Chinese Authorities Poised to Put Activists Xu Zhiyong and Ding Jiaxi On Trial, PEN America and China Human Rights Defenders Warn
Chinese authorities may use the lull around the Christmas and New Year’s holidays to subject prominent human rights defenders to unfair trials while much of the international community is… More
PEN America Applauds Women’s Tennis Association’s Strong Support for Tennis Star Peng Shuai
"The contrast between the WTA's show of spine and the International Olympic Committee's readiness to play along with the Beijing government's campaign to deflect questions and blame is striking." More
PEN America Cheers Women’s Tennis Association’s Strong Support for Tennis Star Peng Shuai
WTA's defense of Peng Shuai is a rare example of businesses standing up to Chinese censorship. More
China Must Release Ailing Journalist Who Covered COVID Outbreak
Chinese authorities must immediately release citizen journalist Zhang Zhan, who is reportedly “close to death” while on hunger strike in protest of her imprisonment for documenting and reporting the… More
PEN America Decries Arrests of Chinese Social Media Users Who Critiqued Film
PEN America today denounced the recent arrests of two Chinese social media users who made critical comments about The Battle of Changjin Lake, a state-sponsored blockbuster film set during… More
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
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
PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel Testifies on Censorship and Free Speech Issues in China
“The regime’s determination to hunt down dissenters wherever they are instills a sense of fear from which there is no escape, even far beyond Saudi borders.” More
China Formalizes Bogus Charges Against Rights Activist Li Qiaochu
Prosecutors in China Monday approved a case for the formal arrest of activist Li Qiaochu on charges of “inciting subversion.” More
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Bad news from Mississippi today, where the state senate passed an educational gag order that applies to all public universities and K-12 schools. Among other things, the bill could threaten recognition of the Black Law Students Association at the University of Mississippi.
We have just learned the Myanmar military have sentenced Ko Jimmy and Phyo Zayar Thaw to death for alleged anti-coup activities.
https://www.myanmar-now.org/en/news/democracy-veteran-ko-jimmy-and-former-nld-mp-phyo-zayar-thaw-sentenced-to-death
Oh, I’ve been waiting for this little gift for a bit now. Here’s a sneak peek for the rest of you! @PENamerica #reginalddwaynebetta #prisonwriting
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