Jailing of Spanish Rapper Demonstrates Need for Reform of Country’s Gag Law
PEN America today condemned the arrest of Spanish rapper Pablo Hasél, detained under a draconian gag law for his lyrics and social media posts. More
Draft Russian Bill Would Threaten Artistic Freedom, Cultural Exchange
A draft Russian law that would require independent cultural and educational programs to be “licensed” by the Russian government poses a dire threat to freedom of expression, cultural education,… More
PEN America Condemns Arrest of Cuban Artists, Mass Detention of Protestors
“Such alarming disregard for the fundamental rights to freedom of expression and protest sends a clear message to independent artists and thinkers on the island: speak your mind and… More
PEN America Publishes First-Ever Guide for Artists at Risk
“This year, we’ve seen an explosion of protest movements worldwide, but also the desperate attempts by governments to unjustly and at times violently muzzle artistic freedom and dissent.“ More
PEN America Condemns Siege Around Ugandan Opposition Leader’s Home
“Placing Bobi Wine under military house arrest is just the latest iteration of a protracted and concerted effort by Ugandan authorities to silence his outspoken voice that began when… More
Cuban Artist Bruguera Detained and Held Overnight
"Bruguera’s arrest is just one more iteration of the Cuban government’s efforts to exert a vice-like grip over the cultural sector." More
Brazilian Filmmaker Subjected to Wave of Harassment After Satirical Tweet
"We are saddened and disappointed to see that Cuenca has had to endure a wave of vitriolic harassment online and face legal action as a result of his satirical… More
Filmmaker, CUNY Student Detained Unjustly in Egypt
"How many more artists must face threats to their lives for merely expressing themselves?" More
PEN America Welcomes Release of Turkish Musician
"Grup Yorum has faced years of persecution at the hands of the Turkish government, which has fallaciously accused members of terrorism for merely making music and has repeatedly raided… More
PEN America Condemns Death Sentence for Nigerian Musician
"His conviction and subsequent detention are blatant and alarming violations of Sharif’s fundamental right to freedom of expression." More
Alert Us
Are you an artist at risk or know someone who is?
PEN America On 
“#Diversity is demonstrably good for business and only helps employees and teams better empathize with each other and their customers,” says @Honeyfund's @saramarg
PEN America has filed an Amicus brief in her case against Ron DeSantis' “Stop W.O.K.E.” act https://pen.org/pen-america-supports-challenge-to-desantis-stop-woke-law/
Orange County library app ban sets “worrisome precedent.”
"Amid the wave of book bans and educational censorship... there’s a misconception that #California is going to be immune to these forces. Clearly, that’s mistaken," says PEN America's Allison Lee.
https://pen.org/press-release/suspension-of-virtual-library-app-by-cas-orange-unified-school-district-is-an-overreaction-and-sets-a-worrisome-precedent/
“A Florida law signed by DeSantis… is about establishing the idea that books are inherently dangerous objects, to the degree that no student can be allowed to handle one without heavy-handed surveillance,” writes @AmandaMarcotte #FreedomToRead https://www.salon.com/2023/01/25/sorry-twitter-but-floridas-on-books-is-no-joke--ron-desantis-wants-to-keep-kids-from-reading/