The UAA Statement on the Ghulja Massacre
February 5, 2025
Contact: social@uyghuraa.org
Today marks the 28th anniversary of the Ghulja Massacre, a tragic event in which the
Chinese government violently suppressed peaceful Uyghur demonstrators who were
courageously protesting against religious repression, cultural erasure, and systemic
discrimination. On this solemn day, the Uyghur American Association (UAA)
commemorates the innocent lives lost and extends our deepest sympathies to the families
of the victims.
On February 5, 1997, thousands of Uyghurs gathered in the streets of Ghulja (Ili, East
Turkistan) to demand their basic rights and freedoms. In response, Chinese authorities
unleashed brutal force, opening fire on unarmed protesters, unlawfully detaining
thousands, and subjecting many to torture, forced disappearances, and extrajudicial
executions. The crackdown continued for months, resulting in widespread persecution
and leaving deep scars in the collective memory of the Uyghur people.
The Ghulja Massacre was not an isolated incident but part of a systematic campaign of
oppression that has only intensified in the decades since. The same regime responsible for
the Ghulja Massacre has expanded its repressive policies into a full-scale genocide,
incarcerating millions of Uyghurs in concentration camps, engaging in forced labor,
implementing coercive birth control measures, and conducting mass surveillance to
eradicate Uyghur identity.
As we reflect on the 28 years of injustice since the massacre, the UAA remains steadfast
in its mission to advocate for truth, accountability, and justice for the Uyghur people.
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has never been held accountable for the lives lost
in Ghulja, Barin, Urumchi, and Uyghur Genocide. Its unchecked brutality has only
emboldened further crimes against humanity. If we fail to act, history will repeat itself.
The Uyghur American Association urges the global community to stand in solidarity with
the Uyghur people and work toward a future where Uyghurs can live freely, without fear
of persecution in East Turkistan. The Ghulja Massacre will never be forgotten, and
neither will our fight for justice and freedom.
