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
Mahmoud Abou Zeid (Shawkan) | Status: On Trial | 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
Galal El-Behairy | Status: On Trial | 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: 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
Egypt’s Grim Blow to Freedom of Expression and Human Rights: The Tortured Poet Galal El-Behairy Must be Freed
The Egyptian poet Galal El-Behairy is currently detained and faces charges in the Military Court related to his latest book of poetry, The Finest Women on Earth. More
Egyptian Prosecutors’ Decision to Seek Death Penalty for Photojournalist Shawkan Political Theater at the Expense of Human Rights
"This show trial is in keeping with the Egyptian regime's complete and consistent disregard for even the most basic norms of justice and human rights. As a dedicated photojournalist,… More
Half-Free: How “Conditional Release” Continues to Limit Free Expression for Writers at Risk
The goals of incarceration and limited release are one in the same: to suppress free expression and to enforce silence. More
Egypt’s Harassment of writers chills freedom of speech and movement
NEW YORK—Simultaneous developments in the cases of writers Ahmed Naji and Alaa Aswany this weekend are indicative of Egypt's ongoing assault on human rights and free expression, PEN America… More
Egypt: blogger faces new prison sentence for ‘insulting the judiciary’
PEN is deeply concerned that blogger and activist Alaa Abd El Fattah could be subjected to a new prison sentence at his next hearing on December 30, 2017 under… More
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