consult raw version see edited version

testifying party (* direct submission)

Testimony 1*: Anonymous, as reported by AidET. (relation unclear)

Testimony 2: Amnesty International, a human rights organization.

Testimony 3: Almas Nizamidin, as reported by The Guardian. (husband)

Testimony 4: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia, the department of the Government of Australia responsible for foreign policy, foreign relations, foreign aid, consular services, and trade and investment.

Testimony 5|6: Almas Nizamidin, as reported by Australian Broadcasting Corporation. (husband)

Testimony 7: Almas Nizamidin, as reported by Radio Free Asia Uyghur. (husband)

Testimony 8: Almas Nizamidin, an Uyghur refugee who moved to Australia in 2009 and is now an Australian citizen. (husband)

Testimony 9: Almas Nizamidin, as reported by Justice For All. (husband) Testimony 1: father daughter brother sister son mother grandfather grandmother grandson granddaughter uncle aunt nephew niece brother-in-law sister-in-law father-in-law mother-in-law son-in-law daughter-in-law cousin friend colleague former student relative relation unclear from same town/region n/a husband wife the victim lawyer child friends, family, and students great-nephew great-niece former schoolmate cousin once removed friend of relative boyfriend girlfriend friend of friend aunt-in-law acquaintance judge cousin-in-law nephew-in-law niece-in-law uncle-in-law former neighbor stepbrother stepsister stepfather stepmother stepdaughter stepson neighbor of relative detained together former teacher relative of friend relative of teacher sibling grandchild cousin twice removed trial attendee ex-wife great-uncle great-aunt in-law grandmother-in-law grandfather-in-law great-grandmother great-grandfather half-brother half-sister ex-husband direct third-party
Testimony 2: father daughter brother sister son mother grandfather grandmother grandson granddaughter uncle aunt nephew niece brother-in-law sister-in-law father-in-law mother-in-law son-in-law daughter-in-law cousin friend colleague former student relative relation unclear from same town/region n/a husband wife the victim lawyer child friends, family, and students great-nephew great-niece former schoolmate cousin once removed friend of relative boyfriend girlfriend friend of friend aunt-in-law acquaintance judge cousin-in-law nephew-in-law niece-in-law uncle-in-law former neighbor stepbrother stepsister stepfather stepmother stepdaughter stepson neighbor of relative detained together former teacher relative of friend relative of teacher sibling grandchild cousin twice removed trial attendee ex-wife great-uncle great-aunt in-law grandmother-in-law grandfather-in-law great-grandmother great-grandfather half-brother half-sister ex-husband direct third-party
Testimony 3: father daughter brother sister son mother grandfather grandmother grandson granddaughter uncle aunt nephew niece brother-in-law sister-in-law father-in-law mother-in-law son-in-law daughter-in-law cousin friend colleague former student relative relation unclear from same town/region n/a husband wife the victim lawyer child friends, family, and students great-nephew great-niece former schoolmate cousin once removed friend of relative boyfriend girlfriend friend of friend aunt-in-law acquaintance judge cousin-in-law nephew-in-law niece-in-law uncle-in-law former neighbor stepbrother stepsister stepfather stepmother stepdaughter stepson neighbor of relative detained together former teacher relative of friend relative of teacher sibling grandchild cousin twice removed trial attendee ex-wife great-uncle great-aunt in-law grandmother-in-law grandfather-in-law great-grandmother great-grandfather half-brother half-sister ex-husband direct third-party
Testimony 4: father daughter brother sister son mother grandfather grandmother grandson granddaughter uncle aunt nephew niece brother-in-law sister-in-law father-in-law mother-in-law son-in-law daughter-in-law cousin friend colleague former student relative relation unclear from same town/region n/a husband wife the victim lawyer child friends, family, and students great-nephew great-niece former schoolmate cousin once removed friend of relative boyfriend girlfriend friend of friend aunt-in-law acquaintance judge cousin-in-law nephew-in-law niece-in-law uncle-in-law former neighbor stepbrother stepsister stepfather stepmother stepdaughter stepson neighbor of relative detained together former teacher relative of friend relative of teacher sibling grandchild cousin twice removed trial attendee ex-wife great-uncle great-aunt in-law grandmother-in-law grandfather-in-law great-grandmother great-grandfather half-brother half-sister ex-husband direct third-party
Testimony 5: father daughter brother sister son mother grandfather grandmother grandson granddaughter uncle aunt nephew niece brother-in-law sister-in-law father-in-law mother-in-law son-in-law daughter-in-law cousin friend colleague former student relative relation unclear from same town/region n/a husband wife the victim lawyer child friends, family, and students great-nephew great-niece former schoolmate cousin once removed friend of relative boyfriend girlfriend friend of friend aunt-in-law acquaintance judge cousin-in-law nephew-in-law niece-in-law uncle-in-law former neighbor stepbrother stepsister stepfather stepmother stepdaughter stepson neighbor of relative detained together former teacher relative of friend relative of teacher sibling grandchild cousin twice removed trial attendee ex-wife great-uncle great-aunt in-law grandmother-in-law grandfather-in-law great-grandmother great-grandfather half-brother half-sister ex-husband direct third-party
