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The Silent Strength of Liu Xia
In March 2010, months after Liu Xiaobo was tried and sentenced to 11 years in prison, PEN’s Director of Freedom to Write and International Programs, Larry Siems, came back… More
PEN America 15: Maps
In the latest issue of PEN America, we wanted to explore how writers encounter and examine the fictional topographies of their lives. More
Streets of Pittsburgh
When I was twenty-two, a small design firm in Pittsburgh hired me to make maps. That I had landed such excellent employment despite being a college dropout with no… More
The U.S. Torture Program in Drama and Dialogue
What is the connection between theater, democracy, and human rights? I’m a playwright who has struggled with these issues for 30 years... I came to feel I had to… More
Translator Arrested
Literary translator Mohammad Soleimani Nia has been held without charge since January 10, 2012. The reason for his detention is not known. More
President Obama Presents National Humanities Medal to PEN President Anthony Appiah
President Barack Obama presented the 2011 National Humanities Medal to PEN President Kwame Anthony Appiah today. Established in 1997, the National Humanities Medal honors individuals or groups whose work… More
PEN Appeal: Enoh Meyomesse
February 10, 2012 President Paul Biya Fax: +237 22 22 08 70 Hon. Minister of Justice Amadou Ali Ministry of Justice Yaoundé Cameroon Fax: +237 22 23 00 05 Prime Minister Mr. Philemon Yang Fax: +237 22 23… More
Coup Charges Against Writer Dropped; Still Faces Military Tribunal
The coup charges against writer and political activist Enoh Meyomesse have been dropped, but there remains deep concern that he still faces trial before a military tribunal on charges… More
Fears for Writer Hamza Kashgari After Extradition
Writer Hamza Kashgari, who has been extradited to Saudi Arabia to face blasphemy charges, fled to Malaysia on February 7, 2012, after he received death threats following statements he… More
Majestic Interlude
The rainy season is a league away traveling / at the speed of an era. The cloud formation / does not dissolve as I remove my eyes / from… More