Mahmoud Abou Zeid (Shawkan) | Status: Conditional Release | Egypt
Shawkan is a journalist and photographer who often depicts daily cultural life and produces street portraits. He is a contributor to publications such as Time Magazine, Die Zeit, BILD,… More
Release of Imprisoned Egyptian Photojournalist Shawkan is a Long Overdue First Step towards Justice
“Nevertheless, even as we celebrate this very welcome news, we continue to stress that he should not have served even one day behind bars for doing his job as… More
Ahmed Gamal Ziada’s Continued Detention Part of Concerted Effort to Erode Press Freedom in Egypt
"Even when, as in this case, Mr. Ziada is seeking simply going about the normal activities of a working journalist in Egypt, he is being detained on spurious charges… More
Galal El-Behairy | Status: In Prison | Egypt
Galal El-Behairy is an Egyptian poet, lyricist, and activist who has been in detention in Tora Prison in Cairo since March 2018. More
Egypt: Health condition of detained writer Ibrahim al-Husseini deteriorating
PEN is deeply concerned about the health condition of Ibrahim al-Husseini, an Egyptian writer who has been detained since his arrest on December 9, 2018. More
Detention of Writer Ibrahim al-Husseini a Grievous Attack on Free Expression in Egypt
“While attacks on individual free expression in today's Egypt are nothing new, the detention and ill treatment of an elderly writer for his online comments is a disgrace,” said Karin Deutsch Karlekar, Director… More
Conviction of Photojournalist Shawkan is an Absurd Injustice
The conviction - for murder and membership in a terrorist organization - handed down to photojournalist Mahmoud Abou Zeid, known as Shawkan, is an absurd injustice. More
Three-Year Prison Sentence for Poet Galal El-Behairy is Another Blow for Freedom of Expression in Egypt
“To criminalize poetry and songs is to denigrate the most universal forms of human expression,” said Julie Trébault, PEN America’s Artists at Risk Connection (ARC) Director. More
Ahmed Naji | Status: Released | Egypt
Ahmed Naji was temporarily released from prison in Egypt on December 22, 2016, after his two-year prison sentence for “violating public modesty” was suspended by an appeals court on… More
Egypt: prominent writer and blogger under arrest and investigation
PEN is deeply concerned about the detention of Wael Abbas, a prominent Egyptian blogger and political activist. He has been arbitrarily detained since his arrest on May 24, 2018, when… More
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A Vietnamese activist was sentenced to two years in prison for a series of Facebook posts protesting a controversial cybersecurity law. https://t.co/XclpwbuRC9