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PEN America Decries Russia’s Expulsion of Comedian
The Russian government this week issued an order permanently expelling Idrak Mirzalizade, a Belarusian standup comedian, from Russia in retaliation for a joke he made about racial discrimination in… More
The PEN Ten: An Interview with Kia Corthron
“For artists working in fiction, we have more protection as our work is addressing what has been exposed. . . . The greater peril is self-censorship, which often starts… More
An Online SOS: How Social Media Companies Can Provide Real-Time Support for Targets of Online Abuse
To navigate these terrifying situations, users need to be able to quickly access personalized support in real time. This is where an SOS button and emergency hotline come in. More
New Cuban Cyber Security Laws Will Deepen Government Repression
A new package of cyber security laws introduced last week in Cuba threaten to further curtail online dissent and pose an ever-greater threat to free expression in a country… More
The PEN Ten: An Interview with Morgan Parker
“I tend to approach truth in my work as a figment, a construction. A lot of that is because it relies on the stringency of linear time, chasing a… More
The PEN Ten: An Interview with Mirin Fader
“Though [the Antetokounmpo brothers] didn’t have much money, they had each other. They were, in a sense, each other’s refuge.” More
Cuban Rapper El Radikal Released on Bail
After 40 days of detention, Cuban rapper Richard Adrián Zamora Brito, known as El Radikal, was released last Friday on bail. More
The Taliban Takeover Is Forcing Afghans to Delete Their Photos and Posts—It’s a Free Expression Tragedy
Photos and social media posts in Afghanistan are being used against individuals as the Taliban takes over. Digital platforms have a responsibility to prevent digital cultural erasure. More
Turkey: Charges Against Kurdish PEN Member Must Be Dropped
PEN is deeply concerned for the well-being of Kurdish PEN member, writer and poet Meral Şimşek, who is facing up to 20 years on two separate charges. PEN believes… More
The PEN Pod: Navigating the Debacle in Afghanistan with Ayad Akhtar and George Packer
“Everyone who essentially used the opportunity of the last two decades to try to build a decent, better society for themselves and for Afghanistan are now under threat.” More