PEN America Calls for the Immediate Acquittal and Release of Mongolian Activist Munkhbayar Chuluundorj Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Protesting China-Mongolia Relations
“The harsh and unjust verdict in Munkhbayar Chuluundorj’s trial is a grave violation of the fundamental right to free expression,” says Liesl Gerntholtz, director of the PEN/Barbey Freedom to… More
PEN America Mourns Passing of E. O. Wilson
"As a scientist, E.O. Wilson inspired generations with his curiosity, rigorous research, and passion for discovery," said Clarisse Rosaz Shariyf, senior director of Literary Programs at PEN America. More
PEN America Reacts to Joan Didion Passing
"The loss of Joan Didion carves an enormous hole in American literature and culture," said President of PEN America Ayad Akhtar. More
PEN America Mourns bell hooks Passing
"PEN America mourns the death of bell hooks, an inspirational author, professor, and activist. We are beyond grateful for her work on race, gender, and class, as well as… More
PEN America Reacts to Pham Doan Trang Conviction
"This sentence represents a heinous violation of Trang’s fundamental rights and of Vietnamese authorities’ commitments under international law,” said Karin Deutsch Karlekar, director of Free Expression at Risk Programs… More
PEN America Denounces the Upcoming Trial and Arbitrary Detention of Journalist and Human Rights Defender Pham Doan Trang
“The international community has made it abundantly clear that the ongoing detention of Pham Doan Trang is unacceptable,” said Karin Deutsch Karlekar, director of Free Expression at Risk Programs… More
The PEN Pod: On Authoritarianism, Abortion Restrictions, and Protecting the Freedom to Learn
“They are people who deserve our support, who’ve been working as human rights defenders inside their countries, who now are faced with the loss of their livelihood.” More
The PEN Pod: Telling the Stories of New Orleans with Maurice Carlos Ruffin
“In New Orleans, sometimes they call people who are involved in storytelling or in music or the arts—they call them culture bearers. We bear the culture. We carry the… More
Detention of Chinese Writer and Documentarian Du Bin Appears to Be Politically-Motivated
“So far, the most likely explanation for Du’s detention is that someone in power didn’t like his work, something which is unfortunately easy to believe when one considers the… More
Poet and Writer Tran Duc Thach Sentenced to 12 Years in Vietnamese Prison
“This is a shocking and shameful outcome in a case that never should have been brought to trial in the first place." More