On November 13, more than twenty volunteers from the Atazhul organization in Kazakhstan gathered near the border crossing of Duralata in Kazakhstan. Participants burned the flag of the Chinese Communist Party and images of Xi Jinping. After the demonstration, nearly twenty participants were taken to the Shangji County Public Security Bureau in Hongayebu Province.
The gathering was focused on the case of Kazakh citizen Alinur Tulhanbai, who went missing in Xinjiang. Members of the Kazakh community left comments on social media platforms, stating that the gathering was triggered by the extended disappearance of a cross-border truck driver. Some internet users mentioned that the publicity of the family’s appeal drew attention from the community.
Founder of Atazhul, Serikzhan, told reporters that those arrested included individuals who had been detained in Xinjiang in the past. Alinur Tulhanbai was taken away by officials from the Ili National Security Bureau or the security department on July 23, 2025, while driving through the Duralata border crossing. His family has been holding gatherings in various locations in Kazakhstan for over three months, and they have submitted petitions to the Chinese Consulate General in Almaty and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan.
The Kazakh language group commented that cross-border detention incidents have been increasing in recent years. Many internet users pointed out that the case of Alinur Tulhanbai has caused tension within the community.
Dina, a Kazakh citizen and a former victim of torture in Xinjiang’s concentration camps, told reporters that her husband, Alemasbek Jumukhan, was taken away during the gathering. She said, “My husband was also taken by the police, and he was released last night (13th). A total of 19 people were arrested, 4 have been released, and the rest are still detained. Serikzhan, the leader of Atazhul, was also taken into custody.”
Social media comments mentioned that Atazhul has been assisting families of missing individuals for many years in organizing evidence of their relatives’ experiences, some of which have been submitted to the United Nations human rights organizations. The organization has gained attention among the public in Kazakhstan. The recent detentions have attracted external scrutiny.
Serikzhan told reporters that those arrested include the organization’s leader, Serikzhan. He said, “Nineteen people were arrested, and some were released that night. Most of the detainees were from Xinjiang, but there were also young locals among them. The police accused them of provoking trouble. One of them paid a fine of 87,000 tenge (the legal currency of Kazakhstan), equivalent to over 1,000 RMB. Some of them may be detained for 15 days, 6 months, or even longer, the exact details are not yet known.” Serikzhan is still detained, and the names of over ten other detainees have not been disclosed.
A Kazakh language commentator familiar with the case noted that the prolonged detention has sparked more discussions locally.
Alinur Tulhanbai has been missing since July 23, with Chinese authorities claiming incompatible documents as the reason for his detention. His family has not received any notifications for over three months. His wife, Guldarega, has been taken to the police station multiple times and has accumulated fines exceeding one million tenge. The organization mentioned that Guldarega is still seeking confirmation from the Kazakh authorities about her husband’s situation.
Yerlan, a Kazakh citizen from Xinjiang, mentioned that in the past five years, many Kazakhs visiting Xinjiang have been interrogated by the Ili Public Security Bureau. He added that such incidents have caused pressure within the community.
Around 500,000 people in Kazakhstan are originally from Xinjiang, and many still have relatives there. Since 2017, education and training centers have been established in Xinjiang. Some Kazakhs have informed their relatives about conditions within the camps, which have further spread to communities and external organizations.
Atazhul organization has called on the United Nations Human Rights Council, the United States, and European countries to pay attention to the case of Alinur Tulhanbai. They emphasized the need for external scrutiny on cross-border detention issues.
A Kazakh scholar, Erken, who studies cross-border issues in Central Asia, mentioned that cross-border detentions often come with information secrecy. He pointed out that Alinur Tulhanbai’s family has not received any official written documents, and the situation has become more uncertain with the extended time of the incident. He believes that when China arrests Kazakh citizens, they should inform the Kazakh side.
Atazhul has gathered extensive information on overseas missing persons since its establishment, including testimonies from family members and cross-border travel records. Several members have been detained in the past for participating in demonstrations or sharing information. This recent incident is seen as a rare high-profile action by the organization in recent years. The public is closely monitoring how the Kazakh authorities will handle the situation and the latest developments regarding Alinur Tulhanbai.