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
UN Ruling Demands Iran Release Persecuted Writers
“As the anniversary of Baktash Abtin’s death approaches, we are encouraged and heartened by this robust ruling,” said Karin Deutsch Karlekar, PEN America’s director of Free Expression at Risk… More
Arrest of Actress, Activist, Translator Taraneh Alidoosti is Another Blatant Effort to Suppress Human Rights in Iran
Liesl Gerntholtz, director of the PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Center, said: "Taraneh Alidoosti is a highly talented actress who has long used her celebrity status to advocate for women's equality in… More
PEN America Condemns Execution of Iranian Activist Mohsen Shekari After Conviction for Participation in Protests
“We are horrified by the shocking execution of Mohsen Shekari and the terrifying precedent this sets for artists and protestors currently held in Iranian prisons. The Iranian government clearly… More
PEN America and PEN Sydney Condemn Arrests of 3 More Iranian Writers, as Iran Continues Crackdown on Free Expression Targeting Writers and Artists
“The violent and targeted arrests of the IWA’s board members are designed to intimidate and silence one of the leading independent civil society voices inside Iran that steadfastly speaks… More
Indictment of Iranian Rap Artist Toomaj Salehi for Music Supporting Protests is “Obscene and Horrifying,” Says PEN America
(NEW YORK)— PEN America today condemned the indictment in Iran of rap artist Toomaj Salehi, who could face the death penalty for songs he wrote in support of ongoing mass… More
Iran Steps Up Repression of Rights, with Harsh Prison Sentences for Writers and Artists and Reported Torture and Abuse in Custody
“The Iranian government is putting writers’ lives at severe risk through its brazen violation of basic human rights that include systematic abuse and torture in custody, coupled with fast-tracked… More
Deep Concern Over Multiple Arrests of Writers, Artists, Musicians in Iran, Related to Repression Of Mass Protests Since September
“We are deeply concerned by the Iranian government’s forceful repression of free expression in response to this movement for democracy and human rights, and we condemn the targeted arrests… More
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PEN America On 
Educational gag orders represent a serious threat to the very academic autonomy that has allowed for so much intellectual discovery at our institutions. Read the op-ed in @Newsweek by @ACEducation's Ted Mitchell and @PENamerica's @SuzanneNossel.
http://ow.ly/igX150Nq5iX
@MarkGDuncan1 @vickijohnson Students retain their First Amendment rights in schools…. https://twitter.com/penamerica/status/1615368116359266305
“We are preparing students for life in a participatory democracy…” 📣 Please listen -> https://twitter.com/penamerica/status/1639040796522602497