Yashar (Yaxia’er Xiaohelaiti), a Uyghur songwriter and musician, was released on 10 August 2026 after completing his three-year prison sentence. Convicted in June 2024 on charges of “promoting extremism” and “illegally possessing extremist materials”, reportedly for creating music and possessing books in the Uyghur language. Yashar had been imprisoned solely for peacefully exercising his rights to freedom of expression and participation in cultural life. Concerns remain that he may face restrictions upon his release, therefore Amnesty International will continue to monitor his situation closely.
