Press Releases
PEN America experts are available for interviews with the press. Please direct inquiries to Suzanne Trimel, Senior Advisor, Communications and Media, at [email protected].
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Sentencing of Iranian Actresses Leila Bolukat and Afsaneh Bayegan is a “Cruel” Blow to Their Artistic Freedom, says PEN America
Julie Trebault, director, Artists at Risk Connection at PEN America, said: "The cruel sentencing and bans inflicted upon Leila Bolukat and Afsaneh Bayegan exemplify the Iranian authorities' calculated assault… More
Arizona Legislative Probe of Free Speech on Campuses Should Avoid Partisanship, Says PEN America
Jonathan Friedman, director of Free Expression and Education at PEN America, said: “While there is nothing wrong with government officials affirming support for free speech on campus or looking… More
Relief that Egyptian Writer Patrick Zaki is Pardoned and Released from Prison After Sentencing for “Spreading False News”
Justin Shilad, research and advocacy lead for the Middle East and North Africa at PEN America, said: “The sentence against Patrick Zaki is an outrage, and indicative of the… More
PEN America: House Committee’s Decision to Disinvite Human Rights Expert from Testifying Runs Contrary to “Legitimate Interests”
Summer Lopez, chief program officer for free expression at PEN America, said: "The House Committee on Education and Workforce's decision to disinvite Sophie Richardson from testifying due to her… More
Imprisoned Cuban Artist and Activist Maykel “Osorbo” Castillo Pérez Sews His Mouth Shut to Protest Threats and Harassment
Artists at Risk Connection (ARC) Director Julie Trébault said: “Maykel Castillo has endured unrelenting and unfair treatment and we are deeply concerned about his well-being in light of these… More
Prison Sentence Imposed on Lebanese Journalist Underscores an Escalating Effort to Intimidate Journalists and Critics
Justin Shilad, Middle East and North Africa research and advocacy lead at PEN America, said: “The verdict against Dima Sadek is deeply concerning, as it shows the escalating attacks… More
PEN America Expresses Horror Over Untimely Death in Prison of Belarusian Artist and Activist Ales Pushkin
PEN America’s Eurasia and Advocacy Director Polina Sadovskaya said: “We are horrified by the untimely death of dissident artist Ales Pushkin. As a well-known painter, performance artist, and activist,… More
PEN America Condemns Six-Year Prison Sentence for Iranian Rapper Toomaj Salehi and Calls on Iran to Release Him Immediately
Julie Trebault, director of PEN America’s Artists at Risk Connection, said: “The severe sentence imposed on Salehi is a stark example of the Iranian authorities' brutal actions. Persecuting musicians… More
On Second Anniversary of Historic July 11 Cuban Demonstrations, Plight of Exiled Artists Underscores Deterioration of Artistic Freedom
The report covers 17 exiled artists and cultural professionals who demonstrate their resilience and document the repressive and sometimes violent tactics by the Cuban state that forced them to… More
PEN America Stands with Chinese Human Rights Lawyers
Angeli Datt, PEN America’s China research and advocacy lead, said: “Independent lawyers are an essential component of due process rights. The Chinese government’s assault on human rights lawyers puts… More
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