PEN Member Arrested for Supporting Hong Kong Protests
As pro-democracy protests enter their third week in Hong Kong, Beijing’s efforts to suppress information on and support for the occupy movement have extended to PEN’s ranks as Independent… More
Ilham Tohti Sentenced to Life in Prison
A writer, scholar, and leader in Uyghur PEN, Ilham Tohti founded Uyghur Online, a forum for dialogue between China’s Muslim Uyghur minority and majority Han populations. He was arrested… More
Arrest of Tie Liu Proves ‘Pen is Mightier Than the Sword’
The arrest and detention Sunday of Chinese writer and publisher Tie Liu is an outrageous example of Beijing’s 65-year campaign against free expression, prioritizing the image of the Party… More
This Week in Free Expression: August 15, 2014
Surveillance continues to be at the forefront of American free expression concerns in all but one place: casinos. More
Hairy Bacon and Digital Censorship in China: an Interview with Jason Q. Ng
Why is the term hairy bacon banned online in China? We spoke with the author and tech activist to learn more about microblogging, censorship, and what issues to watch… More
This Week In Free Expression
It seems no one is free from the tightening noose on free expression. This week in free expression news, the U.S. joins China, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka in threats… More
Crappy Freedom, by Murong Xuecun
You can't imagine how much wisdom and energy the Chinese people have to expend on their choice of words. The year 1989 has become "the year before 1990," June… More
China: What’s in a Law?
There seems to be a catch-all law for every form of speech the Chinese government finds disfavorable, despite the fact that China's constitution guarantees freedom of expression. More
PEN Raises the Alarm: Reports of Secret Trial and Conviction in Tohti Case
If corroborated, this action will mar an already declining human rights record in China, where free expression is ostensibly protected under Article 35 of the Chinese Constitution. More
The Transparent Chinese
Traditionally, privacy was not taken seriously in China. A traditional saying states, “nothing needs to be withheld from the people,” and that “the good will not be hidden, what… More