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PEN America Condemns “Grotesque” Sentencing of Saudi Student to 34 Years in Prison for Her Tweets

Press ReleaseAugust 17, 2022

PEN America condemns the imprisonment of Salma Al-Shehab, who was sentenced to 34 years in prison for her Twitter activity. More

PRESS BRIEFING: Mon., 7/11 in DC: Middle East Dissidents and Human Rights Defenders Speak Out Ahead of President Biden’s Trip

Press ReleaseJuly 8, 2022

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

Fears for Safety of Exiled Iranian Singer and Poet as She Travels to Genoa for Poetry Festival

Press ReleaseJune 15, 2022

“At only 26 years old, Sahar is an incredibly talented and courageous artist and activist who has dared to use her voice to call for peace and advocate for… More

Loujain Al-Hathloul headshot

PEN America Reacts to DarkMatter Lawsuit

Press ReleaseDecember 10, 2021

“Al-Hathloul’s suit is a courageous contribution to establishing that accountability and our collective safety." More

Full crowd seated at United Nations opening of 63rd session of Commission on Status of Women

Communication to the UN Commission on the Status of Women on the Persecution of Iranian Women’s Rights Defenders

AdvocacyJuly 21, 2021

We joined Iranian human rights organizations to alert the UN CSW to the persecution and prosecution of women human rights defenders in Iran. More

Marching Forward: A Women’s History Month Reading List book covers

Marching Forward: A Women’s History Month Reading List

Recommended Reading

As we mark the history of women’s contributions and achievements, we hope you’ll be inspired by this reading list to seek out even more stories of women’s experiences. More

Loujain Al-Hathloul headshot

Loujain Al-Hathloul Sentenced in Sham Saudi Trial

Press ReleaseDecember 28, 2020

“The conviction of Loujain Al-Hathloul is a blatant attack on the most basic human rights of all people—particularly women—living in Saudi Arabia." More

Nasrin Sotoudeh

As Saudia Arabia Hosts W20 Summit, Women’s Rights Activists Remain Imprisoned

Press ReleaseOctober 21, 2020

"The cruel and unjust incarceration that women such as Loujain Al-Hathloul and Nasrin Sotoudeh face represent the harrowing experiences of many others detained in the prisons of Saudi Arabia… More

Emily Ramshaw headshot closeup

The PEN Pod: Elevating Women’s Voices with Emily Ramshaw

InterviewSeptember 18, 2020

“We’re working to level [the] playing field by providing a place where the stories that most deeply affect women’s lives are the main course and not a side dish.” More

Headshots of Eman Al-Nafjan and Loujain Al-Hathloul

PEN America Echoes Congressional Call Demanding Saudi Action on Imprisoned Women’s Rights Activists

Press ReleaseSeptember 2, 2020

"Ignoring multiple efforts by leading members of Congress to discuss the legal status and confinement conditions of these women is a disturbing development in Saudi Arabia’s ongoing quest to… More

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  • What's New
Prison Arts Collective and PEN America Collaboration on New Season of Outside:Inside Radio
College Board’s Revision of AP African-American Studies Curriculum Dilutes the Course Content in Apparent Capitulation to Censors
Salman Rushdie’s New Novel Turns a Spotlight On the Enduring Power of Stories
PEN America: Arrest of Protesters in Georgia on Broad and Vaguely-Worded ‘Domestic Terrorism’ Charges Could Chill the Right to Protest

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beegeeuu brian watkins - 🇺🇦 мир зараз @beegeeuu ·
9h

Literary royalty at @MilesCollege tonight with Birmingham native and National Book Award winner @imaniperry and @ALPoetLaureate Ashley M. Jones with support from @thankyou_bham. Inspiring evening. https://twitter.com/PENamerica/status/1618636171751342081

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aliner Alina Stefanescu @aliner ·
8h

Not enough words for the eloquence and generosity of @imaniperry in person. (And her laugh, her laughter, her smile—luminous.) ✨Do so wish I’d captured the image of @ALPoetLaureate’s purple sequins glimmering in the drizzle near a street lamp at @MilesCollege tonight.

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willcarless Will Carless @willcarless ·
19h

NEW today: lawmakers in at least 8 states have recently introduced bills targeting #DragShows

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/02/01/ban-drag-shows-analysis-finds-bills-targeting-them-8-states/11150196002/

This comes as all- age drag shows have become a flashpoint in America’s culture wars:

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