Against Erasure: Uyghur Poems, Imprisoned Souls, and the Act of Resistance
Introduction
In the face of the Chinese government's systemic efforts to silence the Uyghur people, the written word becomes a profound act of resistance. Against this backdrop of cultural erasure, two recently published English-language poetry anthologies- Uyghur Poems and Imprisoned Souls, stand as vital testaments to love, survival, and defiance. These works serve as both a sanctuary for a threatened identity and a resonant cry for justice. While the first volume captures the lyrical beauty of a two-thousand-year poetic legacy currently under siege, the second gives voice to the lived agony and unbroken spirit of those behind walls, where the verses of twenty-five imprisoned poets serve as vivid acts of resistance. Together, they form more than a mere collection of verses; they are a living archive for both the present and the future. They prove that while bodies may be confined and traditions targeted for erasure, the human pulse of love and collective memory remains indestructible. As enduring evidence of the Uyghur spirit, these works carry a cultural legacy to the next generation and awaken the consciousness of humanity as a whole, offering a glimmer of hope for the future.
About the Speaker
Aziz Isa Elkun is a prominent Uyghur poet, researcher, and human rights advocate. Based in London since 2001, his work focuses on the preservation of Uyghur culture and the documentation of the ongoing persecution of his people in Uyghuristan (East Turkistan). A member of English PEN and PEN America, Elkun is a leading voice in the global literary community. He currently serves as the President of the Uyghur PEN Centre and is a researcher at SOAS, University of London. His efforts to protect Uyghur heritage from erasure include founding the London Uyghur Ensemble (2004) and collaborating with Princeton University to curate the "Aziz Isa Elkun Uyghur Book Collection"—a vital archive of rare literature and historical texts that are currently being purged within his homeland. Elkun’s literary contributions have reached international audiences through major publications, including the anthology Uyghur Poems (Everyman’s Library / Penguin Random House, 2023) and Imprisoned Souls: Poems of Uyghur Prisoners in China (Hertfordshire Press, 2025). Through the mediums of poetry, documentary film, and academic archiving, Elkun does more than preserve a heritage; he ensures that the Uyghur identity remains an indelible part of the global consciousness.
Website: www.azizisa.org/en