Prominent Uyghur Novelist Abdullah Sawut Dies at Age of 72, Days after his Release from Chinese Concentration Camps in East Turkistan

Prominent Uyghur Novelist and Poet Abdullah Sawut dies at age of 72, under house arrest enforced upon him by the Chinese authorities due to “Zero COVID Policy” in his home in East Turkistan (Xinjiang Province), may Allah bestow His Mercy upon him.

Abdullah was released from Chinese concentration camps in East Turkistan, in which Chinese authorities hold more than one million Uyghur, where he spent the past 5 years, after his arrest in 2017, after his health deteriorated.

Although he left the concentration camps in poor health; however, the Chinese authorities forced him to isolate himself in his home under the “Zero COVID Policy” that they impose in the country, and prevented him from receiving the necessary treatment.

Activists circulated the news of the death of the Uyghur novelist, accusing the Chinese authorities of causing his death through health neglect, and preventing him from treatment, in addition to the torture and neglect he was subjected to in detention camps for 5 years.

Muslim Minorities Monitor offers its condolences to the family of the deceased, and to all Uyghurs in general, and prays to Allah to bestow His Mercy upon him.