On February 4, the activist was brutally attacked by Chinese security personnel, in an act reminiscent of persecution in East Turkestan.
by Abdurehim Gheni Uyghur
On February 14, 2026, I was violently assaulted inside The Hague City Hall during the National Chinese New Year event. This attack is a clear example of transnational repression on European soil—a deliberate attempt to silence a peaceful voice through physical force and psychological intimidation.
As I held my protest sign, several Chinese security personnel suddenly surrounded me. They forced me to the ground and put me in a chokehold that made it difficult to breathe. While I was pinned down, one of the officials pressed his face close to mine and whispered in Chinese: “Nǐ yīnggāi qù jìzhōngyíng. Nǐ yīnggāi sǐ. Wǒ yào shā sǐ nǐ!” (“You deserve the concentration camps. You deserve to die. I am going to kill you!”)
Whispering these threats in Chinese was a calculated tactic. By avoiding Dutch or English, the official ensured that the nearby Dutch security officers and the public could not understand the criminal nature of his words. This allowed him to inflict maximum psychological terror while appearing to Western onlookers as if he were “maintaining order.” It was a deliberate attempt to isolate me in the middle of a crowd.
During the assault, they twisted my right leg with extreme force. I am still suffering from severe pain and have difficulty walking.
In that moment, I did not feel like I was in the democratic Netherlands. I felt as if I had been transported back to occupied East Turkestan, being dragged toward a Chinese concentration camp. This experience has caused deep psychological trauma and shows that even in the heart of Europe, the long arm of the Chinese state can reach us through professionalized violence.
Immediately after the attack, I contacted the National Police to report the assault. They have officially accepted my report, and I have been informed of my rights as a victim under Dutch law. A formal follow-up interview has already been scheduled. Dutch media have also reported the incident.
I will insist that the police and my lawyer obtain and review all internal surveillance footage from City Hall. These recordings will show exactly how they lifted me by my limbs, twisted my leg, and held me down while delivering their threats. I demand that these videos be used as primary evidence to bring these CCP-affiliated attackers to justice.
I am currently under the care of my family doctor to document the injuries to my leg, neck, and chest. We are also assessing the psychological impact of the assault, as it has triggered deep trauma connected to the Uyghur Genocide.
My father was tortured to death in a Chinese camp. These attackers told me I belonged there, too. My body is injured, but my spirit remains unbroken. If we are not safe inside the so-called “City of Peace and Justice,” then where are we safe?
Abdurehim Gheni is a Uyghur activist living in the Netherlands who became famous for his solo protests in Dam Square in Amsterdam. He also educates tourists to the reality of the Uyghur genocide.
