Rapid Actions
Death of Prominent Writer Zhang Jianhong (Aka Li Hong) Announced
PEN International mourns the death on December 31, 2010, of writer, poet, and playwright Zhang Jianhong, who had been suffering from a rare neurological disorder since early 2007, shortly… More
Repression of Press Continues; Journalists Face Long Sentences
PEN International is deeply concerned by the worsening situation in Belarus, which has seen the continued detention, maltreatment and impending prosecution of a number of writers and journalists, including… More
Writer and Former Belarusian Pen President Vladimir Neklyaev Arrested and Beaten
PEN International is shocked by yesterday’s (December 19, 2010) arrest and beating of Vladimir Neklyaev, writer, former president of the Belarusian PEN Center, and Belarus presidential candidate. More
Neklyaev Held in Kgb Detention Center; Many More Writers and Journalists Arrested
PEN International is increasingly alarmed by the December 19, 2010, mass arrests of demonstrators. More
Belarus Pen Offices Searched and Equipment Seized
PEN International has learned that on December 28, the Belarus PEN Center’s office in Minsk was raided, and computers and papers were seized. This action is part of a… More
Journalist and Blogger Mohammed Abdulqader Al-Jassem Imprisoned
PEN International is deeply concerned about the one-year prison sentence handed down to Kuwaiti writer, journalist, and blogger Mohammed Abdulqader al-Jassem on November 22, 2010, for an article he… More
Jailed Newspaper Editor Reportedly Beaten and Placed in Solitary Confinement
PEN International is deeply concerned by reports that Nikol Pashinyan, jailed opposition politician and editor of the newspaper Haykakan Zhamanak (Armenian Times), was beaten while in prison and placed… More
Prominent Human Rights Lawyer, Journalist, and Writer Arrested, Fears for Safety
PEN International protests the arrest of prominent writer, journalist, and lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh, who has been imprisoned since September 4, 2010. More
Editors Conditionally Released
Robert Mintya (Le Devoir) and Serge Sabouang (La Nation) , who had been imprisoned for alleged forgery since February, were released conditionally pending trial but no date has been… More
Two Bloggers Freed But Eynulla Fatullayev Remains in Prison
Azerbaijani journalist Eynulla Fatullayev, who remains in prison despite a European Court of Human Rights’ ruling that he should be freed. Bloggers Emin Milli and Adnan Hajizade have at… More