PEN America Condemns Arrest of Iranian Musician Mehdi Yarrahi and Subsequent Work Ban on ‘Cultural Activists’
PEN America condemns the arrest of Iranian musician Mehdi Yarrahi following the release of his song “Your Head Scarf” which protests the long-standing mandatory hijab rule imposed in the… More
Prison Sentence Against Iranian Filmmaker Saeed Roustayi Effort to “Asphyxiate” Vibrant Ideas and Silence Creative Voices
“The Iranian regime strategically wields the term 'propaganda' as a potent tool, skillfully harnessing it to asphyxiate the vibrant exchange of ideas within society. This calculated manipulation transforms the… More
PEN America Condemns Added One Year Prison Sentence Imposed Unjustly on Iranian Human Rights Defender Narges Mohammadi
“The new charges against Narges Mohammadi fly in the face of freedom of expression, and are a cynical tactic aimed at silencing her brave and fearless voice from speaking… More
PEN America Condemns Six-Year Prison Sentence for Iranian Rapper Toomaj Salehi and Calls on Iran to Release Him Immediately
Julie Trebault, director of PEN America’s Artists at Risk Connection, said: “The severe sentence imposed on Salehi is a stark example of the Iranian authorities' brutal actions. Persecuting musicians… More
PEN America Honors Salman Rushdie with Centenary Courage Award at Literary Gala; Author’s First Public Appearance Since Being Wounded in Knife Attack Nine Months Ago
It was an emotional return to the stage for Salman Rushdie, who for decades has been a tireless defender of persecuted writers and the freedom to write while himself… More
PEN America’s Literary Gala May 18 to Honor Iranian Writer and Human Rights Defender Narges Mohammadi with PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award
PEN America Chief Executive Officer Suzanne Nossel said: “Narges Mohammadi inspires awe across the world for her unflinching courage and resistance to the Iranian government’s determined campaign to silence… More
PEN America Demands the Immediate Release of Kurdish Rapper Saman Yasin After Request for Amnesty Was Denied
"Our hearts go out to Yasin and his family and friends, and we urge the Iranian authorities to grant him amnesty and release him from prison at once,” said… More
PEN Network Welcomes Release of Iranian Writers Arash Ganji and Reza Khandan Mahabadi, Calls for Release of Other Members of the Iranian Writers’ Association
As members of the global PEN network, we call for the Iranian authorities to cease harassing and investigating members of the IWA, to unconditionally drop all politically-motivated charges against… More
PEN America Condemns Prison Summons Issued to Reza Khandan, Husband to Prominent Iranian Human Rights Lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh
(NEW YORK)—In response to the news that Reza Khandan--the husband of prominent human rights lawyer, writer, and PEN America 2011 Freedom to Write honoree Nasrin Sotoudeh--has been summoned to prison… More
PEN America and PEN Sydney Join More than 170 Writers Calling for the Release of Iranian Poet Ali Asadollahi and Other Writers Imprisoned in Iran
“Since the outpouring of sustained nationwide protests against the government in September, Iran’s writers and broader creative community have been caught in the crosshairs, targeted by authorities with preventative… More