Episode 31: “Women Leading the Way on FoRB” Season – A Conversation with Rushan Abbas Artwork

The Keeper: A Human Rights Podcast

Hosted by Lantos Foundation President, Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett, The Keeper features in depth conversations about the most pressing matters of human rights and justice around the world and welcomes some of the most important human rights figures of our time as guests.The Keeper takes its name from the personal conviction of the Lantos Foundation's namesake Congressman Tom Lantos, fully lived out in his own life, that we have a moral and ethical obligation to be our brother and sister’s keeper. This guiding principle led Congressman Lantos to found the Congressional Human Rights Caucus and use his eloquence, leadership, and personal passion to advocate fiercely on behalf of those whose human rights were being trampled in every corner of the world.

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The Keeper: A Human Rights Podcast

Episode 31: “Women Leading the Way on FoRB” Season – A Conversation with Rushan Abbas

April 01, 2025 • The Lantos Foundation • Episode 31

Episode Notes

Episode 31: “Women Leading the Way on FoRB” Season – A Conversation with Rushan Abbas

This third episode of our “Women Leading the Way on Freedom of Religion or Belief” season brings you a conversation with Rushan Abbas, one of the most prominent and respected activists for the rights of the Uyghur people. She is founder and executive director of the Campaign for Uyghurs. For decades, she has advocated fearlessly on behalf of Uyghur Muslims – a religious and ethnic minority in China, which has faced brutal repression at the hands of the Chinese Communist Party. Numerous western governments have classified it as genocide, with more than 1 million Uyghurs being held in so-called “reeducation camps.” In reality, these are modern-day concentration camps.

Rushan has been pivotal to raising awareness about the human rights abuses and crimes against humanity being perpetrated against the Uyghurs. Moreover, she has been critical to many of the most effective efforts to push back against China’s brutal repression. She and her staff at the Campaign for Uyghurs were recognized for their vital work when they were nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize in 2022.

However, the recognition for Rushan’s tremendous contribution to the field of human rights and freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) has come with a heavy price. In this episode, Rushan discusses the childhood that shaped her, the American values of freedom and democracy that she embraced when she came to America, and the unjust imprisonment of her sister, Dr. Gulshan Abbas.

Rushan Abbas Bio

Campaign for Uyghurs

Rushan Abbas: Profiles in Freedom (Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation)

Chinese Persecution of the Uyghurs (U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum)

Gulshan Abbas (Defending Freedoms Project)

Producers: Brittany Smith, Chelsea Hedquist & Celie Hudson

 Audio editors: Brittany Smith & Celie Hudon

Music: Always Hopeful - Silent Partner • Always Hopeful – Silent Partner (No C...