Writers for Freedom of Expression in China

When China was bidding for the Olympics in 2001, the Chinese government made explicit promises to improve its human rights record. But the Olympics have come and gone, with little or no progress for freedom of expression in China. Chinese writers continue to be censored, harassed, and imprisoned throughout the country. More writers are imprisoned now than ever before. In December 2008, authorities arrested prominent PEN Member Liu Xiaobo after he co-authored a manifesto calling for greater freedoms and democracy in China, which was signed by hundreds citizens from all walks of life. Liu is being held on suspicion of “inciting subversion of state power.” If convicted, he faces at least three years in prison. His case illustrates the lengths the Chinese government will still go to stifle free expression, and the determination of Chinese writers to fight for this most basic right. We stand with them in their struggle.

November 9, 2009:
PEN Calls on President Obama to Stand Up for Free Expression in China
>> More

October 2, 2009:
PEN Applauds Passage of Congressional Resolution for Liu Xiaobo
>> More

September 10, 2009:
Writers Freed in Afghanistan, China
>> More

June 24, 2009:
Writers Condemn Formal Arrest of Chinese Colleague Liu Xiaobo
>> More

June 16, 2009:
More than Six Months on, Liu Xiaobo Remains in Detention
>> More

April 29, 2009:
Prominent Writer Liu Xiaobo Honored in New York
>> More

April 23, 2009:
5 Reasons Why What Happens To Liu Xiaobo Matters To Everyone
>> More

April 16, 2009:
Liu Xiaobo to Receive Top PEN Honor
>> More

March 31, 2009:
Beijing Writer, PEN VP Jiang Qisheng Detained for Charter 08
>> More

February 21, 2009:
Writers Decry Detentions During Clinton Visit to China
>> More

February 17, 2009:
Writer Tohti Tunyaz Released From Prison in China a Week Before Clinton Visit
>> More

>> Complete News Archive

The Poet in an Unknown Prison
The New York Review of Books

Arrested Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo to receive prestigious award
Times Online

  Writers Speak Out For Jailed Dissidents
WAMC

>> Complete Press Archive

On the eve of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, PEN honored the more than 40 writers imprisoned in China. >> More

Beyond the Olympics: The Freedom to Write in China, After the Spotlight
An assessment on the state of freedom of expression in China before, during, and after the Olympic Games. >> More

Failing to Deliver: An Olympic-Year Report Card on Free Expression in China
a progress report on the state of freedom of expression in China. >> More

PEN's letter to the Chinese government
We are writing on behalf of our members and the entire community of International PEN . . . to urge you to release 40 of our colleagues who are in prison in your country in violation of their right to freedom of expression. >> More

PEN believes the following writers and journalists are imprisoned in China for exercising their right to speak and write freely, as guaranteed under Chinese and international law:

Mehbube ABLESH

CHEN Daojun

CHEN Shuqing

DU Daobin

GUO Qizhen

GUO Quan

Dawa GYALTSEN

HADA

HE Depu

HU Jia

HUANG Jinqiu (a.k.a. Qing Shuijun)

HUANG Qi

JIN Haike

KONG Youping

Dolma KYAB

LI Zhi

LIU Xiaobo

LU Gengsong

LU Jianhua

LU Zengqi

Abdulghani MEMETEMIN

NING Xianhua

Paljor NORBU

QI Chonghuai

Tashi RABTEN

RANGJUNG

SHI Tao

SUN Lin

Kunchok TSEPHEL

WEI Zhenling

WANG Rongqing

WANG Xiaoning

WU Yilong

XU Wei

XU Zerong

YANG Maodong (a.k.a. Guo Feixiong)

YANG Tongyan (a.k.a. Yang Tianshui)

Nurmuhemmet YASIN

YUAN Qiuyan

ZENG Hongling

ZHANG Jianhong (a.k.a. Li Hong)

ZHANG Qi

ZHENG Yichun


RELEASED

CHING Cheong
FENG Zhenghu
Jampel GYATSO
HE Yanjie
HU Shigen
Korash HUSEYIN
Jamyang KYI
LI Changqing
TAO Haidong
Tohti TUNYAZ (pen name MUZART)
WANG Dejia (pen name Jing Chu)
YAN Zhengxue
YANG Zili
YU Huafeng
ZHANG Honghai
ZHANG Lin
ZHOU Yuanzhi
ZHU Yufu