PEN America Echoes Congressional Call Demanding Saudi Action on Imprisoned Women’s Rights Activists
"Ignoring multiple efforts by leading members of Congress to discuss the legal status and confinement conditions of these women is a disturbing development in Saudi Arabia’s ongoing quest to… More
Saudi Arabia: Joint Statement on the Continued Detention of Women Human Rights Defenders
We urge the Department of State to publicly condemn the continued detention of five courageous women human rights defenders in Saudi Arabia and call for their immediate release. More
Saleh Al-Shehi
In January 2018, Al-Shehi, a noted anti-corruption columnist critical of the government, was sentenced to 5 years in prison for "insulting the royal court." He was released from prison… More
Nouf Abdulaziz, Loujain Al-Hathloul, Eman Al-Nafjan | Status: Detained | Saudi Arabia
Writer-activists Nouf Abdulaziz, Loujain Al-Hathloul, and Eman Al-Nafjan were detained without charge by the Saudi government for their outspoken dissent. More
PEN America: China, Saudi Arabia, Turkey Are World’s Worst Jailers of Writers
"The Index spotlights governments’ nefarious will to suppress truth and control the public mind by silencing writers who dare challenge authority." More
PEN America Marks Two Years of Saudi Activist’s Imprisonment
"Today, on the two-year anniversary of her imprisonment, we honor Loujain Al-Hathloul’s incredible bravery." More
Loujain Al-Hathloul
Al-Hathloul, a women's rights activist, has been detained since May 2018, and has been ill-treated and tortured in prison. She is charged with campaigning for political change and insulting… More
Loujain Al-Hathloul, Detained in Saudi Arabia
Loujain Al-Hathloul is a Saudi blogger and women’s rights activist. Since May 2018, she has been detained in connection with her writing and activism. More
Moqbel Al-Saqqar
A novelist noted for his support of women's rights, Al-Saqqar was arrested in the April 2019 crackdown on writers and journalists in Saudi Arabia. He is currently being held… More
Zana Al-Shahri
Female journalist and writer Al-Shahri was detained as part of a wave of arrests by Saudi authorities in November 2019. She was released in early December. More
Alert Us
Are you an artist at risk or know someone who is?
PEN America On 
Tonight's debate is an exercise in free speech and the exchange of ideas. With a new book on those topics and as CEO of the free expression and literary org @PENamerica, I have some thoughts before tonight's #PresidentialDebate2020 THREAD 1/6
