Waiting to Be Arrested at Night

More about the book

A New York Times Notable Book of 2023, this poignant account reveals the urgent humanitarian crisis faced by the Uyghur people through the eyes of a poet and intellectual. As the Chinese government's brutal persecution escalated in 2017, Tahir Hamut Izgil witnessed the alarming disappearance of friends and neighbors. The Uyghurs, a predominantly Muslim minority in western China, became victims of a high-tech surveillance state, with over a million sent to internment camps. Tahir, who had previously endured torture and imprisonment for attempting to travel abroad, was unprepared for the radical measures taken against his community two decades later. Interrogated after a call with a fellow poet, he saw the ominous signs of oppression, including the jamming of radios to isolate Uyghurs from the outside world. The stark reality hit home when the park near his residence emptied as neighbors were arrested. Recognizing the imminent danger, Tahir and his wife resolved to flee for their family's safety. This narrative chronicles the political, social, and cultural devastation of his homeland, highlighting Tahir's unique position as the only prominent Uyghur intellectual known to have escaped since the mass internments began. His story serves as a powerful call to action for global awareness and a tribute to the silenced voices of his community.