Waiting to Be Arrested at Night

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A New York Times Notable Book of 2023, this poignant account reveals one of the world's most pressing humanitarian crises through the eyes of a poet whose life is upended by genocide. As the Chinese government's brutal persecution of the Uyghur people escalated in 2017, Tahir Hamut Izgil witnessed the alarming disappearance of friends and neighbors. The Uyghurs, a predominantly Muslim minority in western China, faced horrific repression reminiscent of the darkest chapters of the twentieth century, exacerbated by a pervasive surveillance state. Over a million individuals have vanished into internment camps designed for Muslim minorities. Tahir, a prominent poet and intellectual, had previously endured persecution and torture after a 1996 attempt to travel abroad. However, he could not have foreseen the radical measures that would be taken against the Uyghurs two decades later. Signs of impending danger became clear when he was interrogated after a call with a fellow poet and learned of a friend’s life sentence for advocating Uyghur rights. As the local park emptied due to arrests, Tahir prepared for the worst, placing shoes and warm clothing by his door. Realizing that fleeing was their only hope, he and his wife made the harrowing decision to escape. This narrative chronicles the cultural and political devastation of Tahir's homeland and serves as a powerful call for global awareness of the ongoing catastrophe, honoring the s