PEN America Report Explores Pernicious Practice of Banning Books in Nation’s Prisons
"Literature offers a lifeline for incarcerated people in the midst of a dehumanizing system." More
Oleg Sentsov | Status: Released | Russia
Oleg Sentsov, a Ukrainian film director, was sentenced to 20 years in a Russian prison on charges of terrorism on August 25, 2015. PEN believes that the charges stem… More
Roman Sushchenko | Status: Released | Russia
Roman Sushchenko, a Ukrainian journalist, was detained in Moscow on September 30, 2016, on charges of espionage, and has since been detained in Lefortovo Prison. Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB)… More
MEDIA ADVISORY: PEN America to Join Vigil Honoring Slain Journalist Christopher Allen
Allen was covering a rebel offensive in the town of Kaya, located near South Sudan’s border with Uganda, and was embedded with opposition forces for two weeks when fighting… More
PEN America: Israel Barring Entry to Omar and Tlaib is Obvious Retaliation
(New York, NY)—Israel today declared it would deny entry to Representatives Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar just hours after President Trump urged the Israeli government to do so. PEN… More
PEN America Celebrates Reuters Journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo’s Amnesty
The decision of Myanmar’s president to grant an amnesty to Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo is a long overdue restoration of freedom for these two brave… More
Joint Letter Urges Access and Transparency in Ongoing Trial for Jamal Khashoggi’s Murder
In the interest of credible justice for Mr. Khashoggi and his family, we urge your government to do all that is necessary to help bring much-needed transparency to the… More
Zehra Doğan | Status: Displaced/In Exile | Turkey
Zehra Doğan, a Turkish journalist and artist, was sentenced on March 24, 2017 to two years and ten months in prison for creating a painting of a Turkish city… More
PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award
Established in 2016, this award is designed to honor a writer imprisoned for his or her work. More
PEN America to Honor Youth Activists Against Gun Violence at 2018 Literary Gala, May 22
“We are awed by these students’ bracing and courageous exercise of their free expression rights in the face of crushing personal tragedy. They have used their voices fearlessly to… More
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