Testimony 6: father daughter brother sister son mother grandfather grandmother grandson granddaughter uncle aunt nephew niece brother-in-law sister-in-law father-in-law mother-in-law son-in-law daughter-in-law cousin friend colleague former student relative relation unclear from same town/region n/a husband wife the victim lawyer child friends, family, and students great-nephew great-niece former schoolmate cousin once removed friend of relative boyfriend girlfriend friend of friend aunt-in-law acquaintance judge cousin-in-law nephew-in-law niece-in-law uncle-in-law former neighbor stepbrother stepsister stepfather stepmother stepdaughter stepson neighbor of relative detained together former teacher relative of friend relative of teacher sibling grandchild cousin twice removed trial attendee ex-wife great-uncle great-aunt in-law grandmother-in-law grandfather-in-law great-grandmother great-grandfather half-brother half-sister ex-husband direct third-party
Testimony 7: father daughter brother sister son mother grandfather grandmother grandson granddaughter uncle aunt nephew niece brother-in-law sister-in-law father-in-law mother-in-law son-in-law daughter-in-law cousin friend colleague former student relative relation unclear from same town/region n/a husband wife the victim lawyer child friends, family, and students great-nephew great-niece former schoolmate cousin once removed friend of relative boyfriend girlfriend friend of friend aunt-in-law acquaintance judge cousin-in-law nephew-in-law niece-in-law uncle-in-law former neighbor stepbrother stepsister stepfather stepmother stepdaughter stepson neighbor of relative detained together former teacher relative of friend relative of teacher sibling grandchild cousin twice removed trial attendee ex-wife great-uncle great-aunt in-law grandmother-in-law grandfather-in-law great-grandmother great-grandfather half-brother half-sister ex-husband direct third-party
Testimony 8: father daughter brother sister son mother grandfather grandmother grandson granddaughter uncle aunt nephew niece brother-in-law sister-in-law father-in-law mother-in-law son-in-law daughter-in-law cousin friend colleague former student relative relation unclear from same town/region n/a husband wife the victim lawyer child friends, family, and students great-nephew great-niece former schoolmate cousin once removed friend of relative boyfriend girlfriend friend of friend aunt-in-law acquaintance judge cousin-in-law nephew-in-law niece-in-law uncle-in-law former neighbor stepbrother stepsister stepfather stepmother stepdaughter stepson neighbor of relative detained together former teacher relative of friend relative of teacher sibling grandchild cousin twice removed trial attendee ex-wife great-uncle great-aunt in-law grandmother-in-law grandfather-in-law great-grandmother great-grandfather half-brother half-sister ex-husband direct third-party
Testimony 9: father daughter brother sister son mother grandfather grandmother grandson granddaughter uncle aunt nephew niece brother-in-law sister-in-law father-in-law mother-in-law son-in-law daughter-in-law cousin friend colleague former student relative relation unclear from same town/region n/a husband wife the victim lawyer child friends, family, and students great-nephew great-niece former schoolmate cousin once removed friend of relative boyfriend girlfriend friend of friend aunt-in-law acquaintance judge cousin-in-law nephew-in-law niece-in-law uncle-in-law former neighbor stepbrother stepsister stepfather stepmother stepdaughter stepson neighbor of relative detained together former teacher relative of friend relative of teacher sibling grandchild cousin twice removed trial attendee ex-wife great-uncle great-aunt in-law grandmother-in-law grandfather-in-law great-grandmother great-grandfather half-brother half-sister ex-husband direct third-party
Testimony 10: add father daughter brother sister son mother grandfather grandmother grandson granddaughter uncle aunt nephew niece brother-in-law sister-in-law father-in-law mother-in-law son-in-law daughter-in-law cousin friend colleague former student relative relation unclear from same town/region n/a husband wife the victim lawyer child friends, family, and students great-nephew great-niece former schoolmate cousin once removed friend of relative boyfriend girlfriend friend of friend aunt-in-law acquaintance judge cousin-in-law nephew-in-law niece-in-law uncle-in-law former neighbor stepbrother stepsister stepfather stepmother stepdaughter stepson neighbor of relative detained together former teacher relative of friend relative of teacher sibling grandchild cousin twice removed trial attendee ex-wife great-uncle great-aunt in-law grandmother-in-law grandfather-in-law great-grandmother great-grandfather half-brother half-sister ex-husband add add direct third-party

Update 

Name:    Description:    unverified verified    1 2 3 4 5    Add

about the victim

Buzeynep Abdureshit completed a degree in health science at a university in Wuhan (2009-2013), after which she went abroad and studied Arabic and the Quran at the Al-Azhar University in Egypt. She completed these studies in 2015 and returned to China, planning to study medicine.

