Dr. Ablet Eziz, a Uyghur physician, still remembers the chilling night of July 5, 2009, when the streets of Urumqi were engulfed in chaos. “Those thugs couldn’t even spare a child,” he recalls, his voice filled with sorrow.
The city of Urumqi, the capital of China’s Xinjiang region, witnessed one of its most devastating riots that night. What began as a protest escalated into violent clashes, leaving 197 people dead and over 1,700 injured. Innocent bystanders, including children, became victims of the unrest.
Dr. Eziz spent those harrowing hours tending to the wounded, witnessing firsthand the brutal disregard for human life. “I saw fear and pain in the eyes of so many,” he says. “It was a nightmare that none of us could wake up from.”
A recent documentary titled “Darkness Over Urumqi” delves into the events of that tragic day, aiming to uncover the truths behind Xinjiang’s most serious terrorist attack in decades. Through personal testimonies like that of Dr. Eziz, the documentary sheds light on the profound impact the riots had on the local community.
The scars of July 5th remain, but stories like Dr. Eziz’s remind us of the resilience of those who lived through it. As he continues his medical practice, he hopes that sharing his experience will promote understanding and prevent such tragedies in the future.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
