu, Dr. Gulshan Abbas, and countless others exemplify how the CCP will use arbitrary detainment, wrongful detention, and collective punishment for political leverage and to silence those who fight for freedom and liberty,” said Chairman John Moolenaar of the Select Committee on China. “This is a day to honor the courage and bravery of all the dissidents who have stood up to the CCP’s authoritarian rule and are unjustly imprisoned. We must make sure the world does not forget that China has jailed these people for believing in freedom and democracy, and I again call on the CCP to release all of its political prisoners.”
@joshuawongcf
@SupportJimmyLai
@GaoPu1231
@ziba116
@RushanAbbas
@SylviaMinZin
@YoulinChen
#FreedomStartsWithAName
#freethem1by1
#freethemall
#freethemnow
@FREETHEM1by1
#Oct30Coalition
“October 30 is International Day of Political Prisoners. The day is meant to put a spotlight on those individuals who are imprisoned for their political beliefs. in imprisoning political dissidents and Chairman John Moolenaar of the Select Committee on China has called for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to release all political prisoners and allow them to be reunited with their families.
“The tragic cases of Joshua Wong, Jimmy Lai, Dr. Youlin Chen, Min Zin, Pastor Gao Quanfu, Dr. Gulshan Abbas, and countless others exemplify how the CCP will use arbitrary detainment, wrongful detention, and collective punishment for political leverage and to silence those who fight for freedom and liberty,” said Chairman John Moolenaar of the Select Committee on China. “This is a day to honor the courage and bravery of all the dissidents who have stood up to the CCP’s authoritarian rule and are unjustly imprisoned. We must make sure the world does not forget that China has jailed these people for believing in freedom and democracy, and I again call on the CCP to release all of its political prisoners.”
@joshuawongcf
@SupportJimmyLai
@GaoPu1231
@ziba116
@RushanAbbas
@SylviaMinZin
@YoulinChen
#FreedomStartsWithAName
#freethem1by1
#freethemall
#freethemnow
@FREETHEM1by1
#Oct30Coalition
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