Tursun is a renowned Uyghur writer known for his poetry, prose, and novels. His work, addressing themes of suicide, sexuality, and mental illness, led to accusations of being anti-Islamic in the late 1990s, resulting in death threats. He has been in detention since January 2018. In 2024, reports revealed that Tursun was sentenced to 16 years in prison, though details about his trial and current condition remain unclear.