Marjane Satrapi: Persepolis and Chicken with Plums
Using animation, film, and the graphic novel, the peerless Marjane Satrapi combines political history and memoir to depict a country’s upheaval through the story of one family. More
2014 World Cup Beyond the Headlines
Beyond the headlines, there are stories on free expression and human rights at the Cup and in its contending teams' home nations: arrests in Iran, U.S. Supreme Court a… More
Celebrating Sanctuary: Exiled Voices Speak Out on World Refugee Day
On World Refugee Day (June 20), PEN International is highlighting its work to protect writers at risk. More
Excerpt from “Travels With Ramazan”
From outside my guide Amir and I could hear the tock of Ramazan’s weaver’s shuttle, the loud noise of metal slamming against wood, as we approached his studio in… More
Two Poets Released
PEN International and Freemuse welcome the release on bail of poets and lyricists Fatemeh Ekhtesari and Mehdi Moosavi on January 14, 2013. More
Creativity’s Battles With Censorship
The West knows little about the cultural scene inside Iran today. Since the dawn of civilization until renascence, Iran has always been a great contributor to world's literature, art… More
Censorship and Power in Iran
As Iran heads towards elections in June, the government is once again engaging in a campaign of arrests, repression and harassment against the media. This evening explores the… More
Censorship and Power in Iran
Maziar Bahari, Jon Stewart, and Joel Simon discuss press freedom in Iran in the run-up to the crucial June presidential election More
from Kissing the Sword
“Don’t you all constantly claim that you’re opposed to America? Then why has news of the shuttle exploding upset you so much?” She looked at me wide-eyed and said,… More