Writers at Risk Database

Ven. Ngawang Phulchung

A Tibetan monk, Ngawang led the Drepung printing group, secret producer of pro-independence literature in the late '80s. Upon discovery of the group, Ngawang was sentenced to 19 years… More

Gartse Jigme

Jigme was arrested after publication of his book ‘Tsenpoi Nyingtop’ (Tsenpo’s Valor) because it allegedly contained political views. He served five years in prison for "inciting ethnic separatism" and… More

Writers at Risk Database

Gonpo Tenzin

Tenzin was arrested in 2013 on unknown charges and kept in pretrial detention for over a year without access to legal resources before his trial began. He spent three… 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

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

Memetjan Abliz Boriyar

Boriyar was one of 14 staff members at the Uyghur-run Kashgar Publishing House to be arrested and detained in 2018 for his role in the publication of books deemed… 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

Writers at Risk Database

Ma Jian

Chinese-born British author Ma Jian and his books have faced government censorship since his first publication Stick Out Your Tongue in 1988. After publishing The Dark Road in 2013,… More