Justice For All’s Save Uyghur Campaign Commemorates the 34th Anniversary of the Baren Massacre

April 5, 2024

For Immediate Release

Contact: Hena Zuberi

hena@justiceforall.org

(202) 922-5878

Justice For All’s Save Uyghur Campaign commemorates the brave protesters who were martyred at the hands of the Chinese regime in Baren, a township in East Turkistan’s Akto county, near Kashgar. The Baren Massacre, which took place on April 5th, 1990, marks its 34th anniversary this year, a solemn reminder of the sacrifices made in the pursuit of freedom and justice for the Uyghur and other Turkic peoples.

Under the oppressive rule of the Chinese Communist Party, Uyghurs and other Turkic peoples have endured decades of colonization, forced assimilation, and population control, including the appalling practice of forcing women to undergo abortions. The resilience of the villagers of Baren, who had suffered for four decades under Chinese occupation, reached a breaking point when 250 local women were subjected to forced abortions. Their peaceful protests and subsequent self-defense efforts were met with extreme brutality by Chinese forces.

During China’s genocidal One Child Policy, Uyghur women were systematically forced into undergoing abortions, prompting a rebellion led by Zeydin Yusup against this oppressive mandate. In response to the rising resistance in Baren, the Chinese authorities deployed The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) which brutally crushed the protest, ruthlessly targeting unarmed Uyghur civilians with overwhelming force, culminating in the merciless slaughter of thousands being killed by heavy weaponry and airstrikes. Subsequent to the uprising, the Chinese government detained more than 7,000 individuals, subjecting many to unjustifiably lengthy imprisonment and imposing the death penalty on others.

To commemorate this occasion, Imam Abdul Malik Mujahid, president of Justice For All said “We stand in solidarity with the courageous Uyghur villagers who dared to resist tyranny, and we condemn the Chinese regime’s ruthless crackdown on their quest for justice and freedom.”

Arslan Hidayat, Save Uyghur lead said “As we reflect on the atrocities that transpired and the ongoing campaign of extermination by the Chinese regime, we are galvanized in our resolve to speak out against this genocide. Let us draw inspiration from the bravery of the martyrs and renew our commitment to ending these atrocities.”

Today, as the Chinese regime relentlessly carries out the Uyghur genocide and engages in heinous crimes against humanity, we emphatically call upon the global community to demand accountability. It is imperative that justice is served for the countless lives lost at the hands of a barbaric and ruthless regime that exhibits no regard for human rights. To secure the freedom of all peoples and preserve a world free from tyranny, we urge swift and decisive action to confront and halt these atrocities.

What can you do? Call Congress To Pass Uyghur Policy Act. The bill authorizes the establishment of a Special Coordinator for Uyghur Issues position within the Department of State.The Uyghur Policy Act will increase U.S. support for the Uyghur diaspora in the United States and other countries, as well as to advocate for improving the conditions of Uyghurs suffering human rights abuses at the hands of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The Uyghur Policy Act has passed the House. Now make sure your Senators help make it into law.