Ghoja’Abdulla Ablimit Sheyhim
In 2014, Ablimit, who writes using the pen name Sheyhim, was arrested after publishing his satirical stories on Uyghur community websites and meeting with a Uyghur language advocate. He… More
Nurmuhemmet Yasin
Award-winning Uyghur author and poet Yasin was imprisoned in February 2005 on charges of 'inciting separatism' for his poem "Wild Pigeon," an allegory about the son of a pigeon… More
Ilham Tohti | Status: Imprisoned | China
Ilham Tohti, a Uyghur economist, writer, and professor, is currently serving a life sentence for promoting ethnic harmony and understanding. More
Disappearance of Photographer Lu Guang a Troubling Attack on Artistic Freedom in China
"Unfortunately, Lu’s case is not unique. The Chinese government has a history of disappearing artists who use their practices as a platform to challenge and critique the regime’s policies.… More
China’s Targeting of Uyghur Scholars an Outrageous Abdication of the Rule of Law
"While very little is known about the cases against these three, it is abundantly clear that the government’s treatment of these writers and scholars is a travesty against the… More
Intimidation of Muslim Poet an Effort to Silence Writers’ Engagement on Xinjiang
“An Ran, a poet, is speaking out on one of the most important human rights issues of our day. Instead of attempting to shut him down, authorities should be… More
Disappearance of Uyghur Scholar an Example of Attempts to Erase Uyghur Culture
“The apparent months-long secret detention of Rahile Dawut is yet another illustration that Chinese governmental policy is geared towards erasing Uyghur identity. Like so many others, Dawut has apparently… More
China: Uyghur pop musician and lyric writer detained, concerns for his well-being
PEN is seriously concerned for the well-being of Uyghur pop musician and lyric writer, Ablajan Awut Ayup (popularly known as Ablajan), who was taken into custody by state security… More
Decision to Ban Uyghur Language in Xinjiang Schools an Attack on the Minority Group’s Linguistic and Cultural Rights
China’s decision to ban the use of Uyghur language in Xinjiang schools represents an attack on Uyghur linguistic rights, and an effort to tighten its stranglehold over the ethnic… More
PEN Deplores Upholding of Life Sentence for Ilham Tohti
Today, PEN received the devastating news that Ilham Tohti’s life sentence has been upheld by a closed court in China. More