The federal government is facing mounting calls to help two Australian men reunite with loved ones from China after years of separation due to the country’s harsh crackdown on its Uyghur citizens and other Muslim minorities.
Australian citizens Almas Nizamadin and Sadam Abudusalamu are set to meet with federal politicians on Wednesday to plead for the release of their wives who are unable to flee China’s Xinjiang province.
Mr Nizamadin’s wife Bizainafu Abudourexi had just learned she was pregnant and was on her way to the hospital for a health check-up when she was arrested by Chinese authorities and locked up in a prison-like “re-education camp”.
It has been more than two years since Mr Nizamadin has seen or spoken with his wife, who had lost her baby shortly after her arrest in 2017.
Mr Nizamadin had already applied for a partner visa for his wife but it was eventually rejected in 2018 after they could not obtain a police check requested by Australian immigration authorities.
Amnesty International said Ms Abudourexi was charged with “assembling a crowd to disturb social order”, and sentenced to seven years in jail.
He said he has not lost hope of reuniting with his wife.
“I wish they (the Australia government) would help me.”
“I just want to reunite with my family. I don’t expect more than that.”
Mr Abudusalamu said his wife Nadila Wumaier is feeling “terrified” based on the minimal communication they’ve had in the two years that they’ve been apart.
Ms Wumaier was detained in one of the controversial camps for two weeks in April 2018, before being let out. She has since been prevented from leaving Xinjiang after her passport was confiscated by Chinese authorities.
She was recently taken away by local police and is continuing to be questioned after Mr Abudusalamu appeared on ABC’s Four Corners last week.
“The last time I saw my wife was when she was pregnant,” Mr Abudusalamu said.
He has not been able to meet his son who will turn two in August.
“I’m hoping I can celebrate his birthday with him.”
Mr Abudusalamu is urging “the Chinese government to forgive whatever my wife has done”.
“Please let her go; she’s innocent.”
He is seeking legal assistance after he failed in his quest to obtain a partner visa for his wife to travel to Australia. She said his wife could not fulfill the visa requirements because she was unable to obtain a police check due to being locked up.
Amnesty International campaigner Nikita White said the relatives of the men are among thousands of people who have been locked up in “re-education camps” for “doing nothing wrong”.
Ms White said they have been subjected to human rights abuses simply because they are Uyghurs.
She said Amnesty International is calling on the Australian government to fast-track the refugee applications of relatives of the Australian Uyghur community and afford them the ability to travel.
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