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
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
Egypt: Ongoing arbitrary detention and serious health concerns of prominent writer
PEN is deeply concerned about the well-being of Hesham Gaafar, a prominent Egyptian writer and the head of Mada Foundation for Media Development (MADA). Gaafar has been arbitrary detained since October 21,… More
Arrest of Concertgoers an Unjustifiable Attack on Free Expression in Egypt
Egypt’s arrest of seven concertgoers for “promoting sexual deviancy”—for acts such as waving rainbow flags—is an unjustifiable attack on free expression. More
A New Ordeal for Egyptian Writer Ahmed Naji
This travel ban, which apparently remains in place despite Naji's conviction having been overturned, adds insult to injury. More