Six PEN Members Decline Gala After Award for Charlie Hebdo
The decision by PEN American Center to give its Freedom of Expression Courage award to the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo has prompted six writers to withdraw as literary… More
Rejecting the Assassin’s Veto
None of us must endorse the contents of Charlie Hebdo's cartoons in order to affirm the principle of free expression for which they stand. More
A Letter from an Azerbaijani Prison
“If we can continue to reject the thinking that is imposed on us and believe that human dignity is not for sale, then we are the winners, and they,… More
2015 PEN/Barbara Goldsmith Freedom to Write Award
Khadija Ismayilova “If we can continue to reject the thinking that is imposed on us and believe that human dignity is not for sale, then we are the winners, and… More
Azerbaijan: Baku’s Deep Pockets for Art Abroad Contrasts with Restrictions at Home
"Drawing on its abundant profits from energy exports, Aliyev’s administration seems determined to gain international attention for something other than imprisoned bloggers and protest crackdowns, and the arts—both performing… More
Azerbaijani President’s Family Benefits From Eurovision Hall Construction
An investigation by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) and RFE/RL has discovered that the first family is personally profiting from the massive construction project through its… More
If I Get Arrested
"When my case is concerned, if you can, please support by standing for freedom of speech and freedom of privacy in this country as loudly as possible. Otherwise, I… More
2015 PEN Literary Gala & Free Expression Awards
Read full transcripts of the gala remarks here. Khadija Ismayilova 2015 PEN/Barbara Goldsmith Freedom to Write Award Khadija Ismayilova is an Azerbaijani journalist knownfor her hard-hitting investigative reporting on official corruption. After… More
2015 PEN/Toni and James C. Goodale Freedom of Expression Courage Award
Charlie Hebdo"Being shocked is a part of democratic debate. Being shot is not." -Gerárd Biard, Editor-in-Chief of Charlie Hebdo (Read the full remarks from the 2015 PEN Gala award presentation here.)At… More
2015 PEN/Allen Foundation Literary Service Award
Tom Stoppard "The idea of society is not intelligible to me without the idea of the artist, the poet—there were no… More