PEN America Condemns “Grotesque” Sentencing of Saudi Student to 34 Years in Prison for Her Tweets
PEN America condemns the imprisonment of Salma Al-Shehab, who was sentenced to 34 years in prison for her Twitter activity. More
PEN America, with 102 International Writers and Artists, Calls for India to Uphold the Freedom to Write Ahead of 75th Independence Day Celebration
Over 100 writers and artists joined PEN America and PEN International in urging Indian President Droupadi Murmu to defend free expression in India. More
Two Years After the Rigged Belarus Election, the United States Can Do More to Call Out Aleksandr Lukashenka’s Abuses
By Polina Sadovskaya The fraudulent election of Aleksandr Lukashenka as president of Belarus on August 9, 2020 surprised no one. Everyone expected him to ‘win,’ but very few wanted him… More
PEN America Condemns Sentencing of Belarusian Journalists
“The ongoing targeting of journalists, including, prolonging sentences, and the general atmosphere of repression in Belarus are an urgent cause for international concern,” said Polina Sadovskaya, director of Eurasia… More
PEN America Denounces Propaganda Against and Russian Imprisonment of Ukrainian Activist
“The sudden onslaught of propaganda against Butkevych is full of lies, and his service in the field of human rights is not a ‘cover’ for anything. ” said Polina… More
PEN America Condemns Arrests of Iranian Filmmakers as a “Brazen Violation” of Human Rights
“The Iranian government’s decision to detain Mohammad Rasoulof, Mostafa Aleahmad, and Jafar Panahi marks a brazen violation of their human right to free expression and speech,” said Julie Trébault,… More
Geraldine Baum, Communications Strategist and Veteran Journalist, Joins PEN America as Chief Communications Officer
PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel said: “We are fortunate to have Geraldine take charge of our communications efforts at a time of mounting threats to open discourse in the… More
PRESS BRIEFING: Mon., 7/11 in DC: Middle East Dissidents and Human Rights Defenders Speak Out Ahead of President Biden’s Trip
MEDIA ADVISORY for Monday, July 11 at 2:30 PM ET (WASHINGTON)--On Monday, July 11 at 2:30 PM ET, dissidents and human rights defenders from the Middle East and Members… More
In Letter to President Biden, 44 Noted Writers Urge Him to Raise Human Rights Abuses Directly with the Crown Prince As He Travels to Saudi Arabia
44 writers and journalists joined PEN America in urging President Biden to raise his Administration’s concerns about the human rights situation in Saudi Arabia during his conversations with Crown… More
Detailing Severe Human Rights Abuses in Belarus, Leaders Call on the UN Human Rights Council to Extend the Mandate of the Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Belarus
In Taped Reading, Author Margaret Atwood Reads Letter from her Belarusian Translator About the Arrests and Jailing of Writers, Journalists and Publishers By Suzanne Trimel (NEW YORK)-- The severe deterioration of… More