London: Tibetan and Uyghur communities organized a protest against Chinese human rights violations.
Members of the Uyghurs and the Tibetan communities protested outside the Chinese embassy in London to commemorate the 12th anniversary of the Urumqi massacre.
On July 5, 2009, violent riots broke out in Urumqi, the capital city of Xinjiang. The Chinese government launched a crackdown against Uyghurs protesting against the killing of two Uyghurs. Thousands of protestors were killed, disappeared, or injured.
According to officials, 197 people died, with 1,721 suffered injuries in the riot.
Uyghur-run mosques were temporarily closed. By November 2009, over 400 individuals faced criminal charges for their actions during the riots. Nine were executed in November 2009, and by February 2010, at least 26 had received death sentences.
Reports from non-governmental organizations based on interviews with eyewitnesses showed that security forces deliberately used live ammunition during the protest.
Protests were held in many places throughout the world to commemorate the 12th anniversary of the riots.
In London, a peaceful protest was held outside the Chinese embassy. This annual anniversary, attended by about 50 people, coincided with the monthly protest organized by the Uyghur Solidarity UK.
Pro Uyghur organization, World Uyghur Congress (WUC), is commemorating the "Urumchi Massacre."
Meanwhile, on Sunday (July 4), members of the Uyghur community held a protest march in Japan's Tokyo.
On July 4, the East Turkistan Association of Canada has launched a 15-day walking protest against China's massive human rights abuses of Uyghur Muslims.
(ANI)
