PEN America: Book Burning at Georgia College is Disturbing
"It is deeply disturbing to see a group of students engaged in this kind of conduct,” said Jonathan Friedman, director of the campus free speech project at PEN America. … More
Joint NGO Statement Condemns Turkey’s Decision to Continue Detention of Osman Kavala
We, the undersigned freedom of expression and media freedom organizations, strongly condemn the court’s interim decision on the Gezi Park trial to continue the detention of civil society leading… More
Statement: Deep Regret Over the Choice of Peter Handke for the 2019 Nobel Prize in Literature
"We reject the decision that a writer who has persistently called into question thoroughly documented war crimes deserves to be celebrated for his 'linguistic ingenuity.' At a moment of… More
Statement: Protesters Should Have Allowed Homeland Secretary Chief to Proceed with Talk
“Protests cross the line when they constitute a ‘heckler’s veto,’ preventing someone else’s speech and curtailing the rights of those who came to listen." More
Statement: Reports the National Enquirer Is Trying to Curb Publication of Ronan Farrow Book
"Threatening a libel suit for a book that has not yet been released--and which Howard appears not to have read--is not only absurd but a reprehensible attempt at censorship. That this threat… More
Cameroonian Rapper Valsero Released After Nearly Nine Months of Detention
We are overjoyed that Valsero is finally free to reunite with his family and make music in peace. More
PEN America Troubled by Trump’s Promise to Remain Silent on Hong Kong Protests
It is deeply troubling to hear that President Trump decided to sacrifice American leadership on human rights for the sake of a trade deal. To offer this kind of… More
PEN America to Monitor Trial of Unjustly Incarcerated Cameroonian Rapper
PEN America has called his persecution an “inexcusable violation of artistic freedom of expression,” and says the charges must be dropped immediately. More
Egypt Going to Extreme Lengths to Quash Dissent, Imprisoning Writers as Part of Broader Crackdown
“The Sisi regime is engaged in a desperate but nonetheless brutal attempt to silence even the slightest expression of dissent." More
PEN America Says Arrest of Cuban Artists Part of an Ongoing Campaign of Harassment
“The arrest of Nancy Alfaya and continual harassment she and her husband Jorge Olivera Castillo have experienced are part of a deeply disturbing trend of silencing independent artists and… More