2008 Uyghur unrest

An unknown number of men joined their 2 km (1.2 mi) march to the Big Bazaar shopping area, where they were surrounded by police who arrested around 400.

[4] The New York Times reported that the demonstrators were hoisting banners and shouting pro-independence slogans before the police forces moved in.

Alim Seytoff, head of the World Uyghur Congress, stated that, "The Uighurs began protesting after the killing of Mutallip Hajim, who had died in police custody.

[7] Local police and the government run religious affairs department refused to comment on Hajim's death when contacted by Agence France-Presse.

[8] Residents of townships and villages near Gulja, a city in northwestern Xinjiang, said that about 25 Uyghurs were arrested on 4 April on a tip that people in the area were making bombs.

[10][11] On 12 August 2008, unidentified men assaulted civilian guards with knives in Yamanya Town, leaving three dead and one critically injured.