Writers at Risk Database

San San Nwe

San San Nwe, a Burmese novelist, journalist, and activist, was sentenced in 1994 to ten years imprisonment in relation to her activism and support for then-imprisoned politician Aung San… More

Writers at Risk Database

Htin Lin Oo

Htin Lin Oo, a former political prisoner, was detained in the first hours of the military coup in February 2021. On February 22, 2022, he was sentenced to three… More

Writers at Risk Database

Maina wa Kinyatti

A Marxist historian, Kinyatti served six years in prison from 1982-1988 for his criticism of authoritarian president Daniel arap Moi. During his time in prison, he was severely mistreated… More

Maryam Lee

Lee, who has argued that Malay women should have the right to choose to wear a headscarf, was summoned for questioning by the State of Selangor’s religious authority on… More

Writers at Risk Database

Javier Valdez Cárdenas

In May 2017, Valdez Cárdenas was shot dead by unknown assailants in Culiacán, Sinaloa State. The authorities arrested two men suspected of being accomplices in the murder. In January… More

Writers at Risk Database

Lydia Cacho

Cacho faces harassment and attacks for her investigative journalism. In July 2019, two individuals broke into her home, stole equipment and research materials, and killed her dogs. Despite IACHR… More

Héctor de Mauleón

Héctor de Mauleón

Journalist and writer de Mauleón has received constant threats for his investigations of government corruption and criminal groups. In July 2019, he received threats via email, and in January… More

María Guadalupe Lizarraga Hernández

In February 2019, unknown individuals raided journalist and author Lizarraga Hernández’s home, stealing a voice recorder with journalistic information. In April 2019, she was a victim of doxxing on… More

Writers at Risk Database

Siamak Pourzand

Pourzand, former manager of a cultural center and frequent cultural commentator, passed away after falling from his apartment balcony; though it is unclear whether he jumped or was pushed.… More

Writers at Risk Database

Nasser Zarafshan

Distinguished lawyer and writer Zarafshan was arrested in 2000 after giving a speech alleging that the intelligence services had murdered five intellectuals in 1998. Though a civilian, he was… More