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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PEN America—Led Coalition Urges White House to Sanction Criminals in Ukraine
"These sanctions would finally bring a measure of accountability to these perpetrators—and stop them from inflicting further pain,” said Stanislav Aseyev, a journalist and former Izolatsiya inmate who endured… More
PEN America Reacts to Joan Didion Passing
"The loss of Joan Didion carves an enormous hole in American literature and culture," said President of PEN America Ayad Akhtar. More
PEN America Celebrates Release of Sanaa Seif
“We are overjoyed and relieved to hear that Sanaa has been released from prison and our thoughts are with her and her family as she begins to recover from… More
PEN America Condemns Five-Year Prison Sentence for Egyptian Blogger
"Alaa Abd El Fattah has done nothing more than share information and is being harshly penalized for exercising his right to free expression." More
Chinese Authorities Poised to Put Activists Xu Zhiyong and Ding Jiaxi On Trial, PEN America and China Human Rights Defenders Warn
Chinese authorities may use the lull around the Christmas and New Year’s holidays to subject prominent human rights defenders to unfair trials while much of the international community is… More
PEN America Condemns Ihar Losik’s Politically Motivated Sentencing
“Ihar Losik is guilty of nothing more than exercising his fundamental right to freedom of expression,” said PEN America’s Eurasia Director Polina Sadovskaya. More
Photojournalist Shahidul Alam’s Ongoing Police Investigation Must End
After the High Court of Bangladesh rejected a petition from renowned photojournalist Shahidul Alam challenging the legality of criminal charges against him, PEN America again called for charges against… More
As Myanmar Creative Artists Resist Violent Military Crackdown, PEN America Spotlights their Voices in New Report
PEN America’s new report "Stolen Freedoms" details the devastation to the creative sector as well as the courage and determination of Myanmar’s literary and creative community, and offers recommendations… More
PEN America Mourns bell hooks Passing
"PEN America mourns the death of bell hooks, an inspirational author, professor, and activist. We are beyond grateful for her work on race, gender, and class, as well as… More
PEN America Announces 2022 Literary Awards Longlists
“This year’s Longlists speak to the extraordinary diversity of the global literary canon, and showcases an incredible wealth of stories and voices from a true cross-section of writers and… More