Rakhim Esenov | Status: Deceased | Turkmenistan
Rakhim Esenov was charged in February 2004 with “inciting social, national, and religious hatred using the mass media,” which he has indicated refers to statements made by characters in… More
Turkmenistan Discouraging Use of Word Coronavirus
UPDATE: This original statement was based on an erroneous article and misrepresented the scope of the government's censorship. It has been edited to reflect more recent information. PEN America… More
DARE: Mueller Report Suggests the ‘Fake News’ Came from Trump, Not the News Media
Mueller report assesses where White House misled, lied to, or falsely discredited journalists and their reporting. American Media Inc. sells National... More
PEN Central Asia: Not Just A Club But a Network of Regional PEN Centers
The PEN World series showcase the important work of the more than 140 centers that form PEN International. Each PEN center sets its own priorities, but they are united… More
Free Expression Daily Digest: Wed., October 14
Gao Yu's appeal delayed yet again, 41 writers return Indian award, and journalists in Afghanistan threaten to boycott the Taliban. More
Charges Against Turkmen Writer Dropped
After having spent the large majority of the past two years in exile, novelist, historian, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty correspondent and 2006 PEN/Barbara Goldsmith Freedom to Write Award winner… More
The Land of Turkmenbashi
Of the fifteen states of the former Soviet empire, Turkmenistan, just north of Iran, is the one that has turned out to be a cruel blend of Kim Jong… More
In Surprise, PEN Honoree Attends Gala
A novelist from Turkmenistan whose books have been banned and who has been under house arrest for two years became the first writer in 20 years to personally accept… More
Turkmen Authorities Threatening to Prevent Writer from Accepting PEN Prize
PEN American Center is protesting an attempt by the government of Turkeminstan to prevent prominent novelist and dissident Rakhim Esenov from traveling to New York to receive a 2006… More
PEN/Barbara Goldsmith Freedom to Write Award Winners
PEN American Center today named Mohammed Benchicou, a newspaper publisher already in prison and facing 50 additional sentences for his newspaper’s independent reporting, and Rakhim Esenov, a novelist, historian,… More
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