Sentencing of Iranian Actresses Leila Bolukat and Afsaneh Bayegan is a “Cruel” Blow to Their Artistic Freedom, says PEN America
Julie Trebault, director, Artists at Risk Connection at PEN America, said: "The cruel sentencing and bans inflicted upon Leila Bolukat and Afsaneh Bayegan exemplify the Iranian authorities' calculated assault… More
PEN America Condemns Six-Year Prison Sentence for Iranian Rapper Toomaj Salehi and Calls on Iran to Release Him Immediately
Julie Trebault, director of PEN America’s Artists at Risk Connection, said: “The severe sentence imposed on Salehi is a stark example of the Iranian authorities' brutal actions. Persecuting musicians… More
PEN America’s Literary Gala May 18 to Honor Iranian Writer and Human Rights Defender Narges Mohammadi with PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award
PEN America Chief Executive Officer Suzanne Nossel said: “Narges Mohammadi inspires awe across the world for her unflinching courage and resistance to the Iranian government’s determined campaign to silence… More
As Press Leaks Confirm Iran’s Systematic Targeting and Persecution of Artists, PEN America Calls on UN Fact-Finding Mission to Investigate
“The leaked documents prove the deliberate and systematic nature of the Iranian regime’s attacks on freedom of expression, amounting to major human rights violations under international law. The Minister… More
New PEN America Report: Crackdown on Anti-Government Protests in Iran Swells the Number of Jailed Writers
“Iran’s creative community—long at the forefront of fighting for free expression and human rights—was singled out as part of a broader crackdown on dissent in 2022,” said Karin Deutsch… More
Reza Keshvari
Keshvari is a poet, artist, and online commentator. He was arrested for participating in protests in October 2022. He suffers from multiple sclerosis which he was diagnosed with in… More
Dariush Memar Darush
A well-known poet and literary critic, Memar is facing charges of "propaganda against the regime" for his critical writing against the regime. He currently lives in exile in Germany… More
Daniel Ghezeljai
An Iranian Turkman law student and poet, Ghezeljai was arrested for posting a poem in solidarity with Iranian women on November 16, 2022. He was facing charges of "belligerance,"… More
Farshid Ghorbanpour
A columnist, literary writer, and online commentator, Ghorbanpour was arrested at his home on September 25, 2022. Security forces pepper sprayed him and beaten him before taking him into… More
Fazel Torkaman
Torkaman is an author and poet of 10 published works including "The Girl Who Wiped My Tears." He was summoned to court and then arrested before being immediately released… More
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