Nurmuhemmet Yasin
***UPDATE (July 2010): CAMPAIGN FOR NURMUHEMMET YASIN***
English PEN is supporting the Uyghur PEN centre in a campaign for the release of Nurmuhemmet Yasin. As part of the campaign, we are aiming to arrange for 'Wild Pigeon' to be translated into 50 different languages. We currently have translations available in the following:
If you would be willing to translate the story into a language other than those listed above we'd be extremely grateful! For more information, please contact cat@englishpen.org
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D.o.b: 6 March 1974
Profession: Freelance Uighur writer of the Uighur-language Kashgar Literary Journal
Date of arrest: 29 November 2004
Sentence: 10 years in prison
Expires: 30 November 2014
Details of arrest: Nurmuhemmet Yasin was arrested in Kashgar on 19 November 2004 for the publication of his short story 'Wild Pigeon' ('Yawa Kepter'), first published in the bi-monthly Uighur-language Kashgar Literature Journal (issue No. 5). After publication, the story was widely circulated and was recommended for an award by one of the biggest Uighur literary web sites. It also attracted the attention of the Chinese authorities, who apparently consider the fable to be a tacit criticism of their government in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region. The Chinese authorities confiscated his personal computer, which contained close to 1,600 poems, commentaries, stories and one unfinished novel.
Trial details: After a closed trial, during which he was denied access to legal representation, Yasin was sentenced to 10 years in prison. He was convicted for 'inciting Uighur separatism' in his book Yawa Kepte. The Kashgar Intermediate Court upheld his sentence on appeal, and he as transferred to Urumchi No. 1 Jail. Yasin has not been allowed any visitors since his arrest. Korash Huseyin, the editor of the Kashgar Literary Journal, was sentenced to three years in prison for publishing 'Wild Pigeon'.
Professional details: Nurmuhemmet Yasin is an award-winning freelance Uighur writer. He is known for his numerous short stories, essays, and three volumes of poetry: First Love, Crying From the Heart and Come on Children. Some of his work has already been selected for inclusion in Uighur-language middle-school literature textbooks. His short story 'Wild Pigeon' ('Yawa Kepter') was broadcast through Radio Free Asia's Uighur Service and has been translated into English.
Place of detention: Urumchi No. 1 Jail.
Treatment in prison: Yasin has been permitted no visitors since his arrest.
Other Details: Yasin is married with two sons.
Honorary Member: American PEN, English PEN and Independent Chinese PEN.
In 2008, Nurmuhemmet Yasin was shortlisted for the inaugural ArtVenture Freedom to Create Prize, a unique prize designed to celebrate the role of the arts in promoting human rights and highlighting the forgotten frontline of artists defending their freedom of expression at great personal sacrifice. The nominated piece of work, "Wild Pigeon (Yawa Kepter)" has been translated from Uighur into English and Chinese by Dolkun Kamberi, director of Radio Free Asia's Uighur service. The English translation is available online in two parts:
http://www.rfa.org/english/uyghur/2005/06/27/wild_pigeon/
http://www.rfa.org/english/uyghur/2005/06/27/wild_pigeon2/