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
-
Status
Conditional ReleaseRozita Rajayi
PoetIranMiddle East and North AfricaRozita Rajayi is a novelist and activist. She was arrested with a group of other women’s rights activists in November 2023 and released a week later on bail. In August 2024 she was sentenced to 4 years and a month in prison for “assembly and collusion” and “propaganda.” She remained…
-
Status
ImprisonedRuan Xiaohuan
Online CommentatorChinaAsia-PacificAn online commentator and creator of the anonymous blog “Program Think,” Ruan often posted critical comments on his popular Twitter account about the Chinese Communist Party, and helped Chinese people, through his blog, circumvent government censorship online. He was arrested and detained in May 2021. He was convicted of “inciting…
-
Status
MurderedRuben Espinosa
JournalistMexicoAmericasIn July 2015, Espinosa, a photojournalist covering violence in Veracruz, was shot execution-style, along with four women, in Mexico City. Espinosa had fled to the capital after receiving threats. While his case sparked outrage, no one has been held accountable for the murders. Investigators have ignored the possibility of government…
-
Status
ConvictedRubens Valente
Journalist, Literary writerBrazilAmericasA long time reporter who has written two books, Valente was sued for defamation after writing a book on the arrest and release of Brazil’s most powerful bankers by the Federal Supreme Court’s Justice Mendes, who was responsible for this decision. He was convicted and ordered to pay the equivalent…
-
Status
ConvictedRuhi Karadağ
Creative artist, Journalist, Literary writer, Online CommentatorTürkiyeEurope and Central AsiaRuhi Karadağ is a journalist turned writer/TV producer who was targeted for his book Yarali Yonca. Karadağ was arrested at the airport on March 24, 2021, after being exiled for three years, for allegedly spreading propaganda for a terrorist organization in the book. On May 6, 2021, he was sentenced…
-
Status
ReleasedRula Hassanein
Journalist, Online CommentatorIsrael/Occupied Palestinian TerritoryMiddle East and North AfricaJournalist Rula Hassanein was arrested at her home in Bethlehem in the West Bank by Israeli military forces on March 19, 2024. On March 25, 2024, she was charged with incitement on social media and supporting a hostile organization banned under Israeli law over over posts on her Twitter and…
-
Status
ReleasedRuslan Chliebarodau
Online Commentator, Singer/SongwriterBelarusEurope and Central AsiaWriter of “Stop the Cockroach,” a popular anti-Lukashenka song, Chliebarodau was arrested in April 2023 and accused of “insulting public officials” and “disgracing the state power and governing bodies.” Complaints against him also included posting commentary on social networks. Pro-government Telegram channels posted a video of what appears to be…
-
Status
Displaced/In ExileRuslan Kulevich
Journalist, Literary writerBelarusEurope and Central AsiaJournalist and author Kulevich was brutally detained by police at a protest. He was beaten, both of his arms were broken, and he was sentenced to seven days in prison. He was released without explanation and sent to a hospital for five days, during which both he and his family…
-
Status
DeceasedRuslan Sharipov
Activist, JournalistUzbekistanEurope and Central AsiaSharipov was detained in 2001 after publishing a series of articles challenging the government. In 2002, he was beaten three times, and, in 2003, was arrested on suspicion of homosexuality. He pled guilty under coercion but escaped to the United States en route to a work camp.
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.