In response to reports from the Committee to Protect Journalists that two of their staff were detained by Tanzanian authorities in Dar es Salaam and taken to an unknown location, and their passports confiscated, PEN America issued the following statement:

“PEN America calls on Tanzanian authorities to immediately release the Committee for Protection of Journalists’ Africa program coordinator Angela Quintal and sub-Saharan Africa representative Muthoki Mumo, return their passports, and permit them to travel.  We stand in solidarity with our colleagues at CPJ in the face of this alarming action.”

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PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect open 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. pen.org

CONTACT: Anoosh Gasparian, External Relations Manager: [email protected]