Writers at Risk Database

Qurban Mamut

Mamut, who had worked with Uyghur-run cultural publications for over four decades, disappeared in 2017 after visiting his exiled son in the United States. Authorities told Mamut’s son that… More

Writers at Risk Database

Nathan Law

Pro-democracy activist Law was imprisoned in 2017 for his leading role in the Occupy Central protests. Released on bail, he fled Hong Kong to the United Kingdom in July… More

Writers at Risk Database

Joshua Wong

Wong was imprisoned for four months in 2017 for unlawful assembly related to his role in the 2014 Occupy Central protests. Police continued to target Wong after his release.… More

Yuli Riswati

Riswati, an Indonesian citizen, covers Hong Kong pro-democracy protests with a focus on migrant workers and the unique struggles they face. She was deported to Indonesia in December 2019… More

Writers at Risk Database

Kunchok Tsephel Gopey Tsang

Founder of Tibetan literary website Chomei, Kunchok Tsephel was arrested in 2009 and sentenced to 15 years in prison for disclosing state secrets; though, the precise reasons for the… More

Writers at Risk Database

Jo Lobsang Jamyang Lomig

Jamyang, a blogger and writer who has written on free speech, environmental issues, and social movements, was arrested in 2015 and sentenced in 2016 to seven and a half… More

Trinley Tsekar

Tsekar, who had written many songs on Tibetan themes, was arrested in November 2013 after attending a protest against mining in a sacred site. His charges were politically motivated… More

Writers at Risk Database

Ilham Tohti

Tohti, an influential Uyghur writer and economist, co-founded the website Uyghurbiz. In September 2014, following repeated instances of harassment and detention, he was found guilty of separatism and sentenced… More

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

Abduqeyum Ablimit

Ablimit, one of Ilham Tohti’s students, was arrested from his home in 2014 for his involvement with the website Uyghurbiz, which promotes ethnic understanding between Uyghurs and Han Chinese.… More