PEN America Troubled by Trump’s Promise to Remain Silent on Hong Kong Protests
It is deeply troubling to hear that President Trump decided to sacrifice American leadership on human rights for the sake of a trade deal. To offer this kind of… More
PEN America Joins Call to Disband State Department Rights Commission
"All those who stand in defense of universal and equal human rights must speak out against the risks this commission poses.” More
With Russia Back in the Council of Europe, It’s Time for Some Tough Love
Can PACE actually push Russia in the right direction, now that it has "forgiven" this errant actor? Or has it lost whatever leverage it had in the process? More
PEN America is “Deeply Relieved” that Turkish Court Tossed Spurious Charges Against Journalists and Activists After Three-Year Legal Battle
“We are deeply relieved that after more than three years of absurd legal proceedings, justice has finally been served for these dedicated free expression activists, whose only crime was… 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 Criticizes “Excessive and Aggressive” Police Response to Hong Kong Protests Over Extradition Bill
We are appalled to see that Hong Kong Police have responded to these historically significant and largely peaceful protests with the widespread use of tear gas, rubber bullets, and… More
Bahrain’s Threat to Crack Down on Social Media Users Would Violate Free Expression, Says PEN America
“Punishing people for reading statements and commentary the government doesn’t like is a clear violation of fundamental freedoms of expression and an unwarranted restriction on access to information,” said… More
DARE: State Department to Launch New Human Rights Panel Stressing ‘Natural Law’
State Department will launch new panel stressing human rights "natural law," feared by some as an attempt to narrow protections for women and members of the LGBTQ community. More
DARE: 3 Saudi Women Activists Receive PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award
PEN America announces 2019 PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award honorees: Saudi Writer-Activists and Women's Rights Champions Nouf Abdulaziz, Loujain... More
Shiva Nazar Ahari | Status: Released | Iran
Shiva Nazar Ahari is an Iranian journalist, blogger, and human rights activist and former political prisoner. More
Alert Us
Are you an artist at risk or know someone who is?
PEN America On 
Comments by @KingJames on @dmorey support for #HongKongProtests reveals cluelessness on free speech and what it means to protect it. We need to better educate ourselves and our influentials, especially as this core value comes under attack https://t.co/kfnFO734CI
[email protected] and @ndennis_benn speak about how the feeling of being homesick led them to writing. #PENOutLoud