Aziz Isa Elkun presents on Uyghur Poetry & Cultural Erasure – London Book Fair 2024 On the final day of the London Book Fair 2024, I had the privilege of participating in two enlightening events as a speaker.
The first event, “A Trinity of Freedoms at Risk: Expression, Publishing, and Reading,” held on the main stage of the London Book Fair 2024, provided a platform for insightful discussions organized in partnership with IPA, English PEN, PEN International, IFLA, EIBF, and IAF. I express my gratitude to the panelists whose deep expertise enriched our dialogue, and a special thanks to Claire Armitstead from the Guardian #theguardian for her role as Chairperson.
The second event, organized by English PEN and attended alongside Dr. Ross Holder, Head of the Asia/Pacific Region at PEN International, focused on “Uyghur Poetry and Cultural Erasure in the #Uyghur Homeland.” Together with Ross, we delved into the themes of my edited and translated anthology book “Uyghur Poems,” published by Everyman’s Library Library under the Penguin imprint in November 2023.
Our conversation not only celebrated the rich tradition of #Uyghur poetry but also shed light on the atrocities faced by Uyghurs under the Chinese government’s repressive policies. I extend my appreciation to Ross Holder for his contributions contributions to the event and I am grateful to the English PEN for their invaluable support in organizing this event.
Aziz Isa Elkun’s Reflections On the Publication of the Uyghur Poetry Anthology Imprisoned Souls: Poems of Uyghur Prisoners in China
Book Launch Speech by Aziz Isa Elkun 16 December 2025, Yunus Emre Enstitüsü, London
Throughout history, humanity has witnessed profound suffering from oppressive rulers and inhumane wars. The most powerful poetry, like other forms of artistic expression, often emerges from those who have endured unimaginable hardship: exploitation, poverty, invasion or genocide. As a reflection of the Uyghurs’ social and political struggles, their poetry has consistently expressed their desire to live freely in their homeland. Themes of love, survival, and the resolute determination for a better future have always been central to their work.
Since completing my first major translation project, the anthology Uyghur Poems, published by the UK’s Everyman’s Library in October 2023, I have become deeply engaged in exploring Uyghur poetry further. My focus has increasingly shifted to the persecuted Uyghur poets.
As I learned more about the ongoing persecution and extrajudicial punishments imposed on Uyghur intellectuals, particularly the mass detention, arrest, and disappearance of Uyghur poets, I became increasingly restless. The weight of these atrocities pressed upon me, and I felt a deep, unwavering need to bring their poetic voices to the wider world. The simple act of writing poems had led to their persecution, and I knew that their precious works must not be lost to silence. It became my mission to translate these poems and preserve the voices of those who are no longer able to speak.
The knowledge that many of my poet friends are languishing in Chinese prisons has haunted me daily. Despite the challenges of obtaining reliable information about the detained and imprisoned Uyghur poets, I began my investigation in 2017. I began the painstaking task of collecting their poems from published books, magazines and online sources, striving to piece together their fragmented stories in the face of the information blackout imposed by the authorities. After more than five years of hard work and emotional strain, I have finally completed this work.
It is in everyone’s best interest for the world to be a place of peace, where all people – regardless of their race, faith, colour or culture – can live in harmony and dignity. For this vision to become a reality, the imprisoned Uyghur poets – and thousands like them across the world today – must be freed. They do not deserve to endure torture and suffering in Chinese prisons simply for expressing themselves through their poetry.
This book is an effort to capture the soul of the Uyghur people and to speak directly to the English – speaking world. It conveys their joy and sorrow, their journey and their unwavering struggle for survival. Through this work, I stand in solidarity with those who have been silenced, yet whose voices continue to echo through the pages of poetry.
The Uyghur people has endured the darkest times and will continue to rise above oppression. As long as they dream of a free homeland, the Uyghur spirit will never be extinguished. Their struggle for freedom will persist until they live freely in their own land, in dignity and peace. This book is not solely filled with sadness; it also carries love, hope and optimism for the future. The poems within reflect the resilience and beauty of the Uyghur language, and I hope you find joy and inspiration in them.
