Press Release – For Immediate Release
5 July 2023
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The Hague / Washington, D.C. — On Wednesday, July 5, 2023, the East Turkistan Government in Exile (ETGE) led a series of demonstrations in front of the White House, the International Criminal Court (ICC), and the Dutch Foreign Ministry in The Hague.
These protests commemorated the 14th anniversary of the 2009 Urumchi Massacre and served as a resounding call to the international community to take swift action against China’s ongoing genocide in East Turkistan. The 5th of July marks the 14th anniversary of the 2009 Urumchi Massacre, in which thousands of Uyghurs and other Turkic peoples were mercilessly murdered and arrested by Chinese security forces in response to peaceful protests against China’s genocide policies. The Urumchi Massacre was a catastrophic turning point that marked the beginning of the ongoing genocide against Uyghurs and other Turkic peoples in East Turkistan.
Dr. Aziz Suleyman, a Member of the East Turkistan Parliament in Exile, addressed the crowd of ardent supporters in Washington, DC, delivering a powerful speech that shed light on the immense suffering and genocide endured by the Uyghur, Kazakh, and other Turkic peoples under Chinese oppression. Dr. Aziz Suleyman stated, “Today, we stand before you to urge governments around the world, including the United States Government, to take strong, concrete action to end this ongoing genocide.”
Ms. Amannissa Mukhlis, the Women and Family Director of the East Turkistan National Movement, highlighted the suffering and plight of East Turkistan women at the demonstration in Washington, D.C., stating that “every day we remain silent, the prospects for a better tomorrow for East Turkistani women and children diminish.”
Prime Minister Salih Hudayar led the demonstration at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, where the ETGE along with the ETYC and members of the Dutch East Turkistani diaspora community demanded that China be investigated and held accountable for its genocide and crimes against humanity in East Turkistan. Prime Minister Hudayar’s impassioned plea reverberated throughout the square as he declared, “China’s genocidal crimes in East Turkistan clearly violate international law. The International Criminal Court must act swiftly and decisively to bring justice to victims and prevent future atrocities.”
Afterward, the ETGE delegation joined the East Turkistani diaspora community in Netherlands in a demonstration in front of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs to call attention to the international community’s duty to recognize East Turkistan as an occupied country and support its fight for independence.The demonstration commemorated the victims of the Urumchi Massacre and served as a reminder to the international community of the need to end China’s colonization and persecution in East Turkistan.
President Ghulam Yaghma reaffirmed the ETGE’s commitment to securing justice and liberation for the oppressed people of East Turkistan. He declared, “We will continue to rally the international community, imploring governments, organizations, and individuals to stand against China’s campaign of genocide. Our independence struggle is a fight for existence, human rights, dignity, and justice.”
The demonstrations served as a wake-up call for the international community, demanding immediate action against the ongoing genocide in East Turkistan by China. The East Turkistan Government in Exile stands united with victims, survivors, and advocates, imploring governments and international institutions to uphold their moral responsibilities and protect the fundamental rights of the Uyghur and other Turkic peoples in East Turkistan.
