Justice Abroad Submits United Nations Applications in Case of Retired Uyghur Forestry Worker Arbitrarily Detained Because His Children Live in the USA
JUSTICE ABROAD
“Here When You Need Us”
Press Statement
Justice Abroad Submits United Nations Applications in Case of Retired Uyghur Forestry Worker Arbitrarily Detained Because His Children Live in the USA
Justice Abroad has submitted Communications to the United Nations’ Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, The UN Working Group on Enforced Disappearances, and the UN Special Rapporteurs on Racism, Indigenous Issues, and Freedom of Religion on behalf of our client the 71-year-old retired Head of Xinjiang Forestry Department who has been arbitrarily detained because his son and daughter live with their families in the United States of America.
In short, Mr Mamat has been detained since 29 April 2017, the date he was supposed to be departing to the United States of America with his wife to visit their son and daughter and spend time with their families. After Mr Mamat was seized, his wife and other daughter, who are still in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, were beaten by the authorities over a lengthy period of interrogation. Following this, they were repeatedly told by the authorities that the reason for Mr Mamat’s seizure was because he had family members living outside China.
Mr Mamat’s wife has only been able to speak with him on a short videocall where she saw that he was in an extremely poor physical state and there are serious concerns about his current health. Despite there being no evidence against him, in September 2019, Mr Mamat was given a life sentence at a hearing where his lawyer was not allowed to speak.
In regard to the United Nations applications Mr Polak states the following ‘It is hoped that when these UN bodies investigate Mr Mamat’s case and demand the release of this frail 71 year old grandfather, this will encourage the Chinese authorities to do so. It is very common for Uyghurs and other Turkic people in China to be seized and kept in detention simply because they have family living abroad. In this way the Chinese authorities seek to control Uyghurs living in exile. The world is finally waking up to what is taking place against the Uyghurs and the XUAR authorities should realise that the focus is now on them and their behaviour towards those such as Mr Mamat. Mr Mamat needs to be with his family and not kept in terrible conditions for no reason.’
On social media we will be using the hashtag #freemamatabdullah
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Media requests for interviews with Michael Polak or members of Mr Mamat’s family can be accommodated in any language requested and should be made by contacting Justice Abroad by email at contact@JusticeAbroad.co.uk or phone on +44 (0)203 488 2316.
Notes to Editors
Justice Abroad, www.justiceabroad.co.uk has been set up to help those trying to find their way through foreign justice systems with all the associated hurdles that presents, to represent those facing gross breaches of their human rights no matter where this takes place, and to advise and assist the victims of crimes as to how to achieve justice.
To help such individuals or families with these dilemmas and many more, three experts, Michael Polak, a barrister with an international practice focussed on the assistance of foreign nationals in trouble around the world, David Swindle , a former Detective Superintendent who has worked on hundreds of murders and complex high profile investigations in the UK and abroad during his 34 years in the police, and David Walters MVO, a former British Diplomat with over thirty years’ experience having served in over a dozen countries around the world, have pooled their extensive experience and contacts together to provide a comprehensive service. In providing this service the team consider all legal, political, and investigatory steps which might assist their clients attain justice.