Tursunay Ziyawudun, who endured inhumane treatment in concentration camps and has continued her struggle as a witness to the torture of Uyghurs after fleeing abroad, has now been diagnosed with cancer. She needs our support more than ever.
Tursunay Ziyawudun, a Uyghur woman and survivor of China’s concentration camps in East Turkistan, has been diagnosed with breast cancer. After surviving one of the darkest chapters of the 21st century, she now faces a new personal battle. She needs our support more than ever. Support can be given through this link.
Tursunay was detained twice in Chinese concentration camps—facilities widely recognized for their role in the systematic oppression and genocide of the Uyghur people. During her time in detention in 2017 and 2018, she was subjected to inhumane treatment, including physical and psychological torture, forced medication, and repeated interrogations. She has spoken publicly about the systemic abuses she endured and witnessed, including beatings, humiliation, and sexual violence inflicted on female detainees.
After escaping to Kazakhstan and eventually resettling in the United States in 2020, she found the courage to share her story with the world. Her testimony has become one of the most powerful accounts documenting the atrocities committed against Uyghurs in East Turkistan. International media, human rights organizations, and governments have relied on her words to expose the ongoing genocide.
But beyond the headlines, Tursunay is also someone who touches people’s lives every day. She is known for her kindness, her homemade Uyghur bread, and the dresses she sews that remind her community of home. Despite all she has endured, she remains a source of strength and solidarity for others.
Now, she needs support. Although she has applied for Medicaid, which will cover most of her cancer treatment, she is unable to work during her recovery and urgently needs help covering rent, daily living expenses, and out-of-pocket medical costs.
Please consider donating—every contribution makes a difference. Standing by Tursunay now is not only an act of compassion, but also a way of honoring her bravery and resilience.
Thank you for your support.
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