PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award
The PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award is a powerful tool in PEN America’s year-round efforts to end the persecution of writers and defend free expression. Established in 2016, this award is designed to honor a writer imprisoned for his or her work.
(From 1987–2015, the PEN/Barbara Goldsmith Freedom to Write Award honored individual writers fighting for the right to free expression.)
2023 PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award Honoree: Narges Mohammadi
Narges Mohammadi, PEN America's 2023 PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Honoree, has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. More
2022 PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award Honoree: Vladyslav Yesypenko
Vladyslav Yesypenko is PEN America's 2022 PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Honoree for the 2022 Literary Gala. More
2021 PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award: Baktash Abtin, Keyvan Bajan, and Reza Khandan Mahabadi
PEN America bestows its 2021 PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award on Iranian writers Baktash Abtin, Keyvan Bajan, and Reza Khandan Mahabadi. More
2020 PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award: Xu Zhiyong
PEN America bestows its 2020 PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award on detained Chinese essayist and activist Xu Zhiyong. More
2019 PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award: Nouf Abdulaziz, Loujain Al-Hathloul, Eman Al-Nafjan
PEN America will honor imprisoned writers Nouf Abdulaziz, Loujain Al-Hathloul, and Eman Al-Nafjan with the 2019 PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award. More
2018 PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award: Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo
Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo are journalists who specialize in politically sensitive subjects. When arrested they were on assignment by Reuters investigating the torching and pillage of Inn… More
2017 PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award: Oleg Sentsov
Acclaimed filmmaker Oleg Sentsov was sentenced to 20 years in a Russian prison on charges of terrorism. Many international governments believe that he has been convicted on groundless charges… More
2016 PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award: Ahmed Naji
Ahmed Naji is the author of three books, a journalist at literary magazine Akhbar al-Adab, and a frequent contributor to other newspapers and websites in which he has criticized… More