CFU Marks Second Anniversary of the Urumchi Fire

  • November 24, 2024

CFU PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 24, 10:00 AM ET

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Campaign for Uyghurs (CFU) solemnly commemorates the second anniversary of the Urumchi fire and remembers those who perished due to the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) draconian “Zero-Covid” policies. On November 24, 2022, a deadly fire broke out in the Tengiragh neighborhood of Urumchi, the capital of East Turkistan, which resulted in the deaths of at least 44 Uyghurs, including children. While official media reports claimed only 10 casualties, evidence from people living in the vicinity of the apartment building indicates a much higher death toll.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) implemented the “Zero Covid” policy, which imposed severe restrictions on the Uyghur community amidst the ongoing Uyghur genocide. These measures included the welding shut residents’ doors, leading to devastating consequences such as starvation, an increase in suicides as a result of isolation, and deprivation of medical care.

Due to the welded-shut doors and emergency exits, Uyghur residents were trapped in the horrific blaze with no way to escape. Qamarnisahan Abdulrahman, a 48-year-old mother, and her four children—Shehide (13), Imran (11), Abdurrahman (9), and Nehdiye (5), were among those who lost their lives. The tragedy sparked a wave of solidarity both within China and around the world with thousands marching to voice their outrage not only at the tragic deaths of the Uyghur victims but also at the CCP’s oppressive pandemic policies. 

The “White Paper Protests” contributed to bringing an end to these abusive Covid measures. However, the Uyghur genocide continues unabated. Uyghur student Kamile Wayit has been detained since December 12, 2022, for sharing a protest video on the Chinese social media platform, WeChat. She was sentenced on March 25, 2023, under the charge of “promoting extremism.”

CFU Executive Director Rushan Abbas, reflected on this day noting, “The Urumchi fire remains one of the most heartbreaking and unforgettable tragedies for the Uyghur people. This horrific event highlighted the cruel nature of Beijing’s rule, where even basic safety is sacrificed under authoritarian control. As we mark its second anniversary we must remember those lost lives and the immense suffering endured by the Uyghur people amid the ongoing genocide, affecting not only those unjustly detained but in every facet of the community’s daily lives.” 

CFU calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Kamile Wayit, and all those unjustly imprisoned in East Turkistan. CFU also urges the international community to join hands with Uyghurs around the world to commemorate the victims of the Urumchi Fire and advocate for the end of the Uyghur Genocide.

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Joe Lubas

Campaign for Uyghurs

We defend the human rights of Uyghur people and the free world by exposing and confronting the Chinese government's genocide, and empowering Uyghur women and youth in the diaspora.

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