PEN America Welcomes Release of Bangladeshi Photojournalist
“We are overjoyed to learn that Shafiqul Islam Kajol has finally been granted bail and can be reunited with his family, including his son, who has staunchly campaigned for… More
Bangladesh: Publisher’s Ongoing Detention Illustrates Need for Legal Reform
The continued detention of Bangladeshi publisher Shamsuzzoha Manik is an undue restriction on freedom of expression in a current environment of extreme risk for those who express dissenting views,… More
Bangladesh: Brutal murder of LGBT editor an appalling indictment of authorities’ failure to protect
The savage murder of an editor and leading gay rights activist of Bangladesh’s only LGBT magazine in Dhaka is another tragic example of the government’s gross failure to protect… More
PEN Joins Coalition Calling on Secretary Kerry to Grant Visas to Threatened Bangladeshi Bloggers
A coalition of free expression and human rights advocacy groups led by PEN American Center today released an open letter to the U.S. Department of State urging the swift… More
Human Rights Groups Ask U.S. to Grant Asylum to Bangladesh Bloggers
A coalition of human rights groups called on the United States on Monday to grant temporary visas to secular writers from Bangladesh after a series of bloody attacks by… More
Bangladesh: Social Media Platform Blocking Signals Further Free Expression Degradation
The blocking of access to Facebook, Viber, Whatsapp, and other similar services in Bangladesh indicates a further degradation of free expression in a country that has seen increased violent… More
PEN Testimony at Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission Briefing on Bangladesh
Our director of Free Expression Programs, Karin Deutsch Karlekar, presented testimony to bring attention to the targeted killings of bloggers and publishers in Bangladesh. More
Free Writing
The recent winner of Britain's oldest literary award doesn't think his debut novel would have found success if it had first been published in his native Bangladesh. More
Fourth Bangladeshi Blogger Killed After Request for Protection Ignored by Police
The murder today of Bangladeshi blogger Niloy Chakrabarti—the fourth killing of a secular writer in Bangladesh this year—reveals a government unable or unwilling to curb religious extremist violence. More
PEN Expresses Concern at Conviction in Bangladesh Contempt of Court Case
PEN American Center welcomes the exoneration of 22 people on contempt of court charges brought by Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal No. 2 for the simple act of making a… More