ICPC Member Li Jianhong Conditionally Released from Detention
UPDATE: Writer Li Jianhong, a member of the Independent Chinese PEN Center (ICPC) who served as its Writers in Prison Committee Coordinator until the end of 2013, was conditionally… More
Publisher Yao Wentian Detained Amidst Renewed Crackdown on Dissent
PEN is seriously concerned about the ongoing detention of Hong Kong-based publisher Yao Wentian, who has been held in Shenzhen since October 27, 2013. More
PEN Award Winner Ayşe Berktay Released from Prison in Turkey
PEN American Center is thrilled by the news that Turkish translator, writer, and peaceful activist Ayşe Berktay has been released from prison pending trial today, but remains deeply troubled… More
PEN American Center Emphasizes Human Rights in Surveillance Reform
Within an hour of the publication of the President’s Review Panel report and recommendations on NSA surveillance, the UN General Assembly passed by consensus a new resolution on the… More
PEN American Center Welcomes Impending Release of Pussy Riot
The Russian government's decision to finally allow the remaining jailed members of Pussy Riot to walk free is overdue, but welcome nonetheless. More
Liu Xia: To Feel a Life in This Prison
PEN is increasingly concerned about the health and well-being of Liu Xia, who has been held under extralegal house arrest for more than three years. Read new translations of… More
Qatar Authorities Thwart PEN Prison Visit with al-Ajami
PEN representatives were denied access to jailed poet Mohammed al-Ajami this week after Qatar’s highest court upheld the poet’s 15-year sentence on Monday. Al-Ajami remains in solitary confinement two… More
PEN Protests Exclusion of Bulgarian-German Writer from U.S.
PEN said the exclusion of German PEN Member Ilija Trojanov calls to mind our country’s checkered history of barring writers whose political views it disfavors, at a time when… More
Editor Raif Badawi Sentenced to Long Prison Term
PEN International is calling for the immediate and unconditional release of editor Raef Badawi, who was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment and 600 lashes on July 29, 2013. More
PEN Protests Shocking NSA Phone Surveillance
PEN American Center President Peter Godwin called the surveillance “a shocking intrusion” that “underscores our worst fears that the U.S. government has veered off the rails in its understanding… More