The World Uyghur Congress (WUC) on April 5 marked the 35th anniversary of the Baren Uprising, honouring the memory of the three thousand Uyghurs who lost their lives under the brutal repression of the Chinese government in Akto County, East Turkistan.

The incident occurred from April 5 to April 10, 1990.

“This year marks the 35th year since the Baren Uprising, which cost the lives of thousands of brave Uyghurs,” said WUC President, Turgunjan Alawdun. “We must honour them and seek accountability for all Uyghur victims who lost their lives defending fundamental freedoms.”

To mark this solemn occasion and denounce China’s ongoing crimes against humanity, WUC will hold a protest on April 4 in front of the Chinese Consulate in Munich from 15:00 to 16:00, calling for justice for the victims of the Baren Uprising and all Uyghurs facing persecution today.

Remembering the Baren Uprising

The Baren Uprising was one of the earliest signs of widespread Uyghur resistance to the Chinese government’s escalating repression. On April 5, 1990, approximately 200 Uyghurs marched to the local government office in Baren, Akto County, to protest against the Chinese authorities’ policies of political, religious, and cultural oppression.

The demonstrations were triggered by growing anger over forced abortions and sterilisations imposed on Uyghur women, part of China’s broader efforts to control and suppress the Uyghur population.

In response, the Chinese government launched a violent military crackdown, reportedly deploying over 18,000 troops to suppress the protest in a town that had only 19,000 residents at the time.

Over the following days, thousands of Uyghurs were massacred in what became a chilling precedent for future Chinese state violence in East Turkistan. To this day, no independent investigation has been conducted into the deaths of those who perished.

The Baren Uprising was not an isolated incident—it was a warning of the Chinese government’s increasing brutality against the Uyghur people.