Avijit Roy | Status: Murdered | Bangladesh
On February 26, 2015, Bangladeshi-American blogger Avijit Roy and his wife Rafida Ahmed Bonya were brutally attacked by assailants wielding machetes outside of the Dhaka Boi Mela book fair.… More
Open Letter to Utah’s Murray City School District Officials
We urge the Murray City School District to rescind the review and suspension of “equity book bundles,” featuring diverse authors and inclusive literature. More
Amid Protest Crackdown in India, PEN America Calls for Protection of Free Expression
As protests have rippled across India in recent months, police have become increasingly violent and the government has taken drastic steps to limit information. More
Chinese Writer and PEN America Honoree Marks One Year in Detention
On the one-year anniversary of Chinese dissident writer Xu Zhiyong's detention, PEN America reiterates its call for his immediate, unconditional release. More
Draft Russian Bill Would Threaten Artistic Freedom, Cultural Exchange
A draft Russian law that would require independent cultural and educational programs to be “licensed” by the Russian government poses a dire threat to freedom of expression, cultural education,… More
Proposed Myanmar Cybersecurity Law Obvious Attempt to Silence Speech
(New York, NY) — In response to news that the Myanmar military is planning to enact a new cybersecurity law, and based on a draft version of the law… More
Basketball Players Face One-Game Suspension for Kneeling During Anthem
PEN America said a one-game suspension for kneeling is wrongheaded response to peaceful, protected speech. More
Chinese Publisher Faces Three-Year Sentence in Unjust, Retaliatory Conviction
A Chinese publisher has been sentenced to three years following her criticism of the detention of a law professor. More
PEN America Welcomes Release of Saudi Activists, PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Awardees Loujain Al-Hathloul and Nouf Abdulaziz
“Today is a day to celebrate Nouf’s and Loujain’s release, and to honor the efforts of Loujain’s family, who have fought so tirelessly on her behalf." More
PEN America Announces 2021 Literary Awards Finalists
“From some 1,850 submitted titles, these 55 books represent the best literature published during a time when the written word is urgently needed to support collective empathy and a… More