Tahir Imin, Director نىڭ يازمىلىرى

Tahir Imin is a Uyghur linguist, researcher, and entrepreneur, as well as a former political prisoner (2005–2007), dedicated to advancing independent Uyghur media, education, and cultural preservation. In 2018, he founded Uyghur Times, a platform amplifying Uyghur voices and sharing life stories from the Uyghur community. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Uyghur Language and Literature from Xinjiang University in 2012 and studied Hebrew at the University of Haifa in 2017.

Tahir’s writings, commentaries, and personal stories have appeared in leading international outlets including The Guardian, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and The New York Post, while his life-story documentaries have been featured by CNBC, The Atlantic, Al Jazeera, Human Rights Foundation, and the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation. His published works include English–Uyghur Maxims (Xinjiang Publishing House, 2002) and Uyghur Reformation Thoughts and Experiences, a PDF collection in Uyghur. His academic research covers topics such as Uyghur names and their historical evolution (2011) and Uyghur housing culture with a focus on the reconstruction of Kashgar Old City (2012). He has also translated important political and legal documents, including Uyghur laws (UFLPA, UHRP), Chinese government policy collections, The Declaration of Independence (2008), and The Constitution of the United States (2022).

Before leaving China, Tahir initiated and led numerous community, educational, and cultural projects, including the Uyghur Doppa Cultural Festival (2009) to celebrate and promote Uyghur identity, the Uyghur Ozturk Female Graduate Scholarship (2012–2016), the 30 Gentlemen Initiative (2013–2016) fostering young Uyghur entrepreneurship and community service, and the Uyghur Knowledge Forum (Uyghur Ilim Munbiri) (2011–2016), a public lecture series featuring prominent speakers such as Abduresit Celil Karluk, Azat Sultan, Hoshur Islam, Arslan Abdulla, and Litip Tohti. He also launched the Uyghur Reformation Movement (2014) to promote a modern, creative, and confident Uyghur identity and continues to inspire the community through the Uyghur Spirit Series (2018–present), an educational lecture program emphasizing cultural awareness and resilience. Through Uyghur Times, Tahir continues to report on Uyghur life, sharing stories that strengthen community engagement and preserve Uyghur culture.