As NPR correspondent Emily Feng reported on the Kucar family, she encountered a mysterious figure working to keep her sources from speaking out. Later, she meets another Uyghur man who - perhaps unwillingly - becomes an actor within China's systems of control. These men are accused of working to silence others, but they say they've found themselves silenced as well. To listen to this series sponsor-free and support NPR, sign up for Embedded+ in Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.
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This American Life.
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NPR correspondent Emily Fang started reporting the story of the Kuchar family and their separation in 2021.
It was during China's crackdown on Uyghurs and other Muslim groups, and since then, Emily has kept following the family.
Abdul Latif Kuchar had been diagnosed with cancer, and his wife Maryam was still being held in a Chinese prison.
We will hear from Abdelatif later in this episode.
But also, Emily still had these nagging questions.
Who was the person who tried to dissuade the Kuchar family from telling their story to NPR all those years ago?
And why?