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PEN America Speaks: How We Defended and Celebrated Free Expression The Week of July 17
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. Week of July… More
Additional Parents Join Lawsuit Against Book Bans in Florida’s Escambia County
"As a Black mother of two teenage girls, I know how important it is for our children to have access to books like The Freedom Writers Diary and Beloved,"… More
“Callousness” of Decision to Add Four Years to Journalist’s Imprisonment in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, Compounded by Arrest of a Second Journalist Who Criticized the Added Sentence
Justin Shilad, PEN America’s research and advocacy lead for the Middle East and North Africa said: “The fact that Sherwani was behind bars to begin with for his critical… More
No Change in Sight
"The boy stood in the door between the living and dining rooms, silently watching the old man, who was for him at nine years, harder than he thought to… More
Harold Rogers | The PEN Ten Interview
This book is concerned with what the American gaze does, and so I thought it would be interesting to put the American gaze on race in the case of… More
Civil Society Organizations Condemn Sentencing of Egyptian Academic and Researcher Patrick George Zaki
We civil society organizations condemn the three-year prison sentence handed down to human rights researcher and academic Patrick George Zaki. More
Sentencing of Iranian Actresses Leila Bolukat and Afsaneh Bayegan is a “Cruel” Blow to Their Artistic Freedom, says PEN America
Julie Trebault, director, Artists at Risk Connection at PEN America, said: "The cruel sentencing and bans inflicted upon Leila Bolukat and Afsaneh Bayegan exemplify the Iranian authorities' calculated assault… More
Arizona Legislative Probe of Free Speech on Campuses Should Avoid Partisanship, Says PEN America
Jonathan Friedman, director of Free Expression and Education at PEN America, said: “While there is nothing wrong with government officials affirming support for free speech on campus or looking… More
Relief that Egyptian Writer Patrick Zaki is Pardoned and Released from Prison After Sentencing for “Spreading False News”
Justin Shilad, research and advocacy lead for the Middle East and North Africa at PEN America, said: “The sentence against Patrick Zaki is an outrage, and indicative of the… More
PEN America: House Committee’s Decision to Disinvite Human Rights Expert from Testifying Runs Contrary to “Legitimate Interests”
Summer Lopez, chief program officer for free expression at PEN America, said: "The House Committee on Education and Workforce's decision to disinvite Sophie Richardson from testifying due to her… More