Intimidation of Muslim Poet an Effort to Silence Writers’ Engagement on Xinjiang
“An Ran, a poet, is speaking out on one of the most important human rights issues of our day. Instead of attempting to shut him down, authorities should be… More
Three-Year Prison Sentence for Poet Galal El-Behairy is Another Blow for Freedom of Expression in Egypt
“To criminalize poetry and songs is to denigrate the most universal forms of human expression,” said Julie Trébault, PEN America’s Artists at Risk Connection (ARC) Director. More
Israel: End judicial proceedings and ensure Dareen Tatour’s immediate release
Dareen Tatour, a Palestinian poet and citizen of Israel, was convicted by the Nazareth Magistrate's Court on May 3, 2018 on charges of incitement to violence and support for terror organizations. Tatour… More
Iran: Arrest followed by an enforced disappearance of poet
PEN condemns the enforced disappearance of poet Mohammad Bamm who was arrested by members of the Iranian security forces on December 31, 2017 while on his way home in the city… More
Release of Tibetan Poet Shokjang an Overdue Welcome Development
“This is a joyful day for those who support free expression in Tibet, as a writer whose only crime was peacefully expressing himself is now out of prison. However,… More
Interrogating the Status Quo
In an era where powerful men are being toppled and long-held notions of “acceptable behavior” are changing, writers remind us that the rules governing language are also not free… More
The PEN Ten with sam sax
I do have more to say about what a good writer is and ought to do, which I think carries many of the same qualities as a good person.… More
Celebrated Authors and Artists Call on China to Release Poet Liu Xia, Wife of Late Dissident, Ahead of Trump Visit
Liu Xia's continued torment is a cruel manifestation of China’s determination to suppress not only dissenters, but someone whose only crime was to love one. More
The PEN Ten with Safiya Sinclair
I think the responsibility of the writer is to say something true, to give voice to untold histories, to say something sincere about personhood, to speak from the margins… More
October Featured Case: Dareen Tatour
Tatour was charged with incitement to violence and support of terrorism, stemming primarily from a reading of her poem “Resist, My People, Resist Them” posted on YouTube… More
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