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Biography:
Rayhan Asat is a Uyghur lawyer and human rights advocate. Born and raised in Ürümqi, the capital of Xinjiang, she comes from an academic family. Her mother was a chemistry professor, and her father worked in the water resources administration. Asat’s journey as an advocate for human rights began when her younger brother, Ekpar Asat, was detained in the Xinjiang internment camp system in 2016.
In 2016, while pursuing her LL.M. at Harvard Law School, Asat had the opportunity to meet her brother when he visited the United States as a participant in the International Visitor Leadership Program. However, upon his return to China, Asat’s parents canceled their trip to the United States for her graduation. It was then that Asat discovered her brother’s detention and the dire situation faced by Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in China.
Asat’s determination to fight for her brother’s release and raise awareness about the plight of the Uyghurs led her to become a powerful advocate. In January 2020, she received the distressing news that her brother had been sentenced to 15 years in prison for inciting ethnic hatred and ethnic discrimination. This revelation came to light after the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C. responded to a letter from US Senator Chris Coons and a group of lawmakers.
Undeterred by the risks of advocating against the Chinese government’s actions, Asat continued her activism. She began her public campaign during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, despite the fear of retaliation against her family in Xinjiang. As part of her advocacy, Asat spoke publicly at Harvard in March 2020, shedding light on her brother’s case and the human rights abuses in the Xinjiang region.
Asat’s relentless efforts gained traction when Harvard alumni attorneys penned letters to the governments of the United States and China, demanding Ekpar Asat’s unconditional release. Additionally, she called upon then-President Donald Trump to publicly address the human rights violations committed against Uyghurs.
After completing her LL.M., Asat joined the Anti-Corruption and Internal Investigations department of the law firm Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP. Alongside her professional endeavors, she became a Senior Fellow at the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights, further solidifying her commitment to human rights advocacy.
In 2021, Asat’s influence expanded as she joined the Strategic Litigation Project at the Atlantic Council as a Nonresident Senior Fellow. Her work focused on raising awareness about her brother’s situation and the larger human rights abuses faced by Uyghurs in the Xinjiang region. This same year, she was also selected as a Yale World Fellow, a testament to her expertise and dedication.
Asat’s advocacy efforts have been driven by her unwavering commitment to justice and the belief that each individual deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. Her resilience in the face of adversity has made her a prominent figure in shedding light on the plight of Uyghurs and other minority groups in China. Through her tireless work, Asat has left an indelible mark on women’s history and set a powerful example for others fighting for justice and human rights.