CFU PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

April 4th, 2024 at 3:30 PM EST

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WASHINGTON, DC – Campaign for Uyghurs (CFU) solemnly commemorates the tragic events of April 5th, 1990, in Barin, East Turkistan, where the Chinese government’s violent repression of Uyghur protesters resulted in a massacre that has scarred the collective memory of the Uyghur community. Today, we mark its thirty-four year anniversary, and honor the courage and resolve of those who paid the ultimate price for defending their fundamental freedoms against the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) tyrannical rule and unrestrained acts of terror.

On this day in 1990, a peaceful protest against the draconian One Child Policy demanding an end to forced abortions was met with an unjustified violent response by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), which culminated in the deaths and injuries of countless Uyghur protestors. Furthermore, a large number of Uyghur protestors were unjustly detained and were dealt lengthy sentences by corrupt and discriminatory courts.

Campaign for Uyghurs’ Executive Director Rushan Abbas, stated,“We remember and pay undying respect to the lost souls in Barin, whose only crime was to defend themselves from injustice and protect the rights of Uyghur women. Their spirit endures in our collective humanitarian struggle to expose the CCP’s crimes and advocate for the rights of Uyghurs. The massacre in Barin is a solemn reminder of the consequences of inaction in the face of tyranny.”

The Barin Massacre is a vicious example of the CCP’s ruthless tactics attacking the legitimate demands of its  people for dignity and basic human rights.This act of repression and the subsequent loss of life and liberty symbolizes the sacrifices made by brave men and women in their unwavering commitment to defend their human rights. The Barin Massacre specifically highlights the sacrifices made by Uyghur women, who have been a primary target for the CCP in their attempt to control Uyghur birth rates and commit genocide against the Uyghur people. It presents ample evidence that genocidal practices against Uyghur women have been prevalent for decades before the most recent “Strike Hard Campaign Against Violent Terrorism” by the CCP’s terrorist regime.

In the spirit of honoring the legacy of those who bravely stood against tyranny, CFU calls upon the global community to join us in condemning the CCP and calling for justice to prevent such massacres from happening again. The Barin protest was fundamentally a response to forced abortions, a grievous violation of human rights. In light of this, CFU calls upon women’s rights organizations to pressure the CCP to cease its ongoing repressive and genocidal policies targeting women. This call to action aligns with the recent commemoration of International Women’s Day, emphasizing our collective responsibility to help the Uyghur people.

To mark this tragic occasion, CFU, along with the World Uyghur Congress (WUC), Center for Uyghur Studies (CUS), and the Uyghur Academy (UA) will hold a demonstration in front of the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C. on April 52024 at 6:30 PM., Details can be found at this link.