Rapid Actions
Ill Poet Beaten in Prison
PEN is deeply concerned by reports that the imprisoned poet Aron Atabek, who is in ill health, has been tortured and otherwise ill-treated by prison guards. More
Journalist and Blogger Marzieh Rasouli Imprisoned and Facing Flogging
PEN is deeply concerned by the conviction and sentencing of journalist and blogger Marzieh Rasouli to imprisonment and flogging. More
Blogger and Academic Alexander Sodiqov Reportedly Charged with Treason
PEN is deeply concerned by the detention, reportedly on treason charges, of the blogger and academic Alexander Sodiqov. More
Prison Authorities Denying Medical Treatment to Jailed Poet
PEN is deeply concerned by reports that the Kazakh prison authorities are denying medical treatment to poet Aron Atabek. More
Poet Murdered; Concern Mounts for Safety of Writers
Six weeks after the murder of prominent "Red-Shirt" poet Mainueng K. Kunthee, who was shot dead on April 23, 2014, by unknown assailants, freedom of expression is severely… More
PEN Calls on Turkey to Acquit Sociologist Pınar Selek
On June 11, 2014, Turkey’s Supreme Court of Appeals will deliver its final decision in the marathon trial of sociologist, writer, and feminist Pınar Selek. More
Editor Raif Badawi Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison and 1,000 Lashes
A Saudi Arabian court sentenced website editor Raif Badawi to 10 years in prison, 1,000 lashes, and a fine of 1 million Saudi riyals (approx. US$266,631) on charges… More
Chinese Media Confirms Veteran Journalist Gao Yu Officially Detained
Gao Yu, missing since April 24, 2014, has been confirmed to be detained by Beijing police in a criminal investigation for allegedly "leaking state secrets abroad." More
Publisher Yao Wentian (aka Yiu Mantin) Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison
PEN International is shocked by the heavy sentencing of Hong Kong-based publisher Yao Wentian on May 7, 2014. More
Prime Minister Lodges Defamation Complaint Against Prominent Journalist
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has lodged a complaint with the public prosecutor's office alleging that writer, journalist, and documentary filmmaker Can Dündar defamed him in an article for… More