Munich
The World Uyghur Congress (WUC) is preparing to honor the victims of a violent crackdown by the Chinese government, marking the 15th anniversary of the 2009 Urumchi massacre on July 5. This tragic event unfolded when thousands of Uyghurs gathered in Urumchi to protest the Chinese authorities’ handling of the Shaoguan incident. The protests turned into days of deadly violence between Uyghurs and Han Chinese, resulting in numerous deaths and injuries in Xinjiang’s largest city.
Dolkun Isa, President of the WUC, described the 2009 Urumchi Massacre as a dark chapter in Uyghur history, emphasizing that the Chinese government’s severe response marked a turning point that intensified repression and led to ongoing atrocities.
During the protests from July 5 to 7, 2009, peaceful demonstrators advocating for equal rights and freedoms faced a brutal crackdown by Chinese security forces armed with shields, rifles, and clubs. This crackdown not only quelled the protests but also heightened tensions and triggered a widespread government crackdown.
Following the violence, authorities imposed a months-long communication blackout to control information flow from the region. To commemorate the Urumchi Massacre and demand an end to ongoing human rights violations, global Uyghur communities will stage protests on July 5, with the WUC urging participation as a gesture of solidarity. The organization continues to call on the international community to hold China accountable for its actions in East Turkistan, alleging crimes against humanity and genocide.
