Imprisoned Souls

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 (Xinjiang)

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