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 ReleaseAdnan Al-Rousan
Journalist, Online CommentatorJordanMiddle East and North AfricaColumnist Al-Rousan was arrested on August 14, 2022 for criticizing the King of Jordan via Facebook. He was charged with inciting conflict and sowing division among the elements of the nation, broadcasting false news that undermines the prestige of the state, defaming an official body, and humiliating a public official.…
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Custodial/Wrongful DeathAdnan Zarra’ai
DramatistSyriaMiddle East and North AfricaPlaywright and scriptwriter Zarra’ai was arrested in February 2012 by the Air Force Intelligence Branch in Aleppo and was detained incommunicado in the State Security Detention Centre in Damascus. His rib was reportedly broken by torture. He remained detained as of December 2018 with little information circulating about his condition,…
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Recorded HarassmentAdonis Milán
Creative artist, DramatistCubaAmericasAfter being kicked out of three state-sponsored cultural institutions for his dissenting views, playwright Milan began working as an independent artist. Authorities monitor him closely; he has been placed under house arrest and preemptively detained twice. In September 2022, it was reported that Milán left Cuba for his safety. However,…
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Conditional ReleaseAfgan Sadygov
Journalist, Online CommentatorGeorgiaEurope and Central AsiaIn May 2020, Sadygov was sentenced to 7 years in prison for extortion. After a prolonged hunger strike, his sentence was reduced to 4 years, and he was pardoned and released in May 2023. He relocated to Georgia that December. In August 2024, Sadygov was detained there, reportedly over political…
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Recorded HarassmentAhdaf Soueif
Literary writerEgyptMiddle East and North AfricaA prominent novelist, Soueif was arrested on March 18, 2020 for protesting for the release of Egyptians left vulnerable to coronavirus in overcrowded prisons and faced charges of “illegal assembly.” She was released the following day on March 19, 2020 after being detained for 30 hours. Since her release, she…
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Conditional ReleaseAhed Tamimi
Activist, Literary writer, Online CommentatorIsrael/Occupied Palestinian TerritoryMiddle East and North AfricaTamimi, a Palestinian activist, is author of They Called Me a Lioness. In November 2023, she was arrested in the West Bank for incitement based on an Instagram post (she denied writing it, alleging her account had been hacked). After being detained in Israeli custody for 3 weeks, she was…
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Recorded HarassmentAhmad Abdulhusain
Journalist, Online Commentator, PoetIraqMiddle East and North AfricaOn July 25, 2018, poet and journalist Ahmad Abdulhusain faced harassment and was dismissed from his position as editor-in-chief at the Iraqi Media Network (IMN), a state-affiliated media institution, after refusing to sign a pledge agreeing not to criticize government officials. Abdulhusain rejected the demand on principle, asserting that such…
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ConvictedAhmad Derakhshan
Activist, Literary writer, Online CommentatorIranMiddle East and North AfricaDerakhshan is a teacher and labor activist who has published collections of fiction. In September 2024, he was summoned to court and interrogated for “propaganda” and “spreading lies.” In December, he was sentenced to one year of discretionary imprisonment and given a travel ban. His teaching license was additionally suspended.…
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Conditional ReleaseAhmad Farhad
Activist, Journalist, Online Commentator, PoetPakistanAsia-PacificPoet, journalist, and activist Ahmad Farhad Shah has been under surveillance for the past two years. On May 14, 2024, he was abducted by unidentified individuals. Prior to his disappearance, Shah posted on his social media about receiving threats from the Inter-Services Intelligence for his criticism of Pakistani authorities. On…
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.