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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New Cuban Cyber Security Laws Will Deepen Government Repression
A new package of cyber security laws introduced last week in Cuba threaten to further curtail online dissent and pose an ever-greater threat to free expression in a country… More
Cuban Rapper El Radikal Released on Bail
After 40 days of detention, Cuban rapper Richard Adrián Zamora Brito, known as El Radikal, was released last Friday on bail. More
Thai University Takes Action Against Student Free Speech Advocate
A prominent university in Thailand earlier this month capitulated to a pressure campaign and retaliated against a student leader and free speech advocate in a country with strict laws… More
PEN America Condemns Continued Detention of Belarusian Musicians
Today PEN America condemned the continued detention of members of Belarusian fantasy-folk music group Irdorath. More
U.S. Must Act Swiftly to Protect Afghan Writers and Cultural Figures Who’ve Defended Free Expression
PEN America today called for the U.S. to act swiftly to offer protection to writers and cultural actors in Afghanistan. More
Poland’s Moves to Restrict Media Ownership Threaten Media Independence
The lower house of the Polish legislature passed a controversial media ownership bill Friday, a troubling step toward banning non-European owners from having a controlling stake in Polish media. More
Court Formally Dissolves PEN Belarus
As Belarus marks one year since a fraudulent election kept President Aleksandr Lukashenka in power, a court in the country today formally dissolved PEN America's sister organization PEN Belarus. More
Imprisoned Chinese Activist Xu Zhiyong Indicted for ‘Subversion’
Lawyers for imprisoned Chinese activist and writer Xu Zhiyong—the 2020 PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write honoree—indicated this week that he's now been indicted for “subversion,” alongside fellow human rights lawyer… More
Texas School District Strikes More Books From Reading Lists
A Texas school district announced this week that it would remove or suspend nine books from its secondary school book club readings lists. More
PEN America Reopens US Writers Aid Initiative
PEN America today announced the reopening of its U.S. Writers Aid Initiative, a direct grant program for writers facing acute financial need. More
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