Justice For All’s Save Uyghur Campaign Calls for Renewed Advocacy on Anniversary of China’s Invasion of East Turkistan

Washington, D.C. — October 1, 2024

For Immediate Release

Contact: Hena Zuberi

hena@justiceforall.org

(202) 922-5878

Today, October 1st marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and serves as a solemn reminder of the devastating impacts of decades-long oppression within Chinese-occupied East Turkistan. 11 days after the establishment of the PRC, on October 12, 1949, the People’s Liberation Army invaded East Turkistan and eventually on December 22, 1949—the East Turkistan Republic was overthrown. The forced establishment of the ‘Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region’ occurred 6 years later, on October 1, 1955. To Uyghurs and other Turkic peoples, this day is one of immense tragedy rather than celebration. 

Imam Abdul Malik Mujahid, President of Justice For All, underscores the continual plight of the Uyghur people: “The presumed celebration of China’s National Day stands in stark contrast to the lived reality of the Uyghurs and other Turkic peoples. For them, this day marks the beginning of seventy-five years of brutal occupation, repression, and broken promises. We must remember the Uyghur genocide, now in its eighth year, as a glaring testimony to the sustained atrocities these communities have been subjected to. As we observe this day, let it be a call to action rather than mere reflection.”

Arslan Hidayat, Team Lead of the Save Uyghur Campaign, further amplifies the call for international solidarity: “Seventy-five years ago, East Turkistan fell victim to an unjust occupation, and the cost has been immense: millions displaced, countless lives lost, and a culture under siege. The Chinese Communist regime’s oppressive policies have turned what could have been a day of national rejoicing into a period of sorrow for millions. It is imperative that we amplify our collective efforts to put an end to this genocide and push for the liberation and dignity that the Uyghur people deserve.”

The Uyghur genocide has been ongoing for eight years, woven into a longer narrative of cultural erasure, forced labor, mass surveillance, and arbitrary detention spanning decades. In seeking to mark this day with productive advocacy rather than hollow celebration, the Save Uyghur Campaign underscores the critical need for continued global mobilization against these egregious human rights violations. 

In conjunction with the anniversary, the Justice For All’s Save Uyghur Campaign calls upon the international community to act urgently on several fronts:

1. Condemn the Occupation: The international community must denounce China’s invasion and relentless occupation of East Turkistan. It is imperative to recognize and support the legitimate right of Uyghurs to resist foreign subjugation and fight for the restoration of their independence.
2. Recognize the Brutality of the Occupation: East Turkistan should be unequivocally recognized as an occupied nation. The global community must acknowledge that the root cause of the ongoing genocide against Uyghurs and other Turkic peoples is deeply entwined with China’s aggressive colonization and oppressive occupation.

Justice For All’s Save Uyghur Campaign calls upon the world to unite in forcefully condemning China’s merciless occupation of East Turkistan and to recognize the true cause behind the ongoing atrocities against Uyghurs and other Turkic peoples. This is a clarion call for justice, a declaration for the legitimate rights of an oppressed nation yearning for independence. The time for decisive global action is now. Stand with East Turkistan. Stand against tyranny. Stand for justice.