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Writers at Risk Database

PEN America champions the freedom to write, recognizing the power of the word to transform the world. The bedrock work of the global PEN network is advocacy and assistance on behalf of individuals persecuted for their use of the written word or other forms of expression. PEN America’s Writers at Risk Database is a searchable catalog of the writers, journalists, academics, public intellectuals and others under threat around the world. The database includes historical cases PEN America has worked on from 1987 onwards; non-active cases are color-coded black. PEN America is grateful to the John Templeton Foundation for support that enabled the establishment of the Writers at Risk Database and to PEN International for their collaboration in assembling this database.

A woman with long hair, seen from behind, raises her hand in a victory sign in front of a burning barrel on a street. Cars are parked nearby. A close-up of a pen writing text overlays part of the scene. Red and black colors dominate the composition.

Filters

  • Status

    Conditional Release

    Nasrin Sotoudeh

    Activist, Literary writer, Online Commentator
    Iran
    Middle East and North Africa

    A human rights lawyer and prominent voice of conscience, Sotoudeh had been previously released from prison in 2021 on a medical furlough from serving a combined 38-year sentence handed down in 2019. In October 2023, she was beaten and temporarily rearrested while attending a funeral of a slain teenage girl.…

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    A person with short dark hair and a neutral expression is wearing a black jacket and looking slightly past the camera against a plain light background.

  • Status

    Imprisoned

    Mehmet Osman Kavala

    Activist, Publisher
    Türkiye
    Europe and Central Asia

    A noted philanthropist and publisher focusing on promoting intercultural understanding, Kavala was setting up a cultural center for Syrian refugees when he was detained on terrorism charges in late 2017. He was sentenced to life in prison on April 25, 2022 for “attempting to overthrow the government.” His life sentence…

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    A man with short curly hair and a beard, wearing a light-colored shirt, smiles and gestures with his hands indoors near a staircase with rope railing.

  • Status

    Imprisoned

    Ilham Tohti

    Online Commentator, Scholar
    China
    Asia-Pacific

    Tohti, an influential Uyghur writer and economist, co-founded the website Uyghurbiz. He was arrested at Beijing airport in January 2014, and found guilty of separatism and sentenced to life imprisonment in September 2014. Tohti had endured years of repeated instances of harassment and detentions for his peaceful advocacy for the…

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    A man sits at a table in a room with light-colored walls, looking toward the camera. A framed picture of a woman with a musical instrument hangs on the wall behind him. The image is in black and white.

  • Status

    Conditional Release

    Loujain Al-Hathloul

    Activist, Online Commentator
    Saudi Arabia
    Middle East and North Africa

    Al-Hathloul, a women’s rights advocate, was detained in a sweep of arrests in May 2018 and held for 1,000 days in prison, during which time she was reportedly tortured and assaulted. In December 2020, she was found “guilty” of broad terrorism charges and sentenced to nearly six years in prison.…

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    Black and white portrait of a woman with short dark hair, wide eyes, and a slight smile. She is wearing a patterned statement necklace and a light-colored top, with a plain background behind her.

  • Status

    Imprisoned

    Wai Moe Naing

    Activist, Journalist, Literary writer
    Myanmar
    Asia-Pacific

    A writer and member of PEN Myanmar, Wai Moe Naing rose to prominence as an anti-coup protest leader in Monywa for his role in organizing daily demonstrations. On April 15, 2021, he was beaten, arrested, and detained, and was handed down sentences in both August and October 2022. On April…

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  • Status

    Released

    Vladyslav Yesypenko

    Journalist
    Ukraine
    Europe and Central Asia

    Vladyslav Yesypenko, a freelance journalist for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, was detained in March 2021 by the Russian Federal Security Services (FSB) while reporting in Crimea. FSB agents reportedly tortured him and forced him to confess; and in February 2022, he was sentenced to six years in prison and a…

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    A man in a suit and tie looks at the camera with a neutral expression. The image is black and white and closely cropped to show his face and upper shoulders.

  • Status

    Released

    Ales Bialacki

    Activist, Literary writer, Scholar
    Belarus
    Europe and Central Asia

    Bialacki is a writer, literary critic, and head of human rights group Viasna. In July 2021, he was arrested on feigned tax evasion charges targeting his work to monitor human rights violations. He was detained on charges of “smuggling” and “ violating public order” by “financing group activities.” He was…

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    A man with short white hair and a beard speaks into a microphone. He is wearing a dark blazer over a striped shirt, standing in front of an abstract black and white artwork featuring faces and hearts.

  • Status

    Imprisoned

    Mahvash Sabet

    Literary writer, Poet
    Iran
    Middle East and North Africa

    A literary writer, poet, and member of the Baha’i community, Mahvash Sabet was arrested in July 2022. In November, she was sentenced to 10 years in prison on national security charges in a speedy trial. According to fellow prisoner Narges Mohammadi, Sabet has suffered torture and ill treatment in custody,…

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  • Status

    Imprisoned

    Pham Doan Trang

    Activist, Journalist, Literary writer, Online Commentator
    Vietnam
    Asia-Pacific

    A blogger, democracy activist, and non-fiction author, Trang resigned from the Liberal Publishing House in July 2020, citing security threats. In October 2020, she was detained on charges of making anti-state propaganda under Article 117. In December 2021, she was sentenced to 9 years in prison following over a year…

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    A woman with shoulder-length dark hair, wearing a striped jacket over a floral top, sits indoors and smiles at the camera with her hand resting on a wooden surface. Photo credit: Thinh Nguyen. The scene captures Pham Doan Trang in a moment of warmth and ease.

Writers at Risk Database Key:
STATUS box that is red: Active case
STATUS box that is black: Inactive case

Funder

PEN America is deeply grateful to the John Templeton Foundation for its generous support of the Freedom to Write Index and Writers at Risk Database.

Partner

PEN America thanks the PEN International Secretariat and the Writers in Prison Committee for their extensive contributions to and collaboration on compiling the cases included in this database.