Ghulja Massacre Remembered at UN Church Center as Global Leaders Renew Call for Uyghur Rights

New York City, — The 29th anniversary of the Ghulja Massacre, a defining tragedy in Uyghur history, was commemorated on Tuesday at the Church Center for the United Nations in New York City, as part of the World Interfaith Harmony Week observances. The event brought together prominent religious leaders, human rights activists, and peace advocates to honor the victims and renew calls for international action against ongoing repression of the Uyghur people in China.
Moderated by interfaith leader Guru Dileepji, the program featured a moment of silent prayer and a candle-lighting ceremony in remembrance of those killed during the February 3–5, 1997 crackdown in Ghulja (Yining), Xinjiang. Speakers emphasized that the massacre remains a powerful symbol of the continued persecution, cultural erasure, and human rights violations faced by Uyghurs today.
In his opening remarks, Guru Dileepji described the Ghulja Massacre as a “painful yet urgent reminder” of unresolved injustice. He acknowledged the deep trauma carried by the Uyghur diaspora and stressed the need for immediate dialogue on Uyghur rights, cultural identity, and international accountability. Declaring the anniversary a call to action, he urged global institutions to move beyond remembrance toward concrete advocacy and policy change.
Ms. Rushan Abbas, Founder and Executive Director of Campaign for Uyghurs and Chairperson of the Executive Committee of the World Uyghur Congress, delivered a powerful address recounting the events of February 1997 and the long shadow they continue to cast. Highlighting widespread repression—including digital surveillance, informant networks, family coercion, cyberattacks, and physical intimidation—she described the situation as an ongoing genocide. Abbas praised the resilience of the Uyghur people, including her own family’s sacrifices, and called on the international community to stand firmly against China’s abuses and support justice for Uyghurs.
Imam Dr. Shamsi Ali, President and Founder of the Nusantara Foundation, condemned what he described as systematic crimes against humanity, citing the detention of over one million Uyghurs in internment camps. He spoke of forced labor, religious suppression, mass rape, psychological torture, and the separation of children from their parents, who are placed in boarding schools to be indoctrinated with communist ideology. Imam Ali called for urgent global awareness and decisive action to stop the violations.
The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Thomas Walsh, President and Trustee of HJ International Graduate School for Peace and Public Leadership and former Chairman of the Universal Peace Federation. Dr. Walsh focused on China’s Sinicization policies under President Xi Jinping, warning of the enforced atheism imposed through state-controlled religious associations. He highlighted the targeting of Uyghurs, Falun Dafa practitioners, and the Church of Almighty God under anti-cult campaigns, and noted the Communist Party’s control over religious institutions, including its role in appointing Catholic bishops.
Dr. Walsh further detailed the restrictions placed on Uyghur cultural and religious life in Xinjiang, including bans on traditional clothing, forced eating during Ramadan, and prohibitions on religious education for children under 18. He described China’s advanced surveillance state as a comprehensive system monitoring every aspect of daily life, deepening repression and accelerating cultural erasure.
Rev. Dr. T.K. Nakagaki, President and Founder of the Heiwa Peace and Reconciliation Foundation, pointed to the broader pattern of exclusion at international forums, noting that figures such as the Dalai Lama, as well as representatives of Tibetan and Taiwanese communities, are unable to freely speak at the United Nations. Mrs. Amanda Akue, Chief Branch Manager of the HWPL New York Branch, emphasized collective responsibility, stating that peace, freedom, and human dignity require active participation from individuals and institutions alike.
In his concluding remarks, Guru Dileepji expressed solidarity with Uyghurs, Tibetan Buddhists, and Turkic Muslim communities suffering under what he described as systematic detention and invasive surveillance by the Chinese government. He urged the international community to demand accountability from the Chinese Communist Party and to transform commemorative events into sustained advocacy, policy reform, and global action for human rights.