Writers at Risk Database
PEN America champions the freedom to write, recognizing the power of the word to transform the world. The bedrock work of the global PEN network is advocacy and assistance on behalf of individuals persecuted for their use of the written word or other forms of expression. PEN America’s Writers at Risk Database is a searchable catalog of the writers, journalists, academics, public intellectuals and others under threat around the world. The database includes historical cases PEN America has worked on from 1987 onwards; non-active cases are color-coded black. PEN America is grateful to the John Templeton Foundation for support that enabled the establishment of the Writers at Risk Database and to PEN International for their collaboration in assembling this database.
Filters
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Status
Continued HarassmentGökhan Özbek
Journalist, Online CommentatorTürkiyeEurope and Central AsiaGökhan Özbek was first detained for 11 days on December 16, 2016, for “insulting the president” in a series of tweets. In September 2017, he was rearrested for the same tweets, and in September 2018, Ozbek was sentenced to 11 months and 20 days in prison for insulting President Erdogan…
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ConvictedGözde Bedeloğlu
JournalistTürkiyeEurope and Central AsiaOn December 6, 2023, Turkish journalist Gözde Bedeloğlu’s trial began after nationalist MHP politician Sermet Akay filed a complaint against her for her April 9, 2023 column, “From Yesterday to Today: Those Who Protect the State.” A hearing was held on February 2, 2024, during which the prosecution requested a…
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On TrialIsmail Ari
Journalist, Literary writerTürkiyeEurope and Central AsiaOn September 19, 2023, writer and journalist Ismail Ari reported that he had received death threats due to his reporting on the Menzil community. The Turkish authorities, however, failed to act on his criminal complaints. In June and September 2024, two investigations were launched against Ari for his book, Menzil…
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ConvictedKazim Gülecyüz
Journalist, Online CommentatorTürkiyeEurope and Central AsiaOn October 23, 2024, published author, journalist, and editor in chief of Yeni Asya newspaper Kazım Güleçyüz was arrested for “terrorist propaganda” due to his Twitter post on the death of Fethullah Gülen. After one hearing and two months in Marmara prison, Güleçyüz was released on December 19, 2024. On…
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Displaced/In ExileRamazon Ölçen
Journalist, PublisherTürkiyeEurope and Central AsiaRamazan Ölçen is a journalist and publisher. He was the owner of Azadiya Welat, a Kurdish newspaper shuttered by the government in 2016. He was detained in 2017 for his connection with the publication. He was released in 2022, but had an indictment prepared against him. He is currently on…
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Displaced/In ExileAhmet Dönmez
Journalist, Literary writer, Online CommentatorTürkiyeEurope and Central AsiaAhmet Dönmez is known for his investigations into corruption and criticism of Erdoğan’s AKP. After facing mounting political pressure in Türkiye, Dönmez fled to Sweden where he lived in exile for several years. On March 19, 2022, Dönmez was attacked in Stockholm in front of his child. He was severely…
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On TrialSedef Kabaş
Journalist, Online CommentatorTürkiyeEurope and Central AsiaTurkish journalist Sedef Kabas has faced multiple trials for “insulting the president” based on her social media posts and TV commentary. She was arrested on January 22, 2022, for remarks made on a TV show and temporarily released in February. In March 2022, she was sentenced to two years and…
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ConvictedBarış Terkğlu
Journalist, Literary writerTürkiyeEurope and Central AsiaOn March 4, 2020, Barış Terkğlu was arrested for a report published on OdaTV with photos of the funeral of a Turkish officer killed in Syria. In April, he was indicted for “disclosing classified information crucial to the security and interests of the state” and “exposing the contents of documents…
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On TrialTimur Soykan
Journalist, Literary writerTürkiyeEurope and Central AsiaIn June 2024, journalist Timur Soykan faced a lawsuit from New Zealand drug lord Duax Ngakuru. Ngakuru, claiming that Soykan’s book Baron Invasion hurt his honor and dignity, demanded 350,000 TL in damages as well as for the book to be withdrawn. The same day, an access ban and content…
Writers at Risk Database Key:
STATUS box that is red: Active case
STATUS box that is black: Inactive case
Funder
PEN America is deeply grateful to the John Templeton Foundation for its generous support of the Freedom to Write Index and Writers at Risk Database.
Partner
PEN America thanks the PEN International Secretariat and the Writers in Prison Committee for their extensive contributions to and collaboration on compiling the cases included in this database.