PEN America Demands Turkey Explain or Drop Charges Against Detained Musician
The arrest of Omar Souleyman may be the latest example of Turkey using charges of terrorism to silence artists. More
Reopening of Criminal Investigation Into Nobel Laureate Orhan Pamuk is Egregious Move to Silence Writers in Turkey
The reopening of a criminal investigation into Nobel Laureate Orhan Pamuk for writing in his latest novel Nights of Plague is an egregious attempt by Turkish authorities to silence… More
Turkey: Charges Against Kurdish PEN Member Must Be Dropped
PEN is deeply concerned for the well-being of Kurdish PEN member, writer and poet Meral Şimşek, who is facing up to 20 years on two separate charges. PEN believes… More
Five Years Post-Coup Attempt, Turkey’s Writers Face Ever-Deepening Crackdown on Free Expression
In the five years since a coup attempt in Turkey, the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has orchestrated a repressive, society-wide crackdown that has dramatically limited free expression… More
Aslı Erdoğan | Status: On Trial | Turkey
Aslı Erdoğan is a renowned novelist and human rights activist in Turkey who faced terrorism charges for her journalistic work. More
PEN America: China, Saudi Arabia, Turkey Remain World’s Top Jailers of Writers
In PEN America’s annual census of detained writers worldwide, The Freedom to Write Index, the literary and free expression group found that in 2020, at least 273 writers, academics,… More
PEN America Welcomes Release of Turkish Journalist Ahmet Altan
PEN America today welcomed the news that Turkish journalist Ahmet Altan has been released from prison after spending more than four years behind bars. More
Nazlı Ilıcak | Status: Released | Turkey
Nazlı Ilıcak, a 72-year-old veteran journalist, former member of parliament, and avid supporter of democracy, was arrested as part of a crackdown following an attempted coup in July 2016.… More
Turkey’s Crackdown on Press, Free Expression Mark “Grave Moment”
PEN America condemns Turkey’s latest attacks on journalists, as well as the broader crackdown on freedom of expression in the country over the past week. More
Police Violently Crack Down on Student Protesters in Turkey
“The attacks on these students’ peaceful protests are egregious and demonstrate a blatant and persistent disregard for freedom of expression by the Turkish government." More
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