In an old propaganda tactic by the Chinese government, Uyghurs were coerced into participating in a flag-raising ceremony on October 1, a date of tragic significance for the Uyghur people.
October 1 not only marks the anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China but also stands as a day of mourning for the Uyghur people, who have witnessed their homeland fall under Chinese occupation, resulting in the erosion of their collective and individual rights and freedoms. This month also commemorates the establishment of the so-called Xinjiang Uyghur autonomous region in 1955, following the Chinese Communist Party’s military invasion and annexation of Uyghur territory into the People’s Republic of China.
Uyghur residents in Qakilik County participated in a flag-raising ceremony organized by the CCP.
Official state media outlet Tianshang Net reported that residents throughout the region “held national flag-raising ceremonies to celebrate China’s 74th anniversary.” The report quoted, “The mountains and rivers are beautiful, the country is peaceful, and the people are safe, and the north and south of the Tianshan Mountains are prosperous. The five-star red flags and the words ‘I love you, China’ express the most sincere wishes and the most affectionate blessings of the people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang for the motherland.”
The ceremony involved residents, government officials, and “two committees” cadres participating in the flag-raising event while singing the national anthem. In addition, leaders delivered announcements about national activities held the day before and urged citizens to draw inspiration from heroes and contribute to the development of their homeland.
These celebrations extended from urban centers to rural villages, with the distinctive five-star red flags adorning the landscape. Niersjiang, a resident of Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County, expressed gratitude for improved living standards, attributing them to the policies of the Communist Party.
Uyghurs in the diaspora held protests against the Chinese occupation and ongoing genocide.
On China’s National Day, Uyghur Americans and their allies gathered in front of the White House to protest China’s decades of oppression. They were wearing masks depicting the faces of the detained Uyghurs from Kashgar, whose photos were released through the leaked Xinjiang police files.
The World Uyghur Congress protested in London and Berlin to raise attention to the severe repression and genocide experienced by Uyghurs under the Chinese government.
There was also an October 1st protest in front of the Chinese Consulate in Toronto against the CCP’s 74 years of occupation and brutal oppression of Uyghurs in East Turkistan.
Uyghurs, Tibetans, Mongolians, and Hong Kongers gathered in Tokyo to protest China’s occupation and oppression.”
