Chinese Efforts to Quash Human Rights Campaigns Rippling Out of Control
A string of disappearances and arrests of over 100 human rights lawyers in China in the past week is the boldest move yet in Beijing’s sprawling campaign to destroy… More
Five ‘Zone 9’ Bloggers and Journalists Released in Ethiopia
The release from prison of five of the Zone 9 bloggers and four journalists in Ethiopia ahead of President Obama’s visit this month is a step in the right… More
Release of Singapore Teenager Long Overdue, says PEN
The release this week of 16-year-old blogger Amos Yee is long overdue in Singapore, a country where such blatant free expression violations have had damaging consequences for the health… More
PEN Gravely Concerned by British Government’s Spying on Amnesty International
The British government’s admission that it spied on Amnesty International is a shocking example of how easily mass surveillance programs can be abused. More
Vietnamese Blogger and Lawyer Le Quoc Quan Released
PEN American Center welcomes the release of Vietnamese blogger and human rights lawyer today, nine months before his schedule release. More
Felony Charges Against Shepard Fairey Could Chill Artistic Expression
Felony charges announced late last week against the street artist Shepard Fairey, famed for creating the “Hope” poster during Obama’s first presidential campaign, are a disproportionate response More
SAUDI ARABIA: Supreme Court Confirms Sentence of Raif Badawi
On 7 June 2015, the Saudi Supreme Court confirmed the sentence of 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes imposed on editor Raif (or Raef) Badawi after conviction of… More
PEN warmly welcomes the release of writer and activist Enoh Meyomesse
On 27 April 2015, the award-winning writer and activist Enoh Meyomesse was finally freed from Kondengui Prison in Yaoundé, Cameroon, after almost three and a half years in prison. More
BAHRAIN: Serious concern for the health of academic, activist and blogger Dr. Abduljalil Al-Singace.
PEN International is seriously concerned for the health of prominent academic, activist and blogger Dr. Abduljalil Al-Singace, who has been on hunger strike since 21 March 2015 in protest… More
Alain Mabanckou to Present Award to Charlie Hebdo
Acclaimed French-Congolese writer Alain Mabanckou will present the PEN/Toni and James C. Goodale Freedom of Expression Courage Award to Charlie Hebdo at the annual PEN Literary Gala in New… More
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The vagueness is the point. @ThePlumLineGS gets it right. Lawmakers had many chances to make the Don't Say Gay law clearer; they kept it vague. State guidance has also gone further than the original law, w/ worse penalties. Results are #Chilling #EdScare
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/01/27/desantis-school-libraries-dont-say-gay-critical-race-theory/
Still so proud to have been involved in this project, with amazing and dedicated collaborators @saliltripathi, @suketumehta, and Kiran Desai. Love for India and its promise and potential span decades, nationality, and continents. https://twitter.com/PENamerica/status/1618972267354136576
I am honored to be one of the judges for this year's PEN/ROBERT J. DAU SHORT STORY PRIZE FOR EMERGING WRITERS @PENamerica
https://pen.org/meet-the-2023-literary-awards-judges/