The new Executive Committee members of the Board include the following:
President: Aziz Isa Elkun
Secretary General: Alisher Khalilov
Chairman of the Executive Committee: Dr. Hakimjan Guliyev
Members: Hamid Hamrayev, Villiam Molotov, Ihsan Ismail, and Maryam Sultan
The Uyghur PEN Centre held its official election on April 16, 2025, at the Mir Publishing House office in Almaty, Kazakhstan. In addition to local members attending in person, participants from around the world joined the event online. A total of 24 members took part in the meeting.
The Board of the Uyghur PEN Centre nominated Aziz Isa Elkun – a UK-based poet, writer, academic, and former Secretary General of the Centre- for the presidency. Elkun, who had recently visited Kazakhstan, was present at the Almaty meeting and formally accepted the nomination. In his remarks, he thanked the Board for its confidence in him and pledged to work tirelessly to promote Uyghur literature globally and to defend the right to free expression for Uyghur writers and artists.
Following a round of deliberations, the official election was held. Aziz Isa Elkun was unanimously elected President of the Uyghur PEN Centre. Subsequent elections for Board members were also conducted, completing the formation of the Centre’s new leadership team.
The new Executive Committee members of the Board include the following:
President: Aziz Isa Elkun
Secretary General: Alisher Khalilov
Chairman of the Executive Committee: Dr. Hakimjan Guliyev
Members: Hamid Hamrayev, Villiam Molotov, Ihsan Ismail, and Maryam Sultan
In his concluding remarks, the newly elected President underscored the urgency of the Center’s mission, particularly in light of the ongoing political and social challenges facing the Uyghur people. He reaffirmed the Uyghur PEN Center’s commitment to promoting Uyghur literature and arts globally, preserving the Uyghur language and cultural heritage, and defending the rights of Uyghur writers and artists. He called on all members of the Uyghur PEN Center to work together in service of the Uyghur people’s interests during this extremely challenging time, with the support and guidance of International PEN, headquartered in London.
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the newly elected leadership of the Uyghur PEN Center and wish them great success in their efforts to uplift and empower Uyghur writers and artists.
25 April 2025
Uyghur PEN Centre