Daughter of Uyghur prisoner appeals to Trump for clemency during summit with Xi Jinping

<p>Ziba Murat, an American woman whose mother has been imprisoned in China for eight years, is seeking intervention from President Donald Trump during the ongoing summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Murat expressed hope that Trump will advocate for her mother's release.</p><p>Dr. Gulshar Abbas, Murat's mother, was 56 when she was taken from her home on September 10, 2018. Murat stated that Chinese officials later confirmed Abbas was convicted of charges related to terrorism and sentenced to 20 years in prison, which Murat claims are unfounded.</p><p>Murat noted that her mother's disappearance occurred shortly after her aunt, Rushan Abbas, spoke publicly about the situation facing the Uyghur people in China. She described her mother as a retired doctor who is not politically active.</p><p>Rushan Abbas is the founder of Campaign for Uyghurs, an advocacy group for the Muslim minority in China. Murat has received support from House Speaker Mike Johnson, who has advocated for her mother's case.</p><p>Despite efforts, Murat has faced challenges in securing her mother's release due to the secretive nature of the Chinese government and ongoing tensions between the U.S. and China over various issues.</p><p>Murat expressed hope that the summit could lead to progress in her mother's case. She shared the emotional impact of her mother's absence on her family, particularly on her young daughter, who has begun to ask about her grandmother.</p><p>A senior White House official confirmed that Trump is expected to request the release of at least one prisoner during the summit, specifically U.S. citizen Dr. Youlin Chen, who was arrested in 2024.</p><p>Editor's Note: The interview with Abbas was lightly edited for grammar and clarity.</p>