Justice For All’s Save Uyghur Campaign Welcomes the “Stop TNR Act of 2026” as a Shield Against Chinese Transnational Repression

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 23, 2026)

Justice For All’s Save Uyghur campaign formally applauds the introduction of Bill S. 4967, the “Stop TNR Act of 2026.” This landmark legislation, introduced by Senators Schiff and Curtis, represents a critical step in defending the Uyghur diaspora and other vulnerable communities from the reach of authoritarian regimes.

The bill arrives as the Uyghur community faces increasing aggressive targeting by the Chinese government, a “hostile nation” and “authoritarian regime.” The bill notes such nations seek to silence individuals critical of their actions. Findings in the legislation highlight that foreign powers have shifted from local oppression to global intimidation, targeting “members of religious and ethnic minority groups” with threats, surveillance and even plots to physically harm or kidnap individuals within the United States.

For the Uyghur community, this repression often takes the form of “coercion” or “threats” involving the “imprisonment of… an immediate family member” back in East Turkistan to stifle speech protected by the First Amendment. By formally defining “transnational repression” (TNR) as activity that “reaches beyond the internationally recognized territorial jurisdiction” of a foreign power to harass or retaliate against a person, S. 4967 provides the legal framework necessary to prosecute these extraterritorial crimes.

Arslan Hidayat, Team Lead for Justice For All’s Save Uyghur Campaign, said:

“The Chinese government has held our families hostage to silence our advocacy here. By establishing a sentencing enhancement of up to 10 years for those who knowingly engage in transnational repression, this bill finally gives teeth to American law. It sends a clear message to the CCP: your reach ends at our borders, and your attempts to weaponize family ties or use ‘commercial spyware’ and ‘disinformation’ to silence Uyghur voices will be met with severe federal consequences.”

The “Stop TNR Act of 2026” introduces several key protections:

• Harsher Penalties: Adds up to 10 years in prison and $100,000 for crimes involving foreign-led harassment
• Tech Strategy: Mandates a federal plan to counter AI-based threats and digital disinformation
• Centralized Control: Places all investigations and prosecutions under the DOJ’s National Security Division and FBI
• Annual Reporting: Requires yearly reports to Congress on repression trends and government responses

Justice For All and the Save Uyghur campaign urge the Senate to pass S. 4967 immediately to ensure that no person in the United States has to choose between their First Amendment rights and the safety of their loved ones abroad.

Justice For All is a human rights organization accredited by the United Nations focused on Muslim minority issues and anti-genocide advocacy.

Contact: Arslan Hidayat, arslan@justiceforall.org  Phone: 202-908-JUST

Website: https://www.justiceforall.org

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