Threats to Participants in Hindu Nationalism Conference Risk Silencing Academic Freedom
PEN America condemns this campaign of intimidation and retaliation against writers and public intellectuals, and supports their rights to free expression and freedom of academic thought and inquiry. More
Oregon School District Bans BLM, LGBTQ+ Symbols
(New York, NY) — After moving to ban LGBTQ+ and Black Lives Matter symbols, a school district in Oregon is now in the midst of developing a policy to… More
PEN American Condemns Guilty Verdict in Sham Trial of Belarusian Activists
A court in Belarus’ capital Minsk this week convicted two opposition activists on politically-motivated charges of conspiracy to usurp state power. More
PEN America Condemns Nicaragua’s Ongoing Press Crackdown, Political Repression
PEN America today decried the ongoing crackdown on press and political freedom in the country in advance of elections later this year. More
PEN America Decries Russia’s Expulsion of Comedian
The Russian government this week issued an order permanently expelling Idrak Mirzalizade, a Belarusian standup comedian, from Russia in retaliation for a joke he made about racial discrimination in… More
An Online SOS: How Social Media Companies Can Provide Real-Time Support for Targets of Online Abuse
To navigate these terrifying situations, users need to be able to quickly access personalized support in real time. This is where an SOS button and emergency hotline come in. More
New Cuban Cyber Security Laws Will Deepen Government Repression
A new package of cyber security laws introduced last week in Cuba threaten to further curtail online dissent and pose an ever-greater threat to free expression in a country… More
Cuban Rapper El Radikal Released on Bail
After 40 days of detention, Cuban rapper Richard Adrián Zamora Brito, known as El Radikal, was released last Friday on bail. More
Thai University Takes Action Against Student Free Speech Advocate
A prominent university in Thailand earlier this month capitulated to a pressure campaign and retaliated against a student leader and free speech advocate in a country with strict laws… More
‘It was like watching someone take their last breaths,’ says Afghan American Writer Nadia Hashimi
Afghan American author Nadia Hashimi reflects on the fall of Afghanistan, the future of women’s rights in the country, and how readers and writers can support one another. More