Writers at Risk
The Issue
Writers around the world face grave risks for speaking out, telling truths, and pushing back against the powerful. For that, they are often detained, arbitrarily arrested, attacked, tortured, and sometimes executed. Along with our partners around the world, PEN America and its Members advocate on behalf of writers at risk globally, rallying to their defense and promoting the freedom to write.
PEN America examines threats to free expression in our annual Freedom to Write Index, a year-end count of imprisoned writers worldwide. Explore our Writers at Risk Database for updated tracking of cases of writers, journalists, artists, academics, and public intellectuals around the world facing myriad threats for their writing and expression.
Latest News
Iranian Dissident Rapper Toomaj Salehi Sentenced to Death
April 26, 2024PEN America urges extension of Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Iran
March 18, 2024PEN America Condemns Unjust Jailing of Memorial Co-Chair for Article Criticizing Russia’s Military
February 28, 2024PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award: Our annual award for a courageous writer currently imprisoned
The PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award, a powerful tool in PEN America’s year-round efforts to end the persecution of writers and defend free expression, is designated to honor a writer imprisoned for their work. Of the 53 jailed writers who have received the Award since 1987, 46 have been released — due in part to the global attention and pressure it generates.
The 2023 Pen/Barbey Freedom to Write Award honored Iranian activist and writer Narges Mohammadi, re-imprisoned in November 2021, who is currently serving multiple sentences totaling more than 10 years. Despite her incarceration, she continues to fearlessly write, document, and advocate from behind the walls and bars of Evin prison.
PEN America Writers Emergency Fund
The PEN America Writers Emergency Fund supports writers in dire need in the U.S. and worldwide. The U.S. Writers Aid Initiative provides direct financial support to writers facing economic hardships in the U.S.; and the Writers at Risk Program shines a spotlight on the plight of writers globally, providing behind-the-scenes assistance and advocacy support for writers facing persecution.
Individual Cases
China: Ilham Tohti
Iran: Nasrin Sotoudeh
Russia: Yury Dmitriev
Egypt: Galal El-Behairy
Send a Letter of Support to Nobel Peace Prize Winner Narges Mohammadi
Narges Mohammadi, the 2023 PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write honoree and Nobel Peace Prize winner, has shown singular courage in standing against government repression of women, writers, activists, intellectuals, and cultural figures who face unspeakable consequences for daring to speak out or write. Mohammadi’s case is among dozens of cases of writers and activists who have faced political repression in Iran in the last year alone. The PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write award kicks off a campaign of advocacy for the awardee’s freedom. PEN America gathers letters of solidarity to deliver to the winner.