Uyghur poet Abide Abbas Nesrin participated as the first Uyghur poet in the Měsíc Autorského čtení (Month of Author Readings) literary festival, which has a 25-year tradition in Europe.
The Měsíc autorského čtení (Month of Author Readings) festival has a 25-year tradition. It invites writers from 31 countries every year and is held in July across cities in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and parts of Ukraine.
The theme for this year’s festival, held from July 1 to July 31, 2025, was “Exile,” dedicated to writers and poets living in exile. The festival is organized as a literary, humanitarian, and cultural event with no political agenda. Through the theme of exile, it explores global issues of literature, identity, homeland, and society.
This year’s festival featured 31 exiled authors from 26 countries across four continents, representing about 20 languages. Among them was Abide Abbas Nesrin, a prominent figure in Uyghur and exile literature. Nesrin became the first Uyghur poet to participate in the festival.
Nesrin’s poems were presented during events held on July 21 and 22 in Brno and Ostrava, Czech Republic, and on July 23 and 24 in Prešov and Bratislava, Slovakia. The festival events were also streamed live on the official website and YouTube, reaching a global audience.
Her poetry received widespread praise for its emotional depth and powerful style. The poems conveyed the emotional and intellectual complexity of exile, leaving a strong impact on listeners.
Speaking to Uygur News, Nesrin said she was honored to represent the Uyghur people and contemporary Uyghur poetry at the “Exile” festival. She said, “During the festival, participants and journalists from around the world expressed strong interest in Uyghur literature and culture, voicing hope that Uyghurs in the diaspora will continue their efforts to preserve their national identity and heritage. They consistently emphasized their support for Uyghur literature, culture, and the arts, standing in solidarity with the Uyghur people.”
Nesrin also shared her appreciation for the warm and friendly reception by festival participants and expressed sincere hope that other Uyghur writers, who could not attend due to visa and financial difficulties, will join future festivals to promote Uyghur literature and culture internationally through Europe.
Dr. Ondřej Klimeš, a Uyghur studies expert at the Czech Academy of Sciences, told Uygur News, “Nesrin received very positive and empathetic responses from the audience, who were interested in her personal inspirations for writing and in the broader context of Uyghur culture and its current status in the Uyghur homeland.”
Enver Can, prominent activist and founding chair of the Ilham Tohti Initiative, commented, “Promoting Uyghur culture and literature in the diaspora, especially in the West, is very important. In democratic societies, we can gain greater interest and support by focusing on culture and art rather than politics. In this respect, Ms. Nesrin’s first appearances in the Czech Republic and Slovakia mark a significant beginning in introducing Uyghur culture to diverse societies. I congratulate our young poet and wish her success in her future work.”
According to Pavel Dlabík, organizer of the Exile Literature Festival, although other Uyghur writers were recommended by Klimeš and included on the invitation lists, they could not be invited this year due to visa and financial challenges. The organizers hope to open more opportunities for Uyghur and other exiled writers in the future and to support exile literature through publishing projects.
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