Retired editor Qurban Mamut has not been seen or heard from by his son since November 2017. Qurban Mamut visited his son in the US in February 2017. His son, a US citizen, believes that having relatives outside China is the reason behind his father’s detention. A source told the him in September 2018 that Qurban Mamut had been sent to a “transformation-through-education” facility. Given his age and lack of information about his condition, there are serious concerns for Qurban Mamut’s wellbeing.