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
Conditional ReleaseRaif Badawi
Activist, Online CommentatorSaudi ArabiaMiddle East and North AfricaRaif Badawi was arrested in 2012 and sentenced to 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes for “insulting Islam” and “founding a liberal website,” Free Saudi Liberals. While detained, he was not only reported to be in poor health, exacerbated by flogging, but also was subject to an attempted assassination…
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DeceasedRakhim Esenov
Journalist, Literary writerTurkmenistanEurope and Central AsiaRakhim Esenov was a Turkmen writer who was author of the trilogy Ventsenosny Skitalets (The Crowned Wanderer). In February 2004, Esenov was charged with “inciting social, national, and religious hatred using the mass media” for statements made by characters in the The Crowned Wanderer. Esenov was released in March 2004…
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Conditional ReleaseRamah Al-Bayaa
Activist, Online CommentatorIsrael/Occupied Palestinian TerritoryMiddle East and North AfricaRamah Al-Bayaa is a West Bank-based community activist and online commentator who writes mostly about local political and social issues. She was arrested on September 11, 2025 by Palestinian police in Beitunia over Facebook posts. She was interrogated and charged under the Cybercrime Law for alleged defamation of the Palestinian…
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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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ReleasedRamin Jahanbegloo
Literary writer, ScholarIranMiddle East and North AfricaJahanbegloo, author of over 20 books on Iranian current affairs and contributor to international publications, was arrested in April 2006 without charge; though unconfirmed claims say he threatened national security. He was released on bail in August 2006. He currently serves as Professor & Vice Dean and Executive Director of…
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Displaced/In ExileRamón Eusebio López Díaz
Singer/SongwriterCubaAmericasKnown for his dissident writing in his songs and online, rapper Ramón Eusebio López Díaz livestreamed his arrest on June 18, 2021, as police broke into his house following his peaceful participation in the 11J protests. He was released from custody a few days later, but detained again on July…
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Displaced/In ExileRamón Nsé Esono Ebalé
Creative artist, Online CommentatorEquatorial GuineaSub-Saharan AfricaEsono Ebalé, a cartoonist and blogger, was arrested in September 2017 on charges of money laundering and counterfeiting, but was interrogated about his cartoons of political figures by security agents. Charges against him were dropped in March 2018 and he is now abroad. After months of delays, he received his…
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AcquittedRamzy Razeek
Online CommentatorSri LankaAsia-PacificBlogger Ramzy Razeek was arrested on April 2, 2020 after posting on Facebook regarding the need for an “ideological jihad” to stop organized anti-Muslim propaganda. In response, he and his family faced death threats. After reporting the harassment to the police, he was arrested at his home. After five months…
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Continued HarassmentRana Ayyub
Journalist, Literary writerIndiaAsia-PacificWashington Post columnist Ayyub has been targeted by multiple online harassment campaigns, resulting in doxxing, rape threats, and death threats. In 2018 and 2022, social media accounts made false claims that she had defended child rapists and that she hates all Indians. In March 2022, on her way to deliver…
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.