The 2024 Bishkek riots were attacks on foreigners by ethnic Kyrgyz mobs in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. The clashes lasted from May 17th to the 18th, with four reported deaths.
| 2024 Bishkek riots | |
|---|---|
| Location | Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan |
| Date | May 17–18, 2024 |
| Target | Foreigners, especially ones from SWANA and South Asia |
Attack type | Mob attack |
| Deaths | 4 |
| Injured | At least 29[1] |
| Perpetrators | Kyrgyz nationalist mobs |
| Motive | Xenophobia |
Foreign governments with citizens in the country took a deep concern, with the Pakistani government successfully evacuating 3000+ Pakistani students.[2]
Background
editKyrgyzstan is a common destination for medical students, given its cheap costs of education and internationally recognized medical degrees. It had more than 60 thousand foreign students in 2021, including 14,500 Indian students and 10,000 Pakistani students.[3]
Clashes
editClashes began after Kyrgyz students were involved in a brawl with Egyptian and other Arab medical students on May 13 in Bishkek.[4] The Arabs allegedly won the fight, which sparked retaliation by Kyrgyz mobs against foreigners in the country. Initially, over 100 Kyrgyz gathered "to take revenge on the foreigners who beat up residents."[5]
The Kyrgyz mobs began targeting anyone with a similar appearance to the Arabs they had fought. Pakistanis became the most targeted, and Indians and Bangladeshi were attacked too.[6][7] The attacks were initially in universities, although they later spread to the streets, with Kyrgyz mobs attacking anyone perceived as foreign, whether they were male or female. Foreigners were instructed not to leave their homes and to close their curtains and to hide as the Kyrgyz mobs were severely beating people without any exceptions. The Kyrgyz mobs began going on a manhunt around the city for foreigners. 500–700 more Kyrgyz youth aged between 18 and 25 gathered in the city center.[8]
Four Pakistani students were reported killed, according to a news network from Srinagar, India [9] However, Pakistan and Krygyzstan both reported that no Pakistani students were killed.
On Kyrgyz social media, rioters sent messages calling on locals to come out and attack foreigners. Streets were extremely dangerous as hundreds of Kyrgyz rioters were mercilessly beating any foreigner they saw.[10]
Mobs surrounded universities, workplaces, houses, and hostels where Pakistanis, Indians, and Bangladeshis were located, and dragged them out to beat. They also chanted racist slogans.[11] Local streets were closed by authorities, although it did not have much effect.[12]
By May 18, the violence had died down and the authorities declared the riot over. One-hundred-eighty Pakistanis, including 140 students, left Kyrgyzstan.[13]
Response
editPakistani government
editThe Pakistani government was commended for its quick response to ensure the safety of Pakistani students. The Kyrgyz government ensured provision of foolproof security to Pakistani students. Standard medical services were provided to the injured students. The government announced plans to operate special flights to bring back Pakistanis from Bishkek. A committee was also constituted to investigate the matter.[14]
Evacuation of students
editDeputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar announced that three special planes will bring back a total of 540 Pakistani students from Bishkek.[15]
PTI criticism of Pakistani government response
editPakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, a major opposition party, Sindh’s region President Haleem Adil Sheikh criticized the government's response and said that the government did nothing but issue statements. Shaikh called for immediate start of emergency flight operations and opening of a Green Corridor to ensure safe return of Pakistani nationals.[16]
Reactions
editBoth the Indian and Pakistani embassies in Bishkek recommended that their nationals in Bishkek should stay indoors.[17]
On 22 May the Kyrgyz Ministry of Internal Affairs announced that ten people, six Kyrgyz nationals and four foreigners, had been detained in connection with the violent riots. According to the ministry, nine investigations were launched into hooliganism, robbery, mass disorder, and inciting ethnic hatred.[18]
References
edit- ^ "First batch of students arrives as govt moves in to rescue Pakistanis in Bishkek". 18 May 2024. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
- ^ Salim, Yusra (26 May 2024). "Panic in Bishkek". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
- ^ "Mob violence in Kyrgyzstan a threat to Indian, Pakistani students? What we know so far". Firstpost. 18 May 2024. Archived from the original on 18 May 2024. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
- ^ "غاغة ضد المهاجرين في قرغيزستان واحتجاز 3 طلاب مصريين". جريدة البشاير (in Arabic). 18 May 2024. Archived from the original on 18 May 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
- ^ "Ambassador says five Pakistani students injured in Kyrgyzstan mob violence". Arab News. Archived from the original on 18 May 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
- ^ "Ambassador says five Pakistani students injured in Kyrgyzstan mob violence". Arab News PK. 18 May 2024. Archived from the original on 20 May 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
- ^ "Pakistanis in Kyrgyzstan's Bishkek asked to stay indoors amid mob riots targeting international students". 18 May 2024. Archived from the original on 18 May 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
- ^ "4 Arrested, Dozens Injured as Mob Violence Targets Foreigners in Bishkek". Archived from the original on 18 May 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
- ^ "Kyrgyzstan: Four Pakistani students killed in violent attack; India urges students to stay indoor". Free Press Kashmir. 19 May 2024.
- ^ "Locals spreading hate messages on TikTok: Indian students in Kyrgyzstan". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 18 May 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
- ^ "'A Living Hell': Pakistani Students Describe Harrowing Bishkek Mob Violence". Archived from the original on 18 May 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
- ^ "Thousands of Pakistani students attacked by locals in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan". humenglish.com. 17 May 2024. Archived from the original on 20 May 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
- ^ Service, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz. "Bishkek University Reportedly Calm After Mob Violence That Injured At Least 29". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
- ^ "Bishkek incident: Govt's swift response for safety of Pakistani students lauded". Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
- ^ "Three special planes to bring back 540 Pakistanis from Bishkek tonight: Ishaq Dar". Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
- ^ "Bishkek: PTI leader assails govt for its 'action'". 20 May 2024. Archived from the original on 20 May 2024. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
- ^ "Kyrgyzstan Violence: India, Pakistan Issue Emergency Helplines For Students Amid Reports of Riots In Kyrgyzstan | What We Know". Outlook India. 18 May 2024. Archived from the original on 18 May 2024. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
- ^ 6 Kyrgyz, 4 Foreign Nationals Detained Over Mob Attacks In Bishkek That Triggered Exodus (RFE/RL)