Updated at 6:40 pm ET. The statement was updated to make it clear that the onus to prove Tamimi’s guilt is on Israeli authorities and not on Tamimi’s family to show her innocence,
(NEW YORK)— PEN America issued the following statement today about the arrest on Monday of author Ahed Tamimi:
“Our partner Penguin Random House/One World has expressed strong concerns to us that their author, Ahed Tamimi, has been arrested in the West Bank on the basis of antisemitic and hateful commentary on Instagram that is not properly attributable to her. The onus is on Israel’s authorities to bring to light information and evidence that will clarify the basis of Tamimi’s detention and the authenticity of the speech in question. There are very limited circumstances in which the arrest of an author for their words can be justified. None of those apply when the writings in question are not the writer’s own.
About PEN America
PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect open 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. To learn more visit PEN.org
Contact: Suzanne Trimel, [email protected], 201-247-5057