Perhat Tursun was an existentialist writer, a poet, and a cultural critic. He has been missing since his detention in January 2018, and is believed to have been given a long prison sentence.
Perhat Tursun is a leading Uyghur fiction writer, poet, and cultural critic. His writing focuses on urban alienation, Uyghur traditions, and problems of human existence.
At age 24, he wrote the "Art of Suicide", a controversial novel that was included in the list of the hundred best works of Uyghur culture, something the author himself was unhappy about (as most of the other works in the list were "propaganda bullshit"). His wife reportedly left him following the controversy, and he would have difficulty getting published for some time. Despite the criticisms of his book, however, Perhat has stated that he does identify as Muslim, but that his belief came "from a sort of philosophical universalism rather than a pure acceptance of creed".
He received his PhD degree from China's Minzu University in 2011, in the field of Chaghatay language and Uyghur folklore.Perhat Tursun is a leading Uyghur fiction writer, poet and cultural critic. His writing focuses on urban alienation, Uyghur traditions and problems of human existence.
[Testimony 7: At age 24, he wrote the "Art of Suicide", a controversial novel that has since been included in the list of the hundred best works of Uyghur culture.]
[Testimony 9:
- When Perhat Tursun was born (in 1969), his father was reportedly in prison, suspected of being an insurgent.
- Perhat Tursun attended Minzu University in Beijing on a government scholarship. He returned to Urumqi in 1989 after graduating from Minzu University. [This presumably relates to his undergraduate degree, not his PhD.]
- Perhat Tursun is also the author of a 1991 novella entitled "Desert of Messiah."
- Perhat Tursun was reportedly not active in party or government affairs.
- Following the controversy surrounding his book, "The Art of Suicide", Perhat Tursun's wife reportedly left him. He was unable to publish anything for a number of years, as media would refuse to publish anything he had written. At the time of this article (1 October 2015), however, Perhat Tursun was working on a new novel; the testifier takes note of the fact that approximately 16 years after his public excoriation, he was seemingly able to publish again. He had also remarried, and had two children -- one boy and one girl.
- Despite criticisms surrounding his book, "The Art of Suicide," Perhat Tursun does identify as a Muslim; he reportedly told the testifier that his belief "[stemmed] from a sort of philosophical universalism rather than a pure acceptance of creed." [The essence of this article seems to be that although Perhat Tursun was not active in party or government affairs and was not pro-assimilation, he did have ideological differences with a number of prominent Uyghur intellectuals that stemmed from his interest in Western literature and philosophy, particularly when it came to religion; these differences led to him becoming a virtual pariah, stuck in the middle of a divided society.]]
current location
He had been living in Urumqi before. However, the current location is unknown, especially as he is reported to have been sentenced.Unknown, likely in Urumchi
chronology of detention(s)
Detained on January 30, 2018. News that he had been sentenced were received in early October 2019.January 30, 2018
suspected and/or official reason(s) for detention
According to Abduweli Ayup, he was targeted for being one of the scholars to have signed Memtimin Elyar's 2005 petition for the protection of Uyghur-language education.[Testimony 6: according to Abduweli Ayup, he was targeted for being one of the scholars to have signed Memtimin Elyar's 2005 petition for the protection of Uyghur-language education.]
last reported status
Sentenced to prison.
It's been said that he's been sentenced to 16 years, but this has yet to be verified.Unknown
[according to a reliable source on October 9, 2019: Perhat has been given a prison sentence]
how testifier(s) learned of victim's situation
News of his detention first circulated via social media - Tahir Hamut, one of Perhat's closest friends, learned from a mutual acquaintance that Perhat had been "hospitalized". This was later confirmed during visits by international researchers in Urumqi.
The reason for his arrest as given by Abduweli Ayup is speculative.News of his detention first circulated via social media. It was later confirmed during visits by international researchers in Urumchi.
[Testimony 7: the news came in coded messages, with poet Tahir Hamut being told by a mutual acquaintance that Perhat had been "hospitalized".]
