Istanbul, Feb. 5 -- Over 1,200 exiled Uyghurs gathered outside the Chinese Consulate in Istanbul on Wednesday to mark the 28th anniversary of the Ghulja Massacre.

Led by Hidayet Oguzhan, President of the International Union of East Turkestan Organisations (IUETO), the protest drew support from various NGOs advocating for the Uyghur cause. The demonstration served as a powerful reminder of the Uyghur people's ongoing struggle, particularly amid diminishing support from the Turkish government.

The Ghulja Massacre, one of the darkest chapters in Uyghur resistance against Chinese repression, took place in 1997. Thousands of Uyghurs took to the streets of Ghulja (also known as Ili) in East Turkistan to demand the release of young Muslim deta...