Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project Commemorates the 36th Anniversary of the Baren Uprising
Baren massacre footage from 1990.
Ottawa, ON - Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project commemorates the 36th anniversary of the Baren Uprising, a pivotal moment in Uyghur history that continues to resonate today as a symbol of resistance against repression and the enduring struggle for fundamental human rights.
On April 5, 1990, Uyghurs in Baren Township, located in Akto County in East Turkistan, gathered to protest escalating political, cultural, and religious repression by Chinese authorities. The demonstrations were driven in part by widespread anger over coercive population control measures, including forced abortions imposed on Uyghur women.
What began as a protest was met with a violent military crackdown. Over the course of several days, Chinese authorities deployed large-scale forces to suppress the uprising. Reports indicate that up to thousands of Uyghurs were killed, detained, or forcibly disappeared, and to this day, no independent investigation has been conducted into the events to determine the final count of casualties.
The Baren Uprising marked a turning point, ushering in intensified state repression in the region. Scholars widely recognize it as a watershed moment that led to expanded securitization, mass arrests, and the systematic targeting of Uyghur identity.
“Thirty-six years later, the legacy of Baren lives on,” said Mehmet Tohti. “It was not an isolated incident, but an early warning of the policies that have since escalated into genocide, including mass arbitrary detention, forced labour, and transnational repression targeting Uyghurs worldwide.”
Today, Uyghurs across the diaspora and their allies continue to honor the memory of those who lost their lives in Baren while calling for justice and accountability. The anniversary serves not only as a moment of remembrance, but also as a call to action for the international community to confront ongoing human rights violations.
URAP urges governments, international institutions, and civil society actors to:
Recognize the historical and ongoing injustices faced by the Uyghur people.
Support independent investigations into past atrocities, including the Barin Uprising.
Take concrete measures to address ongoing abuses, including forced labour and transnational repression.
Stand in solidarity with Uyghur communities seeking justice, dignity, and self-determination.
As we mark this anniversary, we reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that the voices of the victims are not forgotten, and that their legacy continues to inspire global action.
Media Contact
Mehmet Tohti
Executive Director
Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project
(613)261-8512