Setiwaldi Kerim

According to local police in Atush, Xinjiang, Uyghur author and schoolteacher Setiwaldi Kerim was arrested in 2017 for “promoting separatism” in his books. Uyghur activist Abdulweli Ayup believes Kerim’s detention is likely linked to his work on a Uyghur literature textbook project during the 1990s and 2000s. Kerim was sentenced to 19 years in prison. He also authored a book titled My New Classroom, contributed stories to the Uyghur-language publication Kezilsu Literature, and gave public talks on literature, his writings, and education.