In the 2014 Yarkand massacre Chinese forces killed between 3,000 and 5,000 Chinese Muslim Uyghurs,
Reports indicate that between 3,000 and 5,000 Uyghurs were killed in the violence, underscoring the ongoing genocide faced by the Uyghur people. The Yarkand massacre highlights the severe oppression inflicted by the Chinese government, including the use of indiscriminate force and the labelling of Uyghurs as “gangs” and “separatists.” Additionally, the Chinese government conceals the death toll and arrests individuals who attempt to reveal the truth.
According to independent media and the World Uyghur Congress, the incident began with a protest march following the extrajudicial killing of a Uyghur family of five during house-to-house searches in Bashkent Township (Beshkent Town). This search was prompted by reports of prayer gatherings. Initially, the protests were peaceful, but they escalated when Chinese authorities responded with excessive force.
On July 28, in nearby Elishku Township (Elishqu Village), around 500 people, including some refugees from Bashkent Township, were marching through the streets when they were attacked by military police armed with assault rifles. Local resident Mahmouti reported hearing the police command “back off” before a burst of continuous gunfire, followed by intermittent gunfire for about an hour. Another local farmer, Yusup, noted that none of the demonstrators returned, estimating that around 1,000 people were missing. Further fatalities occurred during subsequent house-to-house searches over several days, affecting four villages in the region, including Erik, Hangdi, and Dongbag (No. 14, 15, and 16 in the township). Reports vary on whether most fatalities happened on the first day or in the following days.
The Apple Daily reported that sources close to military intelligence claimed the violence in Yarkant County, Xinjiang, constituted a massacre in which between 3,000 and 5,000 people from four villages were killed, with no survivors.
