'I have nothing': Emotional Waleed Aly is lost for words as he speaks with a shattered dad who'd just learned his wife was behind bars in China - and he has no idea where his young son is
- The Project panel were speaking with Chinese-national Sadam Abudusalamu
- Mr Abudusalamu hasn't seen his wife for two years or his two-year-old son
- They're part of Uyghurs - a minority Muslim group being persecuted in in China
- His wife Nadila was recently arrested and he pleaded on air for help to find her
- Speechless Waleed Aly told the worried father he didn't know what to say to him
Waleed Aly was left speechless while speaking to a man who had just found out his wife was arrested in China - and he doesn't know where his son is.
After featuring on Monday's Four Corners episode, Chinese national Sadam Abudusalamu spoke to the emotional panel on The Project on Tuesday night.
Mr Abudusalamu and his family are part of the Uyghurs - a minority Muslim ethnic group who have been persecuted by the government in China.
He hasn't seen his wife Nadila in two years as she isn't allowed to leave Xinjiang province - where the largest amount of Uyghurs live.
Since they've been torn apart, Mr Abudusalamu still has not met his two-year-old son Lufty.
'To be honest I don't know what to say now - I told ABC this is going to happen, and it's exactly happening because I am speaking out,' Mr Abudusalamu told the panel.
'[At] 3.30 (pm) Sydney time they just took my wife, and (my) two-year-old baby, I don't know where he is now … she just sent me a message (saying) police just called me, if I can't come out, please take care of yourself.'
The devastated father went on to say he has no idea where his son is, and said he believes his wife's arrest is related to the Four Corner's episode he appeared on.
When asked if he will go back to China to help look, but said it's too dangerous and he can't get his visa in time.
Aly appeared shaken up by Mr Abudusalamu's predicament, and asked him if he felt like he shouldn't be speaking on air.
Waleed Aly and Carrie Bickmore appeared shaken up by the devastated father's story, with Aly telling him he had no idea what to say to help
'No, I have to speak out, I've got nothing to lose anymore. Even if I don't speak out nothing is going to change, so I have to speak out,' Mr Abudusalamu said.
Co-host Carrie Bickmore said: 'I just can't imagine how hard it is, not having ever seen your son let alone now not even knowing where he is.'
The fragile father said he felt like 'being a Muslim is a crime at the moment' - and claimed the Australian government wasn't helping him due to trade agreements with China.
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'I'm living in Australia but feel like I'm under Chinese government pressure,' he said.
The interview ended with a speechless Aly telling the father he didn't know what to say to help with his pain.
'Sadam Abdusalamu, I don't know ordinarily I try to find something I could say to console you. I have nothing,' Aly said.
'There's nothing I can say at this point except that we're watching, we will watch with interest, I hope that it turns out in a way that's far from the worst of the possibilities.'
After featuring on Monday's Four Corners episode, Sadam Abudusalamu spoke to the emotional panel on The Project on Tuesday night. Picutred with Almas Nizamidin
Since Mr Abudusalamu has been torn apart from his wife Nadila (right) he has not met his two-year-old son Lufty (left)
'I commend you on your bravery for speaking up and thank you very much for speaking to us tonight.'
Since The Project went to air, Mr Abudusalamu received the welcomed news that his wife had been released from custody in China.
'Good news. Nadila has now been released. She was detained and questioned about her husband & told to tell him to "stop speaking out",' Four Corners’ Sophie McNeil tweeted.
'But he says he wants to continue in his campaign to bring his wife and baby home & won't be silenced.'
