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
Recorded HarassmentClaudia Piñeiro
Dramatist, Literary writerArgentinaAmericasProlific novelist Piñeiro is an advocate for women’s rights and, specifically, the legalization of abortion in Argentina. She has faced serious harassment for her activism, including threats from anti-abortion activists seeking to intimidate and prevent her from speaking.
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ConvictedCraig Murray
Literary writer, Online CommentatorUnited KingdomEurope and Central AsiaAn author, blogger, and former diplomat, Murray was charged in April 2020 for blog posts that could have revealed the identities of sexual assault victims in a case involving a Scottish political leader, in contravention of the judge’s orders. He was sentenced to 8 months in prison for contempt of…
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DetainedCui Haoxin
PoetChinaAsia-PacificCui, a Hui Muslim, uses poetry and online platforms to protest China’s treatment of Muslim minorities. After enduring harassment throughout 2018, Cui was arrested in January 2020. There is very little public information about the conditions of his detention.
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Cui Haoxin An Ran
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Conditional ReleaseDalal Abu Amneh
Online Commentator, Singer/SongwriterIsraelMiddle East and North AfricaAbu Amneh’s media team posted her words, “The Only Victor is God,” adding a Palestinian flag emoji, following the October 7th attack. After receiving threats towards her and her family, she sought police protection in her hometown of Nazareth, but was arrested for “threatening public peace.” She was released on…
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ReleasedDaler Sharifov
Journalist, Literary writerTajikistanEurope and Central AsiaOn January 28, 2020, authorities detained Sharifov in a home raid and later charged him with inciting ethnic, racial, and religious hatred. In April 2020, he was sentenced to one year in prison for his dissertation on Muslim theology, which was deemed “hate speech” for including quotes by two leaders…
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Displaced/In ExileDalia Ziada
Literary writer, Online Commentator, ScholarEgyptMiddle East and North AfricaAn award-winning author and political analyst, Ziada had to flee Egypt after receiving threats for her condemnation of Hamas and support for Israel following the October 7th attacks. A legal complaint against her was then submitted to the attorney general for spying and spreading false news.
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Recorded HarassmentDamodar Mauzo
Dramatist, Literary writerIndiaAsia-PacificWhen investigating the 2017 murder of journalist Gauri Lankesh, police investigators received intelligence that Mauzo, a writer, was another potential target. Goa police have provided him with a security detail. He received the Jnanpith Award, India’s highest literary award, in 2021.
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Recorded HarassmentDan Garrett
Journalist, Literary writerChina/Hong KongAsia-PacificOn September 26, 2019, Garrett, a photographer, author, and academic, was barred entry to Hong Kong for unspecified “immigration reasons” after having testified to the U.S. Congressional-Executive Commission on China about protests in the territory.
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.