The 2025 Freedom to Write Award went to Galal El-Behairy, who has been jailed in Egypt for seven years for his poems critical of the government. His father and sister traveled from Egypt to accept the award on his behalf at the 2025 PEN America Literary Gala, presented by Dinaw Mengestu, PEN America trustee and literary co-chair of the gala.
Read more about Galal El-Behairy.
Naiera Galal
Thank you, Dinaw. I’m extremely proud that my first trip outside Egypt is to receive this award for my brother, Galal.
So, a thousand thanks for honoring my brother today. I wish Galal could be here with us to accept it himself, but I know he’s thrilled to receive it. I’d also like to thank you all and especially the PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Center.
This award brings so much joy to our family. I’m glad I was able to fulfill my brother’s wish for me to accept the award on his behalf.
I pray that Galal will be released from prison very soon, return to his life, and come meet you in person to thank you himself. Thank you.
Abdelfattah Galal
I’m also a very proud father of Galal, who has always honored me.
His mode of resistance is in writing poetry. And that was not an easy or trivial thing for him, and he paid the price for his opposition with the best years of his life wasted in prison.
Galal wrote a poem performed by Ramy Essam. The lyrics say:
[Title: “In My Silence is My Death”]
“My voice betrays me and breaks inside. In my silence is my death. My dear country, how can I sing to you? If I saw my death for ONE song.”
I thank everyone who stood by Galal, and I pray to God that he will be released safely.
