Uyghur musician freed after three years in Chinese prison
Yashar was imprisoned on “extremism” charges linked to his music and Uyghur-language books, in case Amnesty International says criminalized peaceful cultural expression
BEIJING, China (MNTV) — A Uyghur musician imprisoned in China over music he published online and books in his native language has been released after serving a three-year sentence, bringing an end to his incarceration but leaving concerns over whether Chinese authorities will continue restricting his freedom.
Yashar, a songwriter and musician whose full name is Yaxia’er Xiaohelaiti, was released Aug. 10 after being detained since August 2023, according to Amnesty International.
A Chinese court sentenced him in June 2024 to three years in prison for “promoting extremism” and “illegally possessing extremist materials.” The case was linked to music he had published online and Uyghur-language books in his possession.
Amnesty said neither amounted to criminal conduct and considered Yashar imprisoned solely for peacefully exercising his rights to freedom of expression and participation in cultural life.
His case reflects the broader criminalization of Uyghur cultural, religious and intellectual life under China’s sweeping campaign against the predominantly Muslim ethnic group, in which expressions of identity have repeatedly been treated as evidence of extremism.
Before his arrest, Yashar had been living in Chengdu, the capital of China’s southwestern Sichuan province. He had already come into contact with Chinese authorities months earlier after participating in the nationwide “White Paper” protests in November 2022.
The rare demonstrations erupted across several Chinese cities against the government’s stringent COVID-19 restrictions and broadened in some places into demands for greater political freedoms. Yashar was detained for three weeks following his participation.
Less than a year later, authorities detained him again, beginning the imprisonment that ended this week.
Concerns about his health persisted throughout his incarceration. Yashar reportedly suffered from bronchitis and required regular medication, while it remained unclear whether he consistently received adequate medical treatment in prison.
His release comes against the backdrop of years of international scrutiny over China’s treatment of Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim Turkic communities in East Turkistan, which Beijing officially calls the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.
Chinese authorities have subjected the region to an extensive system of mass detention, surveillance and restrictions on religious and cultural practices.
Uyghur writers, academics, artists, musicians and other cultural figures have been among those detained or imprisoned, making the suppression of cultural expression a significant element of the wider crackdown.
Yashar has now completed the sentence imposed on him, but his freedom after prison remains a concern.
Former Uyghur detainees have faced continuing surveillance and restrictions following their release, raising questions about whether Yashar will be able to resume his music and cultural activities freely.
Amnesty said it would continue monitoring his situation because of concerns that restrictions on his human rights could persist despite the completion of his prison term.
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