Joint Letter on the 1000th Day in Detention of Osman Kavala
This letter was sent to the U.S. Department of State on July 23, 2020. Dear Assistant Secretary Destro and Acting Assistant Secretary Reeker: As representatives of Amnesty International USA, Freedom House,… More
Ahmet and Mehmet Altan | Status: Released | Turkey
Ahmet and Mehmet Altan were arrested in September 2016, as part of a wave of arrests of thinkers, writers, and journalists following the 2016 failed coup. More
Necmiye Alpay | Status: Released | Turkey
Necmiye Alpay is a Turkish translator, editor, journalist and staunch defender of free expression More
Joint NGO Statement Condemns Turkey’s Decision to Continue Detention of Osman Kavala
We, the undersigned freedom of expression and media freedom organizations, strongly condemn the court’s interim decision on the Gezi Park trial to continue the detention of civil society leading… More
Gezi Park trial’s second hearing confirms lack of rule of law in Turkey
We, the undersigned human rights and freedom of expression organizations, condemn the interim judicial decision taken in the second hearing of the Gezi Park trial. The indictment accuses 16… More
PEN America Calls for Reversal of Prison Sentences Imposed on Turkish Filmmakers Ertuğrul Mavioğlu and Çayan Demirel for Documentary Bakur
“Criminalizing Ertuğrul Mavioğlu and Çayan Demirel’s work is a serious blow for artistic freedom of expression in Turkey. Artists must have the freedom to explore any subject matter, regardless… More
PEN America Calls for Acquittals Ahead of Verdict Expected in Trial of Prominent Turkish Writers. Journalists and Rights Defenders
“The trial of these prominent writers, journalists, and rights defenders, concocted on the basis of spurious and politicized charges, has been a farce from the very start, intended to stifle… More
PEN America Views New Court Ruling Overturning Prison Sentences for 3 Turkish Journalists as a “Promising” Development on Free Expression
“The convictions and life sentences handed down to all three journalists were unjust from the very start, and it is promising to see that the appeals court has overturned… More
Turkish think-tank report is dangerous escalation in harassment of journalists
A joint statement by 21 human rights and freedom of expression organizations condemns a Turkish pro-government think-tank’s report that accuses leading international media of being biased against the government… More
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PEN America On 
#BannedBooksWeek is just one week away. PEN America will host a series of free in-person and virtual events that unpack current assaults on the freedom to express, the freedom to read, and the freedom to learn. Learn more: https://bit.ly/BannedBooksWk21
Join us as we present Maggie Nelson in conversation with @cathyparkhong to discuss Nelson’s new book ON FREEDOM for the @BKBF on 9/29! https://bit.ly/3l5PYNy
Join @WorkerWriters for a free Coronavirus Haiku reading and conversation on Thursday 9/30 to hear from writers and their life as “frontline workers” during the Covid 19 crisis and their engagement with the Worker Writers School. Register here: https://bit.ly/3Cy3gZY.
