Ablimit Turdi (Uyghur: ئابلىمىت تۇردى; ULY: Ablimit Turdi; b. 1 May 1969, Meshhet village, Atush) is a Uyghur poet, journalist, writer, and social activist. He is known for his literary work and his advocacy related to the preservation and promotion of the Uyghur literature, culture and mother tongue.
At the end of 2018, Turdi was reportedly sentenced to twelve years of imprisonment. He is currently serving his sentence in a prison in Atush, in the Kizilsu Kirghiz Autonomous Prefecture of Xinjiang. Prior to his detention, he worked as an editor at Qizilsu Geziti (قىزىلسۇ گېزىتى; “Kizilsu Daily”), a publication affiliated with the Propaganda Department of the Atush Municipal Party Committee.
Turdi was also involved in activities supporting Uyghur language and culture. On 21 February 2015, he organized an event commemorating the 15th International Mother Language Day at the Perwaz Restorani (پەرۋاز رېستۇرانى; “Pervaz Restaurant”) in Atush. Writers, poets, teachers, singers, and musicians from Kashgar and Urumqi were invited to participate. During the event, poets recited works dedicated to the Uyghur mother tongue and musicians performed compositions related to linguistic and cultural themes. Reports indicate that this event was later cited as a reason for his detention in the autumn of 2017.
Turdi was born on 1 May 1969 in Meshhet village (مەشھەت كەنتى) in Atush. In 1992, he graduated from the Chinese Language Department of Xinjiang University and was subsequently assigned to work at the editorial office of Qizilsu Geziti. He published his first poem in 1986 in that newspaper. Over the following decades, he published more than two hundred short stories as well as numerous poems.
Works:
- Men Zeminning Erke Balisi — “I Am the Beloved Child of the Earth”, poetry collection, Xinjiang People’s Publishing House, 1998.
- Itiqad Mektubi — “Letter of Faith”, poetry collection, 2000.
- Böre Teshi — “The Wolf Stone”, short story collection, Kashgar Uyghur Publishing House, 2004.
- Akhirqi Künler — “The Final Days”, novel, Kashgar Uyghur Publishing House, 2005. Alternative link
- Teqdir Yoli — “The Path of Destiny”, novel, Xinjiang University Press, 2015. Alternative link, alternative link, alternative link, alternative link, alternative link, alternative link
The novel Teqdir Yoli, published in 2015, is regarded as the last of his novels to appear in print before his detention.
The following songs set his poems to music:
