PEN America and PEN Sydney are gravely concerned for the safety of writers, as well as journalists, scholars, activists, and other political prisoners held in Iranian prisons amid ongoing military strikes and escalating conflict in the country. Reports of airstrikes near detention facilities and disruptions to communication channels have heightened fears for detainees—many of whom are imprisoned solely for exercising their freedom of expression.
“We are extremely worried about the dozens of writers and other dissident voices currently held in Iran’s prisons,” said Karin Deutsch Karlekar, director of PEN America’s Writers at Risk program. “Amid reports of deteriorating conditions and uncertainty surrounding detainees’ whereabouts, the safety and well-being of prisoners of conscience is an urgent matter of concern. All parties to the conflict must prioritize civilian lives and ensure that family members know where their loved ones are being held.”
PEN America and PEN Sydney are particularly concerned about developments at the notorious Evin Prison in Tehran. Reports from detainees’ families indicate that prisoners held in Ward 209—controlled by the Ministry of Intelligence—have been transferred to an unknown location under the control of the security services, and that political prisoners held in Ward 7 may be transferred to other prisons. Among those from Ward 209 reportedly already moved is writer and translator Ali Asadollahi, who was arbitrarily arrested without charge on January 24, raising serious concerns about detainees’ location and safety. Conditions at the prison have deteriorated in the past several days: detainees have been locked in their wards as regular staff have fled and been replaced by special security forces, and are facing a lack of access to adequate supplies of food and medical care, as well as contact with their family members.
At Greater Tehran (Fashafouyeh) Prison, south of Tehran, an airstrike reportedly targeted the administrative section of the facility, which affected prisoners held there, and there are similar concerns regarding lack of food and water. Among those detained is Yousef Ansari, a writer and board member of the Iranian Writers’ Association, who was arrested on January 8 and whose safety remains a matter of grave concern. Meanwhile, detainees in Zanjan Prison have reportedly heard airstrikes nearby, raising fears for the safety of prisoners held in the facility, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate and 2023 PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Awardee Narges Mohammadi, who was transferred there several weeks ago. In several other prisons in cities around the country, detainees have also been moved to other facilities.
“Prisoners—unjustly detained or otherwise—are still civilians and must be protected during armed conflict, and Iran’s own laws mandate the temporary release of prisoners during wartime,” said Deutsch Karlekar. “We join the recent call by the UN Special Procedures and Mandates for those arbitrarily detained to be released, including a number of writers, as well as for transparency regarding their location and condition.”
PEN America and PEN Sydney condemn any actions that place detainees at risk and urges all parties to the conflict to prioritize civilian safety. Iranian authorities must immediately guarantee the safety and whereabouts of all detainees and release those imprisoned solely for the peaceful exercise of their right to freedom of expression, in accordance with Iranian provisions such as Resolution 211 and international human rights law.
In PEN America’s 2024 Freedom to Write Index, Iran ranked in second place globally, jailing a total of 43 writers during the year. Since the 12-day military conflict last June between Iran and Israel, an increasing number of writers, scholars, poets, creative artists, social media commentators, and activists have been detained or received summonses, while others have faced extrajudicial threats or additional charges; a similar surge in detained writer cases has been seen since the January 2026 protests and mass crackdown on expression and assembly. More information on PEN America’s work on Iran is available here.
About PEN America
PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect free expression in the United States and worldwide. We champion the freedom to write, recognizing the power of the word to transform the world. Our mission is to unite writers and their allies to celebrate creative expression and defend the liberties that make it possible.