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Hong Kong Authorities Should Drop Sedition Charges Against Booksellers, PEN America Says

Press ReleaseMarch 15, 2023

“Producing and selling a book about Hong Kong’s 2019 protest movement is not a crime. Hong Kong authorities are attempting to rewrite the history of the protests by arresting… More

Egyptian Poet Galal El-Behairy—Jailed for Five Years for Writing a Song—Joins Hunger Strike Over Inhumane Conditions

Press ReleaseMarch 9, 2023

“Galal El-Behairy’s continuing imprisonment and the revolving door of charges he faces--for writing a song--are an outrage, especially given that he has already completed a sentence on spurious charges.… More

Ales Bialiacki

PEN Centers Condemn Belarusian Court’s Verdict in Trial of Writer Ales Bialiacki

Press ReleaseMarch 3, 2023

In response to news that Belarusian writer Ales Bialiacki was convicted to 10 years in prison—coinciding with International Writers for Peace Day—PEN Belarus, PEN Armenia, PEN Moscow, and PEN… More

PEN Network Welcomes Release of Iranian Writers Arash Ganji and Reza Khandan Mahabadi, Calls for Release of Other Members of the Iranian Writers’ Association

Press ReleaseFebruary 27, 2023

As members of the global PEN network, we call for the Iranian authorities to cease harassing and investigating members of the IWA, to unconditionally drop all politically-motivated charges against… More

Celebrating Reza Khandan Mahabadi’s Release From Prison in Iran, PEN America Calls for Release of Other Iranian Writers Wrongly Jailed

Press ReleaseFebruary 15, 2023

Reza Khandan Mahabadi is a leading member of the Iranian Writers Association (IWA), prolific author and researcher, who was given a six-year prison term in 2019 and has been… More

Sentencing of Poet Wang Zang and His Wife to Prison in China Shows “Repressive Environment” for Free Expression, as PEN America Calls For Their Release

Press ReleaseDecember 13, 2022

“We condemn the sentencing of Wang Zang for exercising his freedom to write, and of his wife Wang Liqin whose only apparent ‘crime’ was advocating for her husband’s rights,”… More

PEN America and PEN Sydney Condemn Arrests of 3 More Iranian Writers, as Iran Continues Crackdown on Free Expression Targeting Writers and Artists

Press ReleaseDecember 6, 2022

“The violent and targeted arrests of the IWA’s board members are designed to intimidate and silence one of the leading independent civil society voices inside Iran that steadfastly speaks… More

Iran Steps Up Repression of Rights, with Harsh Prison Sentences for Writers and Artists and Reported Torture and Abuse in Custody

Press ReleaseNovember 11, 2022

“The Iranian government is putting writers’ lives at severe risk through its brazen violation of basic human rights that include systematic abuse and torture in custody, coupled with fast-tracked… More

Deep Concern Over Multiple Arrests of Writers, Artists, Musicians in Iran, Related to Repression Of Mass Protests Since September

Press ReleaseOctober 26, 2022

“We are deeply concerned by the Iranian government’s forceful repression of free expression in response to this movement for democracy and human rights, and we condemn the targeted arrests… More

Copyright © 1998-2020, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia,

Call for Release of Six Tibetans, Including 3 Writers, Sentenced to Prison on National Security-Related Charges

Press ReleaseOctober 19, 2022

A report by Radio Free Asia on Tuesday revealed that the detained writers were sentenced last month on charges of “inciting separatism” and “endangering state security.” Poet and essayist… More

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jonfreadom Jonathan Friedman 📚 @jonfreadom ·
4h

Somehow this is both stunning and totally run-of-the-mill for 2023. A university president - at a public university in Texas - has decided to unilaterally cancel a student-organized drag show charity fundraiser for @TrevorProject. Just b/c he felt like it. #FreeSpeech #EdScare https://twitter.com/1AMorey/status/1637993457653252102

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penamerica PEN America @penamerica ·
14h

Included in the 3rd issue of The Journal of Women and Criminal Justice is our director of Prison and Justice Writing @caits_meissner's letter underscoring the importance of uplifting the voices of incarcerated women. Read more here: https://www.njreentry.org/application/files/7316/7847/0620/The_Journal_of_Women_and_Criminal_Justice_Summer_Edition_2023.pdf

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splc Student Press Law Center @splc ·
14h

Want to dive deep into learning about press freedom around the world? Apply now to join the Global Press Freedom Advocacy Institute, a free series of panels, workshops, and group discussions for student journalists hosted by SPLC and @PENamerica. https://loom.ly/Gk1x-_M

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