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PEN America Applauds Nobel Peace Prize for Writer and Human Rights Activist Narges Mohammadi
Nobel Peace Prize awarded to imprisoned Iranian writer, human rights activist, and 2023 PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award honoree Narges Mohammadi recognizes her singular courage in standing against government… More
“Shocking Overreaction” as School District in California Closes Libraries to Hunt for Sexual Content After Complaint
“The decision by Superintendent Rankins-Ibarra to halt all school library services in the Escondido Union School District following “the discovery” of one book alleged to be “sexually explicit” is… More
Band of Bestselling Authors Stand Against Book Bans in Florida and Nationwide
“What PEN America is doing in Florida is very important to us and our neighbors,” said Michael Connelly. “We have been astonished to see books ripped off the shelves and… More
Concern Raised Over Cancellation of Panel at Anthropology Meeting
(NEW YORK)— Last week, the American Anthropological Association (AAA) and the Canadian Anthropology Society (CASCA) removed a panel from their annual meeting program, set to take place next month in… More
Fear that New Texas Policy Will Limit Books Allowed in Prisons
(NEW YORK)— Without notification, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) has apparently implemented an “approved vendor” policy for its prisons, a type of censorship that PEN America opposes… More
Banned Books Week 2023 Open Letter and Call to Action: We Believe in the Freedom to Read
For Banned Books Week 2023, PEN America and We Believe gathered a consortium of publishers and nonprofit organizations to rally behind the freedom to read with an open letter.… More
On Fifth Anniversary of Jamal Khashoggi’s Murder, PEN America Decries Continuing Lack of Justice
The plot against Khashoggi was never just about silencing one individual; it was a direct attack on freedom of expression and the written word more broadly, and the impunity… More
Life Prison Sentence for Turkish Cultural Rights Activist Osman Kavala is Upheld
Turkish court’s decision upholding the life sentence against Osman Kavala illustrates the totality of the government’s crackdown on free expression and the breakdown of rule of law. Life behind… More
PEN America Speaks: How We Defended and Celebrated Free Expression The Week of September 25
PEN America works tirelessly to defend free expression, support persecuted writers, and promote literary culture. Here are some of the latest ways PEN America is speaking out. More
PEN America Celebrates Translators for Bridging Divisions Through Words
Translators are indispensable allies in our quest to cultivate communication among diverse peoples and culture. The help us develop a collective vision of a world anchored in human rights.… More