Ethnic Kazakh woman from Xinjiang wins U.S. State Department’s International Women of Courage Award

AKIPRESS.COM - Ethnic Kazakh woman from Xinjiang Sayragul Sauytbay, who sought a refugee status in Kazakhstan and eventually found refuge in Sweden, has won the International Women of Courage Award, the U.S. Department of State said.
On March 4, Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo will host the Annual International Women of Courage (IWOC) Awards at the U.S. Department of State to honor 12 extraordinary women from around the world.
The First Lady of the United States Melania Trump will deliver remarks to recognize the extraordinary accomplishments of these women.
Now in its 14th year, the Secretary of State's IWOC Award recognizes women around the globe who have demonstrated exceptional courage and leadership in advocating for peace, justice, human rights, gender equality, and women's empowerment, often at great personal risk and sacrifice. Since the inception of this award in March 2007, the Department of State has recognized 134 women from 73 countries. This year will bring the total to 146 awardees from 77 countries. U.S. diplomatic missions overseas nominate one woman of courage from their respective host countries. The finalists are selected and approved by senior Department officials. Following the IWOC ceremony, the 12 awardees will participate in an International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) visiting various cities throughout the country, before reconvening in Los Angeles for the conclusion of their program on March 16.
Sayragul Sauytbay was born in Ele Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang, China. She attended medical university and worked as a doctor, teacher, education director, and headmaster. In July 2016, Sayragul and her family attempted to move to Kazakhstan but the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) confiscated her passport and prevented her from going with her husband and children. From November 2017 to March 2018, Sayragul taught Chinese to ethnic minority people in a detention camp. In March 2018, Sauytbay fled to Kazakhstan to avoid being sent back to the camp. China demanded her deportation. On August 1, 2018, the court rejected her depotation to China and ruled 6 months suspended prison sentence.
In October 2018, Kazakhstan refused to give political asylum to Sayragul Sauytbay. The commission found Sauytbay's persecution in China lacking evidence.
On June 3, 2019, it became known that Sayragul Sauytbay together with husband and two children flew to Sweden, where they were given political asylum.