Writers at Risk Database

Mohammed Benchicou

Former director of daily newspaper Le Matin, Benchicou was arrested in 2003 on pretense of a currency violation. Though released in 2006, he was forced to shutter his newspaper… More

Writers at Risk Database

Rafael Marques de Morais

Anti-corruption writer Marques has faced threats for over twenty years. Changes in Angola’s political leadership have led to more support for Marques’ writing; however, incumbent politicians continue harbor resentment… More

Writers at Risk Database

Akram Aylisli

Aylisi has been subject to a government-sanctioned public harassment campaign since the publication of his novella Stone Dreams in 2012. He is currently on trial for charges of 'hooliganism'… More

Rashad Ramazanov

Author Ramazanov has been jailed multiple times on retaliatory charges. In May 2022, he was arrested for “drug trafficking,” which he claims is in response to his Facebook posts.… More

Rafiq Taği

Rafiq Taği died in 2011 days after a stabbing attack, possibly connected to his article critical of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that was published a week prior. In 2015, the… More

Writers at Risk Database

Arif Yunus

Yunus was sentenced in 2015 on retaliatory charges of financial fraud. He was conditionally released after 4 months in prison due to health concerns, and granted the ability to… More

Writers at Risk Database

Abduljalil Al-Singace

Awarded the PEN Pinter international writer of courage prize in 2022, Al-Singace is serving a life sentence for his human rights activism. Suffering from post-polio syndrome, his health has… More

Mehedi Hassan

After writing a March 2018 blog post exposing negligence in the construction of power lines that led to a woman dying of electrocution, Hassan was the target of physical… More