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.
Filters
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Status
ReleasedBahar Kurt
Creative artist, Singer/SongwriterTürkiyeEurope and Central AsiaBahar Kurt is a member of the band Grup Yorum, who are known for their activism and political commentary. Since the band’s inception, its critical songs have angered the government and members have faced serious threats. Kurt faced several brief arrests over the years including on August 5, 2020 and…
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ConvictedCemal Azmi Kalyoncu
Journalist, Literary writer, Online CommentatorTürkiyeEurope and Central AsiaKalyoncu was detained in the crackdown following the failed 2016 coup. His writing and tweets were used as evidence of terrorism charges against him, resulting in a six and a half year prison sentence in 2018. In June 2020, a Supreme Court overturned his conviction. He was retried and in…
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ImprisonedDauletmurat Tadzhimuratov
Journalist, Online CommentatorUzbekistanEurope and Central AsiaDauletmurat Tadzhimuratov is an attorney, activist, and former editor who belongs to the Karakalpak minority group. He was detained after he allegedly organized a rally for Karakalpak autonomy in July 2022. He spent months in detention, where he was tortured and beaten. In January 2023, he was sentenced to 16…
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ReleasedDong Rubin
Online CommentatorChinaAsia-PacificAfter posting critical comments against Chinese authorities about alleged corruption, Dong was sentenced to six and a half years in prison in July 2014. Dong had predicted his arrest, noting that strangers raided his office in August 2013. According to ICPC, Dong is reportedly released from prison after his six…
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Displaced/In ExileErk Acarer
Journalist, Literary writer, Online CommentatorTürkiyeEurope and Central AsiaAcarer is a Turkish columnist and author who has been living in exile in Berlin since 2017. On July 7, 2021, he was attacked outside of his home by assailants he suspected were associated with the ruling AKP-MHP government. A few days later, Acarer appeared on a hit list of…
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Custodial/Wrongful DeathFessehaye Yohannes
Dramatist, Journalist, Literary writerEritreaSub-Saharan AfricaCo-founder of the newspaper Setit, prominent Eritrean journalist, poet, and playwright, Yohannes was arrested in a sweeping crackdown on print media following the September 11 attacks. He has been detained incommunicado since, drawing grave concern over his health. While some reports suggest he died in detention in 2002, others indicate…
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Recorded ThreatGuillermo Sheridan
Journalist, Literary writer, ScholarMexicoAmericasIn July 2019, Sheridan, a scholar, columnist for El Universal, public commentator, and literary critic, received a death threat in a letter delivered to his home. In January 2023, Sheridan was granted federal protection due to repeated violent threats due to an article he wrote accusing Mexican Supreme Court Justice…
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ConvictedHossein Ronaghi Maleki
Journalist, Online CommentatorIranMiddle East and North AfricaRonaghi, a blogger, was disappeared in February 2022 and charged with national security and propaganda offenses. He was released from Evin prison in March but rearrested after a TV interview in September. Subjected to severe abuse in detention, he was released on bail in November and hospitalized. Since then, he…
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Deceasedİbrahim Gökçek
Creative artist, Singer/SongwriterTürkiyeEurope and Central AsiaGökçek was a member of activist folk band Grup Yorum. From the band’s inception, its critical songs have angered the Turkish state, and members have faced severe threats. Released from prison in early 2020, Gökçek died on May 7, 2 days after ending his 323-day hunger strike. His funeral in…
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.