Today marks the five-year anniversary of writer and journalist Pham Doan Trang’s arrest in Vietnam. PEN America and an international coalition of non-governmental organizations have issued a joint statement urging the international community to intensify pressure on the Vietnamese government to immediately release the imprisoned writer and PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Awardee.
“Pham Doan Trang’s only ‘crime’ is fearless truth-telling in the face of repression, and for this she has faced five years of unjust detention,” said Liesl Gerntholtz, managing director of the PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Center at PEN America. “Even as her health is deteriorating in prison, her courage continues to inspire writers and dissidents worldwide. Vietnam must release her immediately and unconditionally, and the international community must not rest until she is free.”
Read full joint statement here.
About PEN America
PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect free expression in the United States and worldwide. We champion the freedom to write, recognizing the power of the word to transform the world. Our mission is to unite writers and their allies to celebrate creative expression and defend the liberties that make it possible. Learn more at pen.org.