Imprisoned Uyghur Writer Yalqun Rozi Awarded 2026 Graciela Fernández Meijide Award

Imprisoned Uyghur literary critic Yalqun Rozi named among political prisoners from Equatorial Guinea, China, and North Korea honored in the award’s first global edition, with the ceremony set for August on the Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Totalitarianism.

By Uyghur Times Staff
March 2, 2026

The fourth “Graciela Fernández Meijide Award for the Defence of Human Rights” has recognized imprisoned Uyghur writer and literary critic Yalqun Rozi as a 2026 recipient. The award ceremony will be held in August on the Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Totalitarianism.

The award aims to honor efforts to defend human rights, whether by individuals, groups, or organizations, in countries with authoritarian regimes, in democracies facing setbacks in civil and political freedoms, or in situations where activists’ safety is threatened, based on reports from respected international organizations.

The jury, composed of Inés Pousadela, Eduardo Ulibarri, Vicente Palermo and Rubén Chababo, reviewed nominations highlighting the lives and arbitrary detention of citizens from Azerbaijan, North Korea, Cuba, China, Equatorial Guinea, Morocco and Venezuela. These cases were submitted by human rights organisations and relatives.

In the official minutes of this fourth edition, the jury stated:

“Each and every nomination received, from Africa, Asia and Latin America, concerns citizens living in countries where civic space is severely restricted. In these contexts, authoritarian or totalitarian regimes have violated the most basic civic freedoms, forcing their societies to live under fear and repression. For this reason, each of these activists deserves recognition and admiration from the members of this jury.”

Other award recipients include Anacleto Micha Ndong of Equatorial Guinea and Kim Jung-Wook, Choi Chun-Gil and Kim Kook-Kie of North Korea.

The YALQUN ROZI, a respected Uyghur literary critic, writer and former editor at the state-run Xinjiang Education Press, focused his work on protecting and promoting the Uyghur language, culture and identity within the official education system before his detention by the Chinese authorities.

According to the jury, “His case exemplifies the repression of non-violent cultural advocacy and the systematic persecution of Uyghur intellectuals for defending the cultural and human rights of their people. As various human rights organisations have reported, systematic persecution and the Chinese government’s plan to eradicate Uyghur identity have intensified since 2017. Since then, nearly three million Uyghurs have been arbitrarily detained and sent to camps where they have faced political indoctrination, torture, rape, forced sterilisation, forced labour and other forms of inhumane treatment. Thousands of children have been placed in state-run boarding schools, while the Uyghur birth rate has been reduced by half due to forced sterilisation and compulsory intrauterine device insertions.”

The World Uyghur Congress (WUC) welcomed the recognition of Yalqun Rozi.

“Yalqun Rozi’s case starkly illustrates the systematic and arbitrary targeting of Uyghur intellectuals under the ongoing crackdown. Renewed global attention would contribute to sustained pressure for his release. Greater international awareness may also help clarify his current whereabouts and health conditions, which remain largely unknown to his family members.” – said WUC President Turgunjan Alawdun.

“CFU is proud to see Yalkun Rozi honored as a recipient of the 2026 Graciela Fernandez Meijide Award,” said CFU Executive Director Rushan Abbas. “Yalkun Rozi’s recognition is a victory for the Uyghur spirit. While the CCP attempts to rewrite our history by imprisoning our greatest scholars, this honor proves that our culture is resilient against the CCP’s war against Uyghur identity and our cause is global. We will continue to amplify his voice until he and every intellectual held in the shadow of this genocide are free. We are grateful to CADAL for shedding light on his case and Uyghur culture as a whole.” 

Uyghur intellectual Zulhayat Ötkür describes Mr. Yalqun Rozi as a literary figure who achieved remarkable results within the Uyghur community, characterizing him as a critic rich in critical spirit, a public intellectual with a strong sense of responsibility, a researcher driven by a spirit of inquiry, and a persuasive speaker with the ability to inspire and convince others.