Indictment of Iranian Rap Artist Toomaj Salehi for Music Supporting Protests is “Obscene and Horrifying,” Says PEN America
(NEW YORK)— PEN America today condemned the indictment in Iran of rap artist Toomaj Salehi, who could face the death penalty for songs he wrote in support of ongoing mass… More
Proposed Texas Law Would Force Publishers to Create ‘Age Appropriate’ Ratings for School Library Books
“This is a dangerous escalation in the movement to censor public education. In a very short time, those who advocate for school censorship have gone from trying to control… More
PEN America and Amani: Africa Creative Defense Network Condemn “Unjust Sentences” and Flogging of Nigerian TikTok Comedians Over Satirical Video Skits
These comedians have the right to express themselves and their views freely and without fear of harm, and satire is not and should never be treated as a crime,”… More
Infrigement on Academic Freedom, as Dean Threatens to Punish Professor in Georgia Over Parent’s Complaint About Biology Lecture
Jeremy C. Young, senior manager of free expression and education at PEN America, said in a statement:“Dean Cornely’s response to this controversy is outrageous. Jones is clearly acting within… More
Iran Steps Up Repression of Rights, with Harsh Prison Sentences for Writers and Artists and Reported Torture and Abuse in Custody
“The Iranian government is putting writers’ lives at severe risk through its brazen violation of basic human rights that include systematic abuse and torture in custody, coupled with fast-tracked… More
Universities Must Prioritize Both Campus Safety and Free Speech as Complementary, Not Competing Imperatives
During the past month, two public universities dealt with campus confrontations involving controversial speakers, student protesters, and apparent members of the Proud Boys, an organization heavily implicated in the… More
PEN America Rejects Calls to Cancel New Book by Justice Amy Coney Barrett
"It is the role of major publishers to make available a wide array of ideas and perspectives. In so doing, they afford readers, critics, historians, and journalists insight that… More
PEN America Welcomes U.S. Government Sanctions on Iranian Group that Placed Bounty on Salman Rushdie’s Life
Nadine Farid Johnson, managing director of PEN America Washington and Free Expression Programs, said: “PEN America applauds the Treasury Department’s decision, which sends a powerful message to the Iranian… More
PEN America CEO: All Eyes on Elon Musk to Back Open and Civic Discourse on Twitter
PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel has made the following comment today in response to the announcement that Elon Musk has completed a $44 billion deal to takeover Twitter: “All eyes… More
Blanket Ban on Indoor Protest at U of Florida Amounts to “Prior Restraint on Dissent”
"Of course, we hope that protesters will not shut down, shout down, or obstruct speech, but argument and protest have their place on campuses, even when they grow heated.… More