'I don't know if he's alive or not': Windsor Uighur woman fears brother is in a Chinese detention camp

It's been almost two yearssinceBilkisMuhammadlast spoke with her brother.

It's a starkcontrast to the weekly phone calls she would have withhim since moving to Canada in 2005.

Last year, she heard through a family friend that her brother was taken to a Chinese detention camp in May2018.

Uighur-Canadian woman fears her brother is detained in a detention camp in China

5 years ago

Duration 1:09

Bilkis Muhammad lost contact with her brother two years ago.She found out through a family friend that he's been sent to a detention camp following his trips to Turkey and Malaysia.

"I don't know if he's alive or not," said Muhammad, wipingtears from her eyes."He's the only family member I have left back home."

She doesn't know any details of hiswhereabouts, including which camp he's in or when, if ever, he'llbe released.

Muhammad and her brother,KuerbanMaimaiti, areUighurs, a Muslim ethnic minority in China.

Amnesty International estimates there are one millionUighursin Chinese detentioncamps something the Chinese government calls "re-education camps."

Muhammad says her brother took two short trips to Turkey and Malaysia and believes that's the reason for his detainment.

• China's treatment of Uighur Muslims in spotlight at UN human rights session

• Canada among countries urging China to shut Uighur detention camps

"One of the many causes for being detained is having travelled to what looks like a blacklist of 26 countries. They include many of theneighbouringMuslim-dominated countries," said ScottMcKnight, who researches Canada-Chinese relationsat the University of Toronto.

One of those countries include Turkey, where Maimaitivisited prior to his alleged detainment.

"If a Uighur travels to one of these countries, that alone can be a sufficient cause for the Chinese government to detain this person," addedMcKnight.

Risking brother's safety

According to McKnight,the Chinese government monitors most media and uses this tactic to suppress or intimidate Uighur relatives that live outside of China.

"This has really cast a chilling effect on how vocalUighursoutside of China will be of the Chinese government's policies" saidMcKnight.

"I cry all the time," said Muhammad. "Every news I read. I feel like I cannot help them. I cannot
help them. That makes me crazy."

So,Muhammeddecided to speak out. She knows it's a riskand could make things worse for her brother, but feels she has no other option.

'I can't concentrate on anything'

Muhammad said the struggle to reach her brotherhastaken an emotional toll.

She said she suffers from depression andfinds it difficult to concentrate on daily activities.

TheUighursin Windsorarea small, tight-knit community. Only 12 families live in the city, according to Muhammad.

When the families meet, one question is top of mind.

"We always ask each other, 'Did you contact your family?'" said Muhammad, adding that feelings of distress are constantand preventUighur families from enjoying their lives in Canada.

Feeling helpless

MehmetTohti, aUighur human rights activist and founder of theUyghurCanadian Society, echoesthesefeelings of vulnerability and helplessness.

His organization works with the Uighurdiasporato send their information to a data centre in Oslo, Norway where it's saved as a collectiverecord of what's taking place inXinjiang province.

He also said his organization actively lobbies for the Canadian government to bring Uighur refugees in Turkey to Canada.

Tohtisaid through "Sabranddua," patience and prayer, respectively, he and the Uighurdiasporawill continue to fight and raise awareness.

Haven't lost hope

In the meantime, Muhammadurges the international community to sever business ties with China.

She's also looking into setting uplanguage classes to help ensure her culture is passed on to future generations.

With eyes brimmed with tears, she says she hasn't lost hope to hear back from her brother.

"I will tell himI love him."