International Uyghur PEN Calls for Global Attention to Uyghur Literature and Protection of Exiled Writers' Cultural Rights

Introduction: A Battle for Civilization Under the Pen

In the 21st century, as globalization attempts to level cultural differences, an ancient and brilliant civilization—the Uyghur civilization—is facing an unprecedented crisis of survival. As the carrier of this civilization's soul, Uyghur literature stands on the brink of systematic erasure. In February 2026, the International Uyghur PEN Center once again issued a solemn appeal to the global community, particularly the global Muslim community (Ummah), to pay attention to the tragic plight of Uyghur writers and take practical action to protect the cultural rights of those in exile. This is not only a struggle for freedom of expression but a crusade to defend Islamic cultural heritage and national memory.

Souls in Prison: The Imprisoned Uyghur Intellectual Elite

According to the latest statistics from the International Uyghur PEN and related human rights organizations, more than 500 Uyghur intellectuals, writers, poets, and artists have been illegally detained or sentenced since 2017 [Uyghur PEN](https://www.uyghurpen.org). Among these imprisoned souls are giants of contemporary Uyghur literature and guardians of national culture.

One of the most distressing cases is that of Professor Rahile Dawut, a renowned anthropologist and expert on Uyghur folklore. In 2023, news confirmed she was sentenced to life imprisonment on charges of so-called "endangering state security" [PEN International](https://www.pen-international.org). As of the end of 2025, despite repeated international appeals, her exact whereabouts remain unknown [House.gov](https://mjw.house.gov/rahile-dawut-tom-lantos-human-rights-commission). Professor Rahile dedicated her life to documenting Uyghur Mazar culture and folk traditions, which are deeply influenced by Islamic Sufism and are central to Uyghur identity. Her trial is, in essence, a trial against the very foundations of the Uyghur nation.

Furthermore, the famous modernist writer Perhat Tursun was sentenced to 16 years in prison for his literary creations [Uyghur Hjelp](https://www.uyghurhjelp.org). His works, such as "The Backstreets," explore the existential dilemmas of Uyghurs in modern society through profound philosophical reflection. Meanwhile, Ilham Tohti, a member of the Uyghur PEN and a renowned economist, remains in total isolation ten years after being sentenced to life imprisonment [PEN America](https://pen.org). The absence of these writers has left the sky of Uyghur literature without its brightest stars.

Cultural Genocide: From Book Burnings to Language Bans

In its 2025 annual report, the International Uyghur PEN pointed out that the deprivation of cultural rights is manifested not only in the imprisonment of individuals but also in the destruction of the entire ethnic cultural ecology [Uyghur Hjelp](https://www.uyghurhjelp.org). In East Turkistan (Xinjiang), Uyghur-language books have been removed from shelves on a large scale and even burned in public. These books include a vast array of classical literature, religious texts, and historical research.

Even more devastating is the systematic abolition of mother-tongue education. Through the so-called "bilingual education" policy, authorities have effectively pushed the Uyghur language out of the school system. For Muslims, language is not just a tool for communication but a medium for passing down faith and the spirit of the Quran. When the younger generation cannot read the script of their ancestors, their bond with Islamic civilization is forcibly severed. UN experts expressed deep concern in a January 2026 statement, viewing this forced cultural reshaping as a serious violation of international human rights standards [OHCHR](https://www.ohchr.org).

Persistence in Exile: The Mission of the International Uyghur PEN

In the face of harsh repression, the International Uyghur PEN has become the last bastion of Uyghur literature abroad. On April 16, 2025, the organization held elections in Almaty, Kazakhstan, where Aziz Isa Elkun was re-elected as president [Uyghur PEN](https://www.uyghurpen.org). President Elkun emphasized that the core mission of the PEN is to "break the silence" and speak for those who have been silenced.

In exile communities, Uyghur writers face a double challenge: on one hand, the shadow of transnational repression, where authorities attempt to silence overseas writers by threatening their relatives back home; on the other hand, the hardship of cultural transmission. Despite the lack of a mother-tongue environment and publishing funds, exiled writers continue to create. Through the "Online Revitalization Project" and various literary workshops, the International Uyghur PEN strives to provide a platform for exiled writers and is dedicated to translating Uyghur literature into multiple languages, allowing the world to hear the elegy and struggle of this nation [Uyghur PEN](https://www.uyghurpen.org).

In August 2025, Uyghur Hjelp organized cultural workshops for youth in Europe, aimed at nurturing a new generation of Uyghur-language writers [Uyghur Hjelp](https://www.uyghurhjelp.org). This effort of "Cultural Waqf" (cultural endowment) is key to ensuring that the national spark is not extinguished.

The Responsibility of the Muslim World: From Silence to Solidarity

From the perspective of Islamic values, the pursuit of justice (Adl) and the protection of the oppressed (Mazlum) are religious obligations for every Muslim. The suffering of Uyghur writers is the pain of the entire Muslim community (Ummah). However, it is regrettable that many governments in Muslim-majority countries have remained silent on the Uyghur issue, or even defended the oppressors in some instances, due to geopolitical and economic interests.

The International Uyghur PEN calls for the awakening of global Muslim intellectuals and religious leaders. Uyghur literature contains profound Islamic wisdom, from "Kutadgu Bilig" to modern poetry, all reflecting the pursuit of truth and care for humanity. Protecting Uyghur writers is protecting the diversity of Islamic civilization. In 2025, the Center for Uyghur Studies (CUS) conducted advocacy activities in countries like Indonesia and Bosnia and Herzegovina to raise awareness of the Uyghur genocide [Uyghur Times](https://www.uyghurtimes.com). Particularly at a conference in Sarajevo, participants compared the plight of the Uyghurs to the Srebrenica genocide, warning the world that the vow of "Never Again" is facing a severe test.

International Action: Strengthening the Protection of Cultural Rights

The International Uyghur PEN has proposed several specific recommendations to the international community: 1. **Rescue Imprisoned Writers**: Demand that the Chinese government immediately and unconditionally release Rahile Dawut, Perhat Tursun, and all other writers and scholars imprisoned for their speech. 2. **Protect Exile Rights**: Governments should provide political asylum and security guarantees for exiled Uyghur writers and crack down on transnational repression [Campaign for Uyghurs](https://www.campaignforuyghurs.org). 3. **Fund Cultural Preservation**: International cultural organizations (such as UNESCO) should establish special funds to support the publication, translation, and digital preservation of Uyghur literature. 4. **Diplomatic Pressure**: At the 61st session of the UN Human Rights Council in February 2026, countries should propose specific motions regarding the Uyghur cultural genocide [Campaign for Uyghurs](https://www.campaignforuyghurs.org).

Conclusion: The Eternal Power of the Pen

As a Uyghur poet once said: "You can imprison my body, but you cannot imprison my thoughts; you can burn my books, but you cannot erase my memory." The struggle of the International Uyghur PEN is not only for the survival of a nation but for the common conscience of humanity. Under the guidance of Allah, justice may be delayed, but it will never be absent. The global Muslim community should stand up and fight alongside Uyghur writers, using the power of the pen to pierce the darkness and welcome the dawn of freedom and dignity.

The state of Uyghur literature is a mirror of human civilization. When we look into this mirror, we see not only the suffering of the Uyghurs but also our own courage to defend the truth. May the power of the pen endure, and may Uyghur words once again flow freely across the land of East Turkistan.