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.
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ImprisonedYury Alexeyevich Dmitriev
Activist, ScholarRussiaEurope and Central AsiaA historian who researched Stalinist atrocities and head of the Karelia branch of the human rights organization Memorial, Dmitriev was imprisoned on baseless charges of sexual assault. On September 29, 2020, prosecutors appealed his prior acquittals in a backdoor trial, resulting in a 13 year sentence. In December 2021, this…
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DetainedGalal El-Behairy
Poet, Singer/SongwriterEgyptMiddle East and North AfricaGalal El-Behairy is an Egyptian poet, lyricist, and activist who has been imprisoned since his arrest at Cairo International Airport in March 2018 while attempting to travel abroad. Before his arrest, El-Behairy had collaborated with musician Ramy Essam on the protest song “Balaha,” for which he wrote the lyrics. Just…
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ImprisonedMehmet Osman Kavala
Activist, PublisherTürkiyeEurope and Central AsiaA 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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ImprisonedPham Doan Trang
Activist, Journalist, Literary writer, Online CommentatorVietnamAsia-PacificA 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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ImprisonedAleh Chamienka
Scholar, Singer/SongwriterBelarusEurope and Central AsiaAleh Chamienka is a musician and scholar. He is the frontman of Palac, a popular folk band. He is additionally a researcher specializing in folklore and semantics. Chamienka was arrested by Belarusian authorities in June 2025 for “collaborating with foreign media.” His trial began in February 2026. In March 2026,…
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ImprisonedNarges Mohammadi
Activist, Journalist, Literary writer, Online CommentatorIranMiddle East and North AfricaNarges Mohammadi, a human rights activist, author, journalist, and deputy director and spokesperson of the Defenders of Human Rights Centre (DHRC) in Iran, has been repeatedly targeted and arrested since 2009 by the Iranian authorities. She has spent more than 10 years of her life in prison. She was jailed…
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DetainedDawit Isaak
Dramatist, Journalist, Literary writerEritreaSub-Saharan AfricaCo-owner of the newspaper Setit, Swedish-Eritrean journalist and playwright Isaak has been detained incommunicado since 2001 as part of the government’s sweeping crackdown on print media following the September 11 attacks. Isaak has been reportedly tortured and held in solitary confinement, drawing grave concern for his health. Despite his dual…
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ImprisonedWai Moe Naing
Activist, Journalist, Literary writerMyanmarAsia-PacificA 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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Displaced/In ExileAles Bialacki
Activist, Literary writer, ScholarBelarusEurope and Central AsiaBialacki, a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, 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…
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.