She then got married to Almas in Urumqi, and would apply for a partnership visa in Australia. As part of the application, she had to go back to Egypt to get an attestation from the Chinese Embassy there, stating that she had no criminal record, had been in Egypt only to study, and had not acted unlawfully while there. Afterwards, she returned to Xinjiang, where she took care of her parents and worked at a women's health helpline. In the latter half of 2016, she also spent six months in the United States looking after her father-in-law. Buzainap Adbureshit (布再娜甫·阿布都热西提) was one of the Uyghur students in Egypt, but she was arrested after her return from USA visiting her father-in-law. She was sentenced to 7 years in prison, however, the charges made against her and her current location are still unknown.

She had spent two years studying in Egypt before returning to China to study medicine.

According to info provided at a testimony event in early 2019, she's about 27.

Testimony 8: she had applied for a partnership visa in Australia prior to her arrest.

Testimony 9:

Completed a degree in health science and City College, Wuhan University of Science and Technology. She was enrolled in that degree program from 2009 to 2013. She then went abroad from 2013 in 2015, studying Arabic [language] and the Qur'an at Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt. Once she completed her studies at Al-Azhar University, she returned to China, and married Almas Nizamidin (the testifier) in Urumqi.

After Buzeynep Abdureshit and Almas Nizamidin (the testifier) got married, the couple started the application process for an Australian Partner visa, for which Buzeynep Abdureshit needed to submit "attestations of character". Buzeynep Abdureshit "returned to Egypt to obtain an attestation from the Chinese Embassy in Cairo stating her sole purpose of residence in Egypt was her studies, and a certificate from the Egyptian Ministry of [the] Interior stating that she had no criminal record and acted lawfully during her entire stay in Egypt." Upon obtaining these documents, Buzeynep Abdureshit "returned to Xinjiang, where she took care of her parents and worked at a women's health helpline."

"In the latter half of 2016, [Buzeynep Abdureshit] spent six months in the United States, taking care of her father-in-law, who had relocated over fear of increasingly restrictive policies in Xinjiang. After returning to Xinjiang from the United States, [Buzeynep Abdureshit] spent her time studying English, taking care of her parents, and waiting for the approval of her Australian Partner visa.

current location

Xinjiang Women’s Prison. She was arrested in Urumqi but then transferred to Aksu, before being sentenced and sent to serve her sentence in Urumqi's Women's Prison.

chronology of detention(s)

On March 29, 2017, Buzeynep received a panicked phone call from her mother, who said that the police were at their house (in Urumqi) and asked that Buzeynep return immediately. When she did, the police put a bag over her head, forced her into a car, and drove her off.

She was thereafter transferred to an unspecified location in Aksu, prior to being given a 7-year sentence on June 5, 2017 (to be served at the Xinjiang Women's Prison). Detained on March 29, 2017 in Urumqi, transferred to an unspecified location in Aksu, and then sentenced to 7 years on June 5, 2017.

Testimony 9: On 29 March 2017, Buzeynep Abdureshit was "seven weeks pregnant and on her way to an Obstetrician's ofice for a routine pregnancy check-up when she received a panicked phone call from her mother. The police were at [Buzeynep Abdureshit's] house and demanded she come home immediately. [Buzeynep Abdureshit] complied, forgoing her appointment to return home. Once home, her family saw the police shove a bag over her head, force her into a car, and drive off."

suspected and/or official reason(s) for detention

According to the Chinese embassy in Canberra, the victim was sentenced to 7 years imprisonment and 2 years deprivation of political rights on June 5, 2017 for the crime of "assembling a crowd to disturb social order".

Her husband, Almas, says that the real reason is her having studied Islam in Egypt. From testimony event (Testimony 1): Chinese embassy in Canberra told her relatives that Gulzeynep was sentenced to seven years imprisonment and two years deprivation of political rights on June 5, 2017 for the crime of “assembling a crowd to disturb social order”.

Testimony 8: for studying Islam in Egypt.

last reported status

In prison, serving a 7-year sentence (to theoretically be followed by 2 years of deprivation of political rights).

There was also some concern about her health as she was reportedly pregnant at the time of her detention. According to the Chinese side, medical examinations conducted before her arrest showed that she was not.

