ICPC Celebrates Tenth Anniversary in Shadow of Escalating Repression
As PEN members from around the world gather to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the founding of the Independent Chinese PEN Center (ICPC) today in Hong Kong, a number… More
Torture and Our House of Mirrors
I went to Washington last week with China on my mind, but came back preoccupied once again with torture. More
Torture and Our House of Mirrors
I went to Washington last week with China on my mind, but came back preoccupied once again with torture. [caption id="attachment_603" align="alignleft" width="269" caption="House of Mirrors"][/caption] That’s because twice in one… More
Ai Weiwei’s Release Gives Reason for Hope
[caption id="attachment_392" align="alignnone" width="392" caption="Ai Weiwei"] [/caption] We were much relieved to learn that Ai Weiwei was released this week on bail, though we know from the experiences of others in… More
Ai Weiwei Released from Detention in Beijing
PEN American Center today welcomed reports that Ai Weiwei, one of China’s most acclaimed artists and cultural figures, has been released on bail after three months in detention, calling… More
Chinese author banned from visiting Sydney
The Chinese government has cited ''security reasons'' for banning the dissident author and poet Liao Yiwu from travelling to Australia to attend the Sydney Writers' Festival next week. Liao… More
Author blocked from leaving China to attend Australian festiv
A leading Chinese dissident author whose plight was highlighted by Salman Rushdie in a recent attack on the Chinese government has been barred from traveling abroad to an international… More
Chinese Writers Discuss Democracy
Only two Chinese writers—Zha Jianying and Yan Lianke—spoke during a panel discussion on April 29 during the PEN World Voices Festival. Would-be panelist Liao Yiwu was prevented by the… More
China hits back at Salman Rushdie
China has hit back at the novelist Salman Rushdie after he argued that China had become "the world's biggest threat to freedom of speech" in an article published earlier… More
Banned Writer Liao Yiwu, Salman Rushdie Exchange Messages, Solidarity
In a remarkable exchange of letters made necessary by the Chinese government’s refusal to allow acclaimed writer Liao Yiwu to travel to New York for the PEN World Voices… More
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