CFU PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 17, 5:30 PM ET
Sabrina Sohail: sabrina@campaignforuyghurs.org
(650) 703-4523
Campaign For Uyghurs (CFU) expresses deep sadness over the loss of Abdulkarim Zikrullah Idris, the father of Abdulhakim Idris, Executive Director of the Center For Uyghur Studies (CUS). Mr. Zikrullah sadly passed away in January 2023 at the age of 81. The news of his passing has only recently been brought to our attention, almost seven months later. The exact date and circumstances surrounding his death remain unknown at this time.
In an age of advanced technologies, Uyghurs face significant challenges in obtaining information about the welfare of their loved ones. It has come to light that Abdulhakim Idris, who last had contact with his father on April 25, 2017, has been unaware of his father’s whereabouts and health status until recently. Tragically, Idris has not been able to see his father for over two decades, nor say his final goodbyes or partake in a proper burial. The absence of closure underscores the ongoing suffering endured by Uyghurs.
Abdulhakim Idris, like countless Uyghurs, shared a heartfelt statement about his inability to communicate with his family. “As a son, I am heartbroken, I have not been able to spend time with him in his last years. Beautiful memories have started to play in front of my eyes like a movie. My father was a believer, a hard-working and dedicated man. He raised me to be the man that I am today and put me on a path to strive for our people. Freedom and justice do not come without a price, this is what the people of East Turkistan have paid and continue to pay heavily. I consider my father to be a martyr as he passed away in his homeland during a genocide, I pray that Allah grants him paradise and I pray to be reunited with him there one day.”
Amidst China’s genocidal crackdown on the Uyghurs, the Chinese Government deliberately impedes on vital communication channels between Uyghurs abroad and their family members within East Turkistan. Uyghurs are forced to bear the tormenting burden of learning about the fate of their loved ones, months or even years after their passing. This cruel reality serves as a testament to the magnitude and gravity of the ongoing genocide unfolding against the Uyghurs.
CFU appeals to the global community to join in condemning the ongoing atrocities and grave human rights violations perpetrated against the Uyghur people by the Chinese regime. With urgency, CFU calls upon nations and individuals to take decisive action to bring an end to the Uyghur Genocide and ensure that justice is served for those who have endured and continue to endure dire suffering.
You can learn more about the Uyghur Genocide and the separation of family members through the documentary ‘In Search of My Sister.’
