The Global Coalition for Language Rights announced the winner of the 2024 Language Rights Defenders Award.
“The Global Coalition for Language Rights is delighted to announce Abduweli Ayup as the first winner of our Language Rights Defenders Award. Abduweli Ayup is a Uyghur activist, poet, and linguist. He has fought to protect and promote the Uyghur language both in China and within the Uyghur diaspora around the world. He has consistently demonstrated commitment to working with communities at the grassroots while also conducting advocacy in international forums. Abduweli Ayup has written articles and textbooks, organized and taught Uyghur language programs, engaged in language rights advocacy in government forums, and conducted tireless outreach activities through various media. He also established an advocacy, documentation, and humanitarian aid organization, Uyghur Hjelp. Abduweli Ayup has persisted in this work over many years despite facing great adversity. He was unjustly imprisoned in China from 2013 to 2014, and now lives in exile. The Global Coalition for Language Rights is proud to honor the work of this outstanding language rights defender. We hope his example inspires others to join the struggle for language rights, and encourages people to work together to build a strong movement that will fight for everyone’s language rights, everywhere. We look forward to sharing and celebrating more of Abduweli Ayup’s work in the coming weeks. “
Uyghur community members around the world celebrated with immense joy and pride upon hearing that Abduweli Ayup had been honored as the winner of the 2024 Language Rights Defenders Award. They extended their heartfelt congratulations and expressed deep gratitude for Abduweli’s courageous efforts to preserve and promote the Uyghur language, which is facing existential threats under China’s repressive policies in the Uyghur homeland. Abduweli’s unwavering dedication to advocating for the linguistic rights of the Uyghur people has made him a source of inspiration, instilling hope that their rich linguistic heritage will endure despite the challenges.
