Imprisoned Chinese Activist Xu Zhiyong Indicted for ‘Subversion’
Lawyers for imprisoned Chinese activist and writer Xu Zhiyong—the 2020 PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write honoree—indicated this week that he's now been indicted for “subversion,” alongside fellow human rights lawyer… More
Russian Officials Raid Investigative Journalist’s Home
PEN America condemned a police raid on the home of the editor in chief of the Russian investigative website The Insider today, just days after the government labeled the… More
Cuba Releases Arrested Artists; PEN America Celebrates But Demands Full Exoneration
Numerous Cuban artists were released from prison this weekend, including photographer and filmmaker Anyelo Troya, actor and poet Alexander Diego Gil, and plastic artist Carlos González. More
The PEN Pod: Diving into the Pegasus Leak with Matt Bailey
“How do we ever get to a place where we feel sure that we have privacy and security of our data on our phones, of our conversations?” More
The PEN Pod: Resilience, Struggle, and the Fight for Freedom in Belarus with Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya
“I’m sure that Belarus will be a success story. We will win [against] autocracy. We will bring our country to democratic changes.” More
PEN America Joins PEN Centers Globally Demanding Artistic Freedom in Cuba
In a joint statement today, PEN International, PEN America, and PEN Cuban Writers in Exile expressed their solidarity with Cuba’s creative community and condemned the Cuban state for muzzling… More
Spy Software Used to Track Journalists, Activists is Direct Threat to Free Expression Worldwide
Sophisticated software purportedly designed to track international criminals and terrorists has been deployed to hack the smartphones of journalists, advocates, and human rights activists around the world. More
PEN America Demands Release of Cuban Writer and Poet Javier L. Mora
Cuban writer and poet Javier L. Mora was detained by police this morning after announcing on social media that he no longer wanted to be a member of a… More
The PEN Pod: On Authoritarian Regimes and Public Pressure Campaigns with Summer Lopez
“These governments are trying to send a clear message that you’re not safe or free, no matter where you go, to dissidents.” More
Uyghur Professor Rahile Dawut Confirmed to Be Imprisoned by Chinese Authorities
Former coworkers of Uyghur academic Rahile Dawut—who disappeared nearly four years ago and was believed to be in Chinese custody—confirmed this week that authorities have sentenced and imprisoned her. More