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
Displaced/In ExileElena Kostyuchenko
Journalist, Literary writerRussiaEurope and Central AsiaElena Kostyuchenko is an exiled journalist and writer. Following the outbreak of Russia’s war on Ukraine, Kostyuchenko was forced to leave a reporting assignment in Mariupol, where she was told Chechenites were given an assassination order against her. In October 2022, she reported being poisoned after falling ill on a…
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ReleasedElie Kamano
Activist, Creative artist, Singer/SongwriterGuineaSub-Saharan AfricaFollowing a peaceful demonstration against President Alpha Condé’s third term in October, singer/songwriter Elie Kamano was arrested for “participation in a gathering likely to disturb public order.” In November, Kamano was released following a successful appeal. Beginning in February 2020, Kamano has entered political discourse, publicly opposing Alpha Condé’s government.…
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Conditional ReleaseElnaz Mohammadi
JournalistIranMiddle East and North AfricaColumnist Elnaz Mohammadi was summoned to the prosecutor’s office for questioning in February, 2023. She had previously expressed support for the anti-government protests in Iran online. She was arrested that day at Evin Prison and spent 7 days in detention. She was released on bail but sentenced to 3 years…
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Conditional ReleaseEmad Ghavidel
Creative artist, Singer/SongwriterIranMiddle East and North AfricaGhavidel, a rapper, was arrested at his workplace in Rasht on October 26, 2022, for allegedly “inciting chaos.” Although released on bail on November 4, 2022, Ghavidel reported that he suffered ill treatment while in jail because of his identity as an artist. On December 19, 2022, Ghavidel tweeted that…
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ReleasedEmad Hajjaj
Creative artistJordanMiddle East and North AfricaHajjaj, a Jordanian-Palestinian cartoonist, was arrested by Jordanian authorities over a cartoon mocking the Israel–United Arab Emirates deal on August 26, 2020. On August 30, he was released on bail but was awaiting the verdict from the Supreme Court, and was facing up to two years in prison. on January…
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Conditional ReleaseEman Al-Nafjan
Activist, Journalist, Online CommentatorSaudi ArabiaMiddle East and North AfricaColumnist and activist Al-Nafjan was detained in May 2018 in relation to her women’s rights advocacy as she filmed a female driver breaking the ban. She was later charged with “undermining the kingdom’s stability” among other charges. While in prison, Al-Nafjan was reportedly sexually harassed and severly beaten. In March…
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ReleasedEmel Yeşilırmak
Creative artist, Singer/SongwriterTürkiyeEurope and Central AsiaYeşilırmak is a member of activist collective and band Grup Yorum, whose critical songs have angered the Turkish government. Multiple members of the band have faced serious threats and imprisonment. She was detained in February 2019 and was expected to be released in September 2020, but was kept in detention.…
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ConvictedEmre Günsal
Creative artistTürkiyeEurope and Central AsiaComedian Emre Günsal was arrested in Istanbul in April 2020 for content in his stand-up show that allegedly insulted Türkiye’s first president, Kemal Atatürk, and notable figures from Konya. After being investigated, he was released after 11 days in detention. On January 28, 2021, he was sentenced to three years…
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ConvictedEmre Orman
JournalistTürkiyeEurope and Central AsiaOn October 23, 2019, Emre Orman was arrested for his online criticism of Türkiye’s invasion of southwestern Kurdistan. He was charged with spreading terrorist propaganda, but was released on appeal on November 5, 2019. Convicted again on February 18, 2020, he received a deferred sentence of 1 year, 6 months,…
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.