CFU PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 3, 6:00 PM ET
Sabrina Sohail: sabrina@campaignforuyghurs.org
(650) 703-4523
Today, Campaign for Uyghurs (CFU) commemorates the Ghulja Massacre which took place 26 years ago. On February 5th, 1997 peaceful Uyghur protesters were violently struck by the Chinese state security forces. The incident marks an outstanding precedent of the ongoing Uyghur genocide being perpetrated by the Chinese government in East Turkistan.
During the mid-1990s, the Chinese authorities prohibited Meshrep after labeling it as a threat. Meshrep is a traditional Uyghur social gathering and has historically had a positive influence within Uyghur communities. This prohibition was a catalyst for the arrest of thousands of people who organized or participated in Meshrep. In 1997, a group of Uyghur women were arrested for gathering at home for religious practices, sparking thousands of people to peacefully protest on February 5th, 1997 in the city of Ghulja. Protestors demanded the release of detainees, and called for religious and cultural freedom in reaction to the growing restrictions. The protests were immediately squashed by Chinese security forces, killing over 100 people and leaving many more injured. The aftermath of this event led to almost 4000 Uyghurs being arrested and 200 punished with death penalties.
The Ghulja Massacre was a preview of the now fully implemented Uyghur genocide that is taking place in East Turkistan. The Chinese regime has long been practicing its crimes against humanity under the flag of counter-terrorism, extremism, and separatism and has taken the lives of innocent Uyghurs.
Executive Director Rushan Abbas says “The Ghulja Massacre was an early warning of China’s vicious crimes. The silence of the international community at the time encouraged the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to upscale their oppression of Uyghurs. If the world continues to stand by and watch the Uyghurs genocide, which is threatening the world’s democracy, the consequences could be disastrous.”
CFU honors the memory of the victims and commits to fighting for the freedom of the Uyghurs and other ethnic Turkic Muslims who are suffering in East Turkistan. CFU also reminds the world that the Uyghur genocide still continues and urges the governments to take tangible actions to end China’s vicious crimes against humanity.
Finally, CFU invites you to join us on Sunday, February 5th at 11:00 AM, in front of The Isaiah Wall (E. 43rd St. &, United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017, United States) to protest against the ongoing Uyghur Genocide and to commemorate the 26th anniversary of the Ghulja Massacre.
