News & Analysis
The latest news and analysis from PEN America’s research and advocacy.
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Press Releases • Commentary
PEN Central Asia: Not Just A Club But a Network of Regional PEN Centers
The PEN World series showcase the important work of the more than 140 centers that form PEN International. Each PEN center sets its own priorities, but they are united… More
IRAN: Serious Concern for Health of Imprisoned Filmmaker Keywan Karimi
PEN is seriously concerned for the health of imprisoned filmmaker Keywan Karimi. The prominent Kurdish filmmaker, who has been in prison since 23 November 2016, is in need of… More
Fears for Chinese Poet Liu Xia’s Life After Troubling Phone Call to Friend
Reports that Chinese poet Liu Xia, who is spending her seventh year under house without charge, has made rare and risky contact with a fellow writer to lament her… More
TURKEY: Kurdish Iranian Writer and Friend Held On Terror Charges
PEN is concerned at the arrest and detention of Kurdish Iranian writer and journalist Sajjad Jahan Fard, and that of his friend Hassan Baladeh, who were charged on January… More
KYRGYZSTAN: Journalist’s Life Sentence Upheld On Trumped-Up Charges
PEN condemns the decision of the Chui Regional Court in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, to uphold on appeal the life sentence of journalist Azimjon Askarov on charges of complicity in murder and… More
February Featured Case: Violence and Censorship at Bangladesh Book Fair
Recent years have seen a serious decline in respect for freedom of expression and the associated rights of freedom of association, assembly, and of religion or belief in Bangladesh. Legislative… More
AZERBAIJAN: Writer Ill-Treated In Prison; Serious Health Concerns
PEN believes that the charges against Ramazanov are politically motivated and calls for his immediate and unconditional release. Ramazanov is currently serving a nine-year sentence for his anti-government writings. More
United States: Free Expression Groups Condemn Removal of Police Protest Painting from Capitol Hill
As organizations devoted to promoting the arts and freedom of expression, we condemn the recent removal of a student painting from a public passageway on Capitol Hill. The removal… More
Trump Administration Plans to Abolish National Endowments for the Arts and the Humanities Will Usher in New ‘Dark Ages’ in America
NEW YORK—In response to news this morning of Trump administration plans to eliminate the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for Humanities, PEN America Executive Director… More
Azerbaijan: Rights Groups Demand Justice for Tortured Journalist Mehman Huseynov
Joint Statement by Sport for Rights Coalition Azerbaijan: Rights Groups Demand Justice for Tortured Journalist Mehman Huseynov The undersigned organizations strongly condemn the abduction and torture of Azerbaijani journalist Mehman Huseynov and… More