Uygur şair Aziz İsa Elkün: Kırım Tatarları ile Uygurlar Türk dünyasının iki kanayan yarasıdır
Haber Giriş Tarihi: 31.10.2025 10:46 Haber Güncellenme Tarihi: 31.10.2025 11:04 Kaynak: Haber Merkezi
Uygur Türkü İnsan hakları savunucusu, şair, yazar ve akademisyen Aziz İsa Elkün, sürgün hayatını, şiirle kurduğu bağı ve Uygur edebiyatının direniş mirasını QHA’ya verdiği özel röportajda anlattı.
Uygur Türkü şair, yazar ve akademisyen Aziz İsa Elkün, Kırım Haber Ajansına (QHA) verdiği özel röportajda, sürgündeki yaşamını, edebi kimliğini ve Çin’in Uygur halkına karşı yürüttüğü soykırım politikalarına karşı kültürel direniş mücadelesini anlattı. Elkün, Kırım Tatarları ile Uygurlar arasındaki tarihî ve kültürel paralelliklere dikkat çekerek, her iki halkın da baskıya maruz kaldığını vurguladı. Londra’da 20 yılı aşkın süredir sürgünde yaşayan Elkün, vatan özleminin hem acılarının hem de ilhamının kaynağı olduğunu kaydetti.
Doğu Türkistan’ın edebî kimliğinde büyük bir etkiye sahip olduğunu kaydeden Aziz İsa Elkün, “Şiirlerimde Taklamakan Çölü benim mürekkebimdir; kum ise dizelerime dönüşür. Onlar olmadan yazmam mümkün değildir. Bu kökleri, yeryüzünde hiçbir güç söküp atamaz. Taklamakan var oldukça, ben de şair olarak var olmaya devam edeceğim. Biz Uygurlar, binlerce yıldır bu çölün kalbinde yaşadık. Bu kumların altında kadim uygarlıklarımızın izleri saklıdır. Benim görevim, şiir aracılığıyla o ölümsüz ruhu yeniden diriltmektir. Birçok ulusal edebiyat gibi, Uygur şiiri de toprakla iç içedir; Tarım Havzası, uçsuz bucaksız çöller ve Tanrı Dağları… Bu coğrafyalar kültürümüzün can damarıdır; hayal gücümüzü, direncimizi ve aidiyet duygumuzu şekillendirir.” ifadelerini kullandı.
“ÖZLEM HEM ACIMIN KAYNAĞI HEM DE İLHAMIMIN TEMELİDİR”
“Sürgün” kelimesinin kendisi için “ebedî özlem”le eş anlamlı olduğunu kaydeden şair, “Sürgünde geçirdiğim her yıl, hasret duygumu daha da derinleştiriyor. Bu özlem hem acımın kaynağı hem de ilhamımın temelidir. Bu anlamda şiir benim için bir tür ilaçtır diyebilirim; acımı hafifletmenin ve halkımın ortak yarasını tüm dünyayla paylaşmanın bir yoludur. Sürgünde yazmak kolay değildir. Londra’da yirmi yılı aşkın süredir yaşarken, kaçınılmaz olarak İngiliz kültürünün bazı yönlerini benimsedim. Artık bir zamanlar ilk şiirlerime ilham veren Türkistan’daki vahalar ve çöl rüzgârlarından uzağım. Fakat bu uzaklık, yeni bir yaratıcı sentezin doğmasına da vesile oldu: Şiirim artık iki dünyayı birleştiriyor; Uygur duygusunu, İngilizce okur tarafından da anlaşılabilen evrensel insanî deneyimlerle harmanlıyor. Şair olarak iç dünyam değişti ama özlemimin özü aynı kaldı.” diye konuştu.
