CFU PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 5, 2025, 3:45 PM EST
Contact: contact@campaignforuyghurs.org
+1 650-703-4523
https://campaignforuyghurs.org/
Campaign for Uyghurs Honored with 2025 Democracy Award from the National Endowment for Democracy
Washington, D.C. – Campaign for Uyghurs (CFU) is deeply honored to be the recipient of the 2025 National Endowment for Democracy Democracy Award. The official award ceremony took place on November 4 in Washington, D.C., where CFU and Executive Director Rushan Abbas were formally recognized for their ongoing advocacy on behalf of the Uyghur and Turkic communities targeted under Chinese Communist Party (CCP) rule. The evening paid tribute to those who continue to risk their lives to defend freedom, faith, and truth.
The Democracy Awards shone a light on organizations and individuals working to advance human rights and religious liberty amid increasing repression. Alongside CFU, Mr. Xiao Qiang and China Digital Times were recognized for cataloging the Chinese people’s fight for freedom; Democracy Service Medals were bestowed upon Pastor Wang Yi and the 11th Panchen Lama Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, both highly recognized symbols of faith and defiance. These recognitions underscore the plight of communities affected by China’s human rights abuses and highlight the urgent need to hold the CCP accountable for its genocide and crimes against humanity
“As we accept this award, we do so on behalf of the millions of Uyghurs whose voices have been silenced and whose faith and freedom remain under assault,” said Rushan Abbas, Founder and Executive Director of Campaign for Uyghurs. “What is happening to the Uyghurs is an active genocide, marked by mass detention, forced labor, and the criminalization of faith. My sister, Dr. Gulshan Abbas, has been unjustly imprisoned for seven years as punishment for my activism, a reminder of how the CCP’s repression extends beyond its borders. This recognition strengthens our resolve to fight for accountability, justice, and the protection of humanity itself.”
CFU would like to express its profound gratitude to the National Endowment for Democracy, its Board of Directors, and President Damon Wilson for their continued support for the Uyghur people. This award reaffirms CFU’s commitment to advancing global democracy and ensuring the voices of the oppressed are never silenced.
