New Book Release –
Imprisoned Souls: Poems of Uyghur Prisoners in China
After more than five years of intense work, I’m truly delighted to share that my second Uyghur poetry anthology was published by Hertfordshire Press on 9 November here in the UK.
This book is very close to my heart. The poems come from my lifelong personal collection, digital archives, and many other sources. Some were even sent to me by the families of imprisoned Uyghur poets- precious lines they believe were written by their loved ones who are still suffering in Chinese prisons. I translated twenty-five imprisoned Uyghur poets work from Uyghur into English, many of which had never been translated before. With tireless effort and deep dedication, the book has finally come to life.
Any civilized society understands that writing poetry is not a crime. Now the ball is in the Chinese government’s court- these Uyghur poets must be freed from the cold prison cells where they’ve been unjustly held.
The book is 280 pages and published in hardcover. I warmly invite you to show your love and support for these persecuted voices. Listen to their souls, follow their rhythms, and let their words inspire you.
The book is now available to order online.
Book title:
Imprisoned Souls: Poems of Uyghur Prisoners in China
Edited & translated by Aziz Isa Elkun
A Uyghur poetry anthology translated from Uyghur to English featuring the works of twenty-five Uyghur prisoners persecuted for writing poems and currently serving sentences in Chinese prisons in Uyghuristan / East Turkistan
- Publisher: Hertfordshire Press
- Publication date: 9 Nov. 2025
- Language: English
- Print length: 280 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1918395004
- ISBN-13: 978-1918395006
- Item weight: 816 g
- Dimensions: 20.32 x 2.24 x 20.32 cm
Since 2016, under Xi Jinping’s rule, the Chinese government has intensified its campaign of ethnic cleansing and cultural erasure against the Uyghur people. More than two million Uyghurs have been arbitrarily detained in concentration camps across the region. This systematic crime against humanity has targeted not only ordinary citizens but also the intellectual class- scholars, poets, writers, artists, teachers, and medical professionals- who have long safeguarded Uyghur identity and culture.
As part of this assault, Uyghur literature, history, and cultural expression have faced unprecedented repression. Before 2017, thousands of Uyghur- owned bookstores and over 5,000 Uyghur-language websites served as vital platforms for literature, historical memory, and public discourse. Today, these bookstores have been forcibly closed, their owners detained, and Uyghur-language websites erased from the internet- silencing an entire literary and intellectual tradition.
Over the past decade, China’s targeting of Uyghur intellectuals has revealed a deliberate effort to erase Uyghur cultural and ethnic identity. An estimated 500 Uyghur writers, poets, scholars, and cultural figures remain detained or are serving lengthy prison sentences.
Uyghur poetry has always played a central role in preserving the language, voicing political longing, and seeking justice. China’s forced assimilation policies and language suppression have been implemented for decades. Since 2000, Uyghur has been banned from mainstream education; today, no school teaches through the Uyghur language. As a result, few Uyghur children born after 2000 can read or write fluently in their mother tongue. Many poets warned of the cultural destruction that such policies would bring.
Imprisoned Souls brings together the work of twenty-five poets imprisoned for their words. Their poems are profound expressions of longing for freedom, resilience, and an unbreakable spirit. Rooted in the social and political struggles of their people, Uyghur poets write about love, survival, justice, grief, and hope- universal themes that connect their voices to the broader world of literature. Even in the harshest conditions, poetry endures as a testament to human dignity, creativity, and courage.
This anthology seeks to capture the soul of the Uyghur people and share their voices with the English-speaking world. It conveys their joys and sorrows, their resistance, and their steadfast hope. Through this work, I stand in solidarity with those who have been silenced- whose voices now live on through their poetry.
The Uyghur people have endured some of the darkest chapters in their history yet continue to rise above oppression. As long as they dream of a free homeland, their spirit will endure. This book is not only a record of suffering but also a testament to love, hope, and the unbroken optimism of a people determined to survive. I hope readers will find inspiration, understanding, and connection within these pages.
“Imprisoned Souls” stands as a tribute to those who have been silenced- a reminder of their resilience and a call for the world to recognize their suffering and demand justice. May their voices be heard, and may justice prevail.
I extend my gratitude to the Uyghur Service of Radio Free Asia for its in-depth reporting on detained Uyghur poets, ensuring their stories are not forgotten. I am also grateful to the Uyghur Projects Foundation for its support.
My sincere thanks go to Shohret Hoshur, Abduweli Ayup, Selime Kamal, Bahram Sintash, Nurmuqeddes, Najmidin Sherip, and many other Uyghurs in exile- including those who prefer to remain anonymous—whose support and assistance have been invaluable to this work.
Imprisoned Souls is a heart-wrenching celebration of the vibrance and complexity of contemporary Uyghur literature at a time when it faces systematic erasure. The poetry featured in this collection is a haunting reminder of our shared humanity and a powerful call to address a grave injustice.
– Dr Ross Holder, Head of Asia/ Pacific Region at PEN International
Through Elkun’s dedicated translations, these silenced poets speak of pride in their identity, resistance to erasure, and deep personal anguish, as in Gülnisa Imin’s poem on her fear of arrest and separation from her children. The collection ranges from lyrical nature-inspired verses to powerful declarations of defiance. It is both moving and urgent, reminding the world that Uyghur freedom must be pursued with unwavering resolve.
– Dr Jennifer Langer, poet and Exiled Writers Ink founding director
All these poets vanished into China’s vast network of camps and prisons. Their condition and whereabouts remain unknown. Their poems voice despair, torment, pain, longing, and love. They speak of parting and darkness yet reveal resilience in the face of fate. Memories and nostalgia for the natural beauty of their homeland- mountains and rivers, trees and flowers, endless skies, the sun, moon, and stars- run through their verses. Together, they form a poetic journey through the Uyghurs’ fateful history.
– Henriette Schroeder, Austrian language translator of this anthology, member of PEN Austria
Imprisoning Uyghur poets, silencing their voices, and banning their works weaken the Uyghur language, drain their culture of color, and rob their lives of meaning. A world without their poetry is incomplete- deprived of the very essence of Uyghur existence.
– Abduweli Ayup, Uyghur linguist, poet, founding director of Uyghur Hjelp
Please show your support and sympathy for the imprisoned Uyghur poets. Every small act of kindness and courage you offer helps bring freedom closer for those unjustly held in Chinese prisons, and brings renewed hope to the Uyghur people in their struggle for justice and self-determination. Truth and justice endure far longer than any ruthless or inhumane power. Our world becomes more beautiful when we choose love and compassion for one another. Every line of verse in this book carries the lifeblood, dignity, and longing of persecuted Uyghur poets who yearn for freedom. Through your support, their voices can break through the darkness, and their hope can be revived.
I sincerely hope that you find both courage and inspiration in these pages. The book is now available to order online.
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