Waiting to Be Arrested at Night: A Uyghur Poet's Memoir of China's Genocide

A Uyghur poet's memoir of life under the most coercive surveillance regime in history, "Escape to America," reveals the ongoing destruction of a community and a way of life. It is a call for the world to awaken to a humanitarian catastrophe and a tribute to the Uyghurs whose voices have been silenced.

Format: Hardback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 03 August 2023
Publisher: Vintage Publishing

A Uyghur poet's poignant memoir of life under the most coercive surveillance regime in history has been hailed as a masterpiece by critics worldwide. Lithub's #1 Best-Reviewed Non-Fiction Book of the Year 2023, A Financial Times Book of the Year 2023, and an Economist Book of the Year 2023, this essential reading is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the human cost of state repression.

Tahir Hamut Izgil, a successful filmmaker, innovative poet, and prominent intellectual, had long been acquainted with state surveillance and violence. However, in 2017, the Chinese government's repression of its Uyghur citizens assumed a terrifying new intensity. Critics were silenced, conversations became hushed, passports were confiscated, and Uyghurs were forced to provide DNA samples and biometric data. As Izgil's friends disappeared one by one, it became clear that fleeing the country was his family's only hope.

Escape to America spared Izgil's family the internment camps that have swallowed over a million Uyghurs. It also allowed this rare personal testimony of the Xinjiang genocide to reach the wider world.

Waiting to Be Arrested at Night charts the ongoing destruction of a community and a way of life. It is a call for the world to awaken to a humanitarian catastrophe, an unforgettable story of courage, escape, and survival, and a moving tribute to Izgil's friends and fellow Uyghurs whose voices have been silenced.

The book is a searing indictment of the Chinese government's actions in Xinjiang, where Uyghurs and other minority groups have been subjected to a campaign of surveillance, torture, and forced labor. Izgil's writing is powerful and evocative, capturing the fear and desperation of those living under the regime.

One of the most striking aspects of the book is Izgil's account of the surveillance state's impact on his own life. He describes how his friends and family were monitored, how his conversations were recorded, and how he was constantly afraid of being arrested. He also shares the story of his escape to America, which was only possible after years of planning and sacrifice.

Waiting to Be Arrested at Night is not just a memoir; it is also a call to action. Izgil urges the world to recognize the gravity of the situation in Xinjiang and to take steps to address the humanitarian catastrophe that is unfolding. He calls on governments to pressure the Chinese government to end its crackdown on Uyghurs and other minority groups, to provide humanitarian aid to those who are suffering, and to hold those responsible for human rights abuses accountable.

The book also sheds light on the resilience and determination of the Uyghur people. Despite the horrors they have faced, they continue to resist the regime and to advocate for their rights. Izgil pays tribute to his friends and fellow Uyghurs, who have lost their lives or been forced into exile, and to the activists who are working tirelessly to bring attention to their plight.

In conclusion, Waiting to Be Arrested at Night is a powerful and important book that deserves to be read widely. It is a testament to the human cost of state repression and a call to action for the world to recognize the gravity of the situation in Xinjiang and to take steps to address the humanitarian catastrophe that is unfolding.

Weight: 382g
Dimension: 223 x 147 x 31 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781787334014