Abdurahman’s nephew told Amnesty International that Abdurahman received a call from the Turpan police while he was guiding a tour in Yili in July 2019. After returning to Turpan, he was immediately taken away and all contact with him was lost.

Abdurahman’s nephew believes that Abdurahman was detained for leaking letters from camps. These letters were shared with a relative who was living abroad and were then widely posted online and in the Xinjiang Victims Database. It is unclear whether he is now in an internment camp or a prison. Abdurahman’s nephew, who currently lives in Japan, does not know how other family members are doing in China, as he has lost all contact since Abdurahman’s disappearance.

Abdurahman has several family members held in detention facilities, including his older brother, Muhemmedeli Tursun.