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
ReleasedShakthika Sathkumara
Literary writerSri LankaAsia-PacificSathkumara was detained for four months in 2019 for his short story “Ardha,” under claims that it promoted religious hatred and insult for its indirect references to homosexuality within the Buddhist clergy. His case was dismissed in February 2021 after several trial delays. Sathkumara’s lawyer reported that he plans to…
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Recorded HarassmentShalim Hussain
PoetIndiaAsia-PacificHussain is one of the “Miya” (Bengali-language Muslim) poets charged in July 2019 after the online publication of a poem by Hafiz Ahmed that authorities claimed promoted sectarian enmity in the state of Assam. On July 17, 2019, all ten poets were granted anticipatory bail. His poems were later included…
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Recorded ThreatShamsuzzoha Manik
Publisher, TranslatorBangladeshAsia-PacificOn February 15, 2016, Manik, a publisher, was arrested after an extremist religious group threatened to hold protests over a book he published that was deemed offensive to Islam. After spending months in detention, he was released on bail in October 2016 while awaiting trial. On January 23, 2020, Manik…
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DetainedSharif Al-Rouby
Activist, Online CommentatorEgyptMiddle East and North AfricaSince activist Sharif al-Rouby’s first arrest in 2016, he has been detained multiple times, with the latest occuring on September 15, 2022. On September 17, 2022, he was placed in pretrial detention on charges of spreading false news and joining a terrorist organization. Since then, despite severe health issues, including…
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Continued HarassmentSheikh Showkat Hussain
Activist, Literary writer, Online Commentator, ScholarIndiaAsia-PacificSheikh Showkat Hussain is a political analyst and scholar who has authored several books on human rights and Kashmir. On October 10, 2023, Delhi Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena authorized the prosecution of Hussain in connection with a speech he gave at a protest on October 21, 2010 advocating for Kashmir’s…
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Continued HarassmentSheng Xue
Journalist, Literary writer, Online Commentator, PoetChinaAsia-PacificSheng Xue is a Chinese-Canadian author, a PEN Canada member, and a prominent human rights activist. She wrote three books between 2001 and 2008, all of which were banned in China. She was a victim of identity theft in 2019 and reported that she has faced multiple instances of harassment…
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Continued HarassmentShervin Hajipour
Singer/SongwriterIranMiddle East and North AfricaIn September 2022, Hajipour was arrested on charges of “propaganda against the regime” and “incitement.” His popular song, “Baraye (For)” which had become a protest anthem, was removed from social media. He was released on bail in October. In January 2024, he was summoned by the authorities again after releasing…
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ImprisonedSherwan Amin Sherwani
Journalist, Online CommentatorIraqMiddle East and North AfricaA columnist and online commentator known for his writing on corruption, Sherwani was first arrested in 2019 in connection to two articles he wrote. He was rearrested in October 2020 for allegedly collecting information on the KRG and passing it to foreign entities, and sentenced to 6 years in prison.…
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ReleasedShi Tao
Journalist, Literary writer, PoetChinaAsia-PacificIn 2005, Shi was sentenced to 10 years in prison for leaking a Communist Party document to an overseas Chinese website over Yahoo email. Yahoo was criticized by the U.S. for aiding the Chinese government. Shi was released in August 2013.
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.