Press Releases
PEN delivers press freedom petition to Congress
PEN President Ron Chernow brought PEN’s concerns over surveillance and threats against the press to Washington last week, delivering PEN’s press freedom petition on Capitol Hill and opening a… More
Announcing the PEN/John Kenneth Galbraith Award for Nonfiction
Ron Chernow, president of PEN American Center, the nation’s pre-eminent association of literary writers and editors, has announced the establishment of the $10,000 PEN/John Kenneth Galbraith Award for Nonfiction.… More
United States Closes Door Again on Tariq Ramadan
The U.S. government has again blocked prominent Muslim scholar Tariq Ramadan from visiting the United States, this time after being ordered by a Federal District Judge to act on… More
PEN sounds alarm on threats against press in the U.S.
Troubled by recent attacks on newspapers and reporters for breaking stories on controversial antiterrorism programs, more than 1,100 PEN Members and supporters have signed a petition expressing concern over… More
Author Elif Shafak Acquitted in Turkey
Author Elif Shafak was acquitted of charges of “insult” at a hearing held today in the Beyoglu Court of First Instance in Istanbul, bringing to a close one of… More
PEN announces new Festival director after worldwide search
PEN American Center, the 3,100-Member-strong association of writers, editors, and translators working to advance literature, defend free expression, and promote international literary fellowship, announced today that Caro Llewellyn of… More
Program to celebrate First Amendment champions
Eight individuals who have taken risky, at times harrowing stands on behalf of the First Amendment in recent months will discuss their experiences at an upcoming program on September… More
PEN Welcomes Release of Ramin Jahanbegloo in Iran
PEN American Center welcomed today’s release of Ramin Jahanbegloo, an Iranian writer and intellectual who was arrested at Tehran airport on April 27, 2006, as he was about to… More
Akbar Ganji on Writing and Freedom of Expression in Iran
PEN welcomed Akbar Ganji, one of Iran's most prominent champions of human rights and freedom of expression, to New York City today to discuss writing, free expression, and recent… More
PEN Praises Ruling in Lawsuit Challenging Visa Denials
PEN American Center today hailed a court ruling challenging the U.S. government’s refusal to issue a visa to a prominent Muslim scholar, calling the court’s order to process Professor… More
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