In November 2019, Almas was able to get answers to some questions regarding his wife from the Chinese authorities via the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs. However, Almas's request to talk to his wife on the phone was rejected.

[There is a high likelihood of her being subjected to forced labor, as the Qixin Clothing LLC (启新服装有限责任公司) operates out of the Xinjiang Women's Prison.] In prison. She was pregnant at the time of her detention.

Testimony 7: In November 2019, Chinese authorities answered questions about his wife through the Australian Foreign Ministry. But his request to meet his wife on the phone was rejected.

how testifier(s) learned of victim's situation

Most of the information appears to come from Almas Nizamidin, the victim's husband. After learning of the arrest from his mother-in-law, he immediately went to Urumqi and started going to local police stations. One police officer told him, in exchange for a bribe, that Buzeynep had been taken to Aksu City. He then flew to Aksu and visited more police stations, but was told that the reason for his wife's detention was a "state secret", and that she would soon face trial in Urumqi.

A confirmation of the prison sentence came from Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs, who obtained it from the Chinese authorities. Testimony 9:

The next day after the arrest (30 March 2017), Almas Nizamidin called Buzeynep Abdureshit, but she "hung up on him without answering." Almas Nizamidin (the testifier) "attempted to call several more times, but could not get through to her." Almas Nizamidin then called his mother-in-law [name unspecified], who informed him of the arrest. Upon learning that Buzeynep Abdureshit had been arrested, Almas Nizamidin "immediately booked a flight to Urumqi in order to find out what happened to his wife." Almas Nizamidin arrived in Urumqi the next day (i.e. 31 March 2017) and "went to several local police stations in search of answers." Police consistently told Almas Nizamidin that the "whereabouts and reasons for the detention of his wife were unknown". One police officer then "solicited a bribe from [Almas Nizamidin]", and it was only then that he learnt that Buzeynep Abdureshit had been taken to Aksu City.

Almas Nizamidin (the testifier) then flew to Aksu City to seek further information about what had happened to Buzeynep Abdureshit (1741). He visited several more police stations in Aksu, but was turned away by several authorities before being informed by an officer of the People's Armed Police Force that the reason for Buzeynep Abdureshit's detention was a "state secret" and that Buzeynep Abdureshit would "soon face trial in Urumqi". Almas Nizamidin subsequently returned to Urumqi "in the hopes that he could appeal for his wife's release."

additional information

A number of publicly available reports (NGO and media) have covered her case:

UHRP report: https://docs.uhrp.org/pdf/UHRP_Disappeared_Forever_.pdf
CECC report: https://www.cecc.gov/sites/chinacommission.house.gov/files/documents/CECC%20Pris%20List_20181011_1424.pdf
The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/feb/25/i-miss-her-so-much-australian-man-pleads-for-wifes-release-from-chinese-prison
ABC (Australia): https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-24/uighur-community-in-australia-fear-reports-of-crackdown-in-china/9824554
Radio Free Asia: https://www.rfa.org/english/news/uyghur/australia-mother-08192019154513.html

Amnesty International campaigns:
https://action.amnesty.org.au/act-now/china-release-buzainafu
https://www.amnestyusa.org/urgent-actions/urgent-action-update-uyghur-woman-held-incommunicado-for-2-years-china-ua-222-17/ UHRP report: https://docs.uhrp.org/pdf/UHRP_Disappeared_Forever_.pdf

Mentioned in the CECC report: https://www.cecc.gov/sites/chinacommission.house.gov/files/documents/CECC%20Pris%20List_20181011_1424.pdf

Her story has been featured in the Guardian (Testimony 3): https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/feb/25/i-miss-her-so-much-australian-man-pleads-for-wifes-release-from-chinese-prison

Amnesty International has a campaign for her (Testimony 2): https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/asa17/7168/2017/en/

ABC (Australia): https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-24/uighur-community-in-australia-fear-reports-of-crackdown-in-china/9824554 (Testimony 5)

official communication(s)

Source: Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

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Your wife, Ms Buzainafu Abudourexiti, was sentenced to 7 years imprisonment and 2 years deprivation of political rights on 5 June 2017 for the crime of "assembling a crowd to disturb social order".

The authorities say that body examinations conducted before her arrest showed that she was not pregnant.

Your mother, Ms Zuyipiya Jiala, was arrested on 6 November 2018 also for assembling a crowd to disturb social order. Her case is still under investigation.

Chinese authorities advised that if you would like to get in touch with your wife, you could apply for a visit through local law enforcement agencies in line with Chinese law.

relatives

places of detention

Xinjiang Women's Prison

supplementary materials

entry created on: 2018-12-31

entry last modified on: 2021-05-02

last update from testifier(s): 2020-10-18