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
DetainedMahmoud Fatafta
Journalist, Online Commentator, ScholarIsrael/Occupied Palestinian TerritoryMiddle East and North AfricaMahmoud Fatafta is a Palestinian columnist, political commentator, and professor of politics and media. On May 29, 2024, he was arrested at an Israeli checkpoint near Abu Dis as he was driving with his 10-year-old son, who was left stranded until a relative arrived. At a hearing on June 3,…
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DetainedMahmoud Saad Diab
Journalist, Online CommentatorEgyptMiddle East and North AfricaDiab, a columnist and online commentator, has written opinion pieces on international issues for Al-Ahram, a state-run newspaper. He was arrested at Cairo International Airport on September 6, 2022 while boarding a flight to China. Two months later, he was charged with conspiring against the state with a foreign organization.…
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Conditional ReleaseMahmoud Zeid
Creative artist, JournalistEgyptMiddle East and North AfricaShawkan was arrested while taking photos of the Rabaa Massacre in August 2013 and initially faced the death penalty due to a slew of arbitrary charges. He served years in prison and was released in March 2019 under conditional release. He must report every night from 6 p.m. to 6…
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ImprisonedMahvash Sabet
Literary writer, PoetIranMiddle East and North AfricaA literary writer, poet, and member of the Baha’i community, Mahvash Sabet was arrested in July 2022. In November, she was sentenced to 10 years in prison on national security charges in a speedy trial. According to fellow prisoner Narges Mohammadi, Sabet has suffered torture and ill treatment in custody,…
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Displaced/In ExileMaidul Islam
Activist, Online Commentator, ScholarBangladeshAsia-PacificMaidul Islam was arrested on September 28, 2018 for online comments he made against Bangladesh’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina. He was detained for 40 days and suspended from his university position. Islam’s wife, Rozyna Begum, also reported various instances of harassment following Islam’s arrest. On August 23, 2023, following weeks…
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ReleasedMaina wa Kinyatti
Literary writer, ScholarKenyaSub-Saharan AfricaA Marxist historian, Kinyatti served six years in prison from 1982-1988 for his criticism of authoritarian president Daniel arap Moi. During his time in prison, he was severely mistreated and spent most time in solitary confinement. He is now in political asylum in the US.
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ReleasedMajid Tavakoli
Activist, Journalist, Online CommentatorIranMiddle East and North AfricaActivist Tavakoli has been targeted by authorities since 2006. He was arrested at his home in September 2022 for his online commentary in support of the protests in Iran. He was released on bail in December 2022. In July 2023, he was sentenced to 6 years in prison for “threatening…
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ImprisonedMaksim Znak
JournalistBelarusEurope and Central AsiaZnak, a prominent lawyer, poet, musician, and member of the Belarus Coordination Council formed to lead peaceful protests against President Alexander Lukashenko’s controversial re-election, was a close associate and legal counsel to Mariya Kalesnikava. He was arrested on September 9, 2020, after Kalesnikava refused to leave Belarus. Znak was convicted…
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Recorded HarassmentMalaka Dewapriya
Creative artist, DramatistSri LankaAsia-PacificPlaywright, visual artist, and filmmaker Dewapriya was reportedly interrogated by the Police Organized Crimes Divisions for four hours in October 2019 after a Buddhist monk accused him of distorting Buddhist terminology in his radio series “Kanata Parak” (Earful of Visuals). Dewapriya was recognised twice as the Best Radio Drama Scriptwriter…
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.