On World Poetry Day Take Action for Dissident Poets
World Poetry Day, marked each year on March 21, is an opportunity to celebrate poetry, the power and creativity of language and to speak out for those poets persecuted… More
World Poetry Day 2016: Take Action for Ashraf Fayadh
On this World Poetry Day, take action for Saudi Arabian-born Palestinian poet, artist, curator, Ashraf Fayadh, originally sentenced to death, and now serving an eight-year prison term. More
Joint Statement on the Release of 15 Azeri Political Prisoners & those that Remain in Jail
Sport for Rights coalition's joint statement on the release of 15 Azerbaijani political prisoners and those, like 2015 PEN/Barbara Goldsmith Freedom to Write winner Khadija Ismayilova, that remain in… More
Joint Letter to Rouhani: Secure Release of Iranian Cartoonist Atena Farghadani
PEN American is among 40 rights groups who have signed a letter to President Hassan Rouhani below, asking him to work with Iran’s judiciary to release cartoonist Atena Farghadani. More
Atena Farghadani | Status: Detained | Iran
Atena Farghadani is an Iranian artist and political activist. On June 7, 2023, she was summoned to the Evin prosecutor’s office and arrested after posting a political cartoon on… More
Ashraf Fayadh | Status: Imprisoned | Saudi Arabia
Ashraf Fayadh is a Palestinian poet, artist, and curator living in Saudi Arabia, who was sentenced to eight years in prison and 800 lashes on charges of apostasy on… More
February Featured Cases: Egyptians Determined In Spite of Immense Oppression
PEN America highlights three Egyptian writers who represent the fight for freedom of expression, even in the face of immense oppression. More
Fatima Naoot | Status: Convicted | Egypt
An Egyptian poet, Fatima Naoot has published 19 books to date, including seven poetry collections, nine translated anthologies from English into Arabic, and three books in literature criticism. In… More
PEN Submits Third Party Intervention to European Court of Human Rights Khadija Ismayilova’s Case
PEN International with other freedom of expression organizations submitted a third party intervention to the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Azerbaijani journalist Khadija Ismayilova… More
Release of Washington Post Reporter Won’t Close the Book on Free Expression in Iran
As we celebrate Jason’s homecoming, we need to redouble pressure on Tehran to uphold the rights of Iranians who suffer for expressing their opinions. More
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