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
On TrialMehmet Sahin
JournalistTürkiyeEurope and Central AsiaSahin, a Kurdish columnist, has faced ongoing persecution since 2016, including job dismissal and lawsuits. In June 2022, Sahin was arrested along with 15 other Kurdish journalists in Diyarbakir as part of a series of mass raids and arrests of journalists on charges of “membership in a terrorist organization.” He…
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On TrialMehmet Üçar
Creative artist, JournalistTürkiyeEurope and Central AsiaKurdish journalist Mehmet Üçar was arrested and held in pre-trial detention in November 2024, on spurious charges of “membership in a terrorist organization” related to his reporting for the newspaper Yeni Özgür Politika and the magazine PolitikArt, which the government considers to be “publishing under the guidance of the PKK/KCK…
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ImprisonedMehrzad Mousavi
Literary writer, ScholarIranMiddle East and North AfricaHistorian Mousavi was arrested in November 2023. In March 2024, he was sentenced to 11 years in prison for “collusion” and “propaganda.” As of March 2025, his physical health had seriously declined while in prison. He is also subject to two years of exile, a travel ban, and restricted internet…
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Under ThreatMemduh Bayraktaroglu
Journalist, Online CommentatorTürkiyeEurope and Central AsiaBayraktaroglu is a columnist for Korkusuz newspaper. On February 24, 2023 a group of alleged ultranationalists attempted to raid his home following a tweet he posted two days earlier. The International Press Institute condemned the attacks and called for an investigation. Bayraktaroglu filed charges against MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli, citing…
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DetainedMemetjan Abliz Boriyar
Literary writer, Publisher, ScholarChina/Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous RegionAsia-PacificBoriyar was one of 14 staff members at the Uyghur-run Kashgar Publishing House to be arrested and detained in 2018 for his role in the publication of books deemed “problematic” by the Chinese government for their “improper” political content. Boriyar had approved the release of more than 100 books that…
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Displaced/In ExileMeral Şimşek
Literary writer, PoetTürkiyeEurope and Central AsiaŞimşek is a Kurdish writer targeted for her poetry and other writings. She faces multiple trials on spurious “terrorism” charges. In June 2021, she was detained while trying to flee Türkiye by Greek authorities and was deported after being beaten and strip searched. In October 2022, she was convicted of…
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DetainedMerdan Yanardağ
Journalist, Literary writer, Online CommentatorTürkiyeEurope and Central AsiaJournalist Yanardağ faced two trials in 2023. He was tried for “insulting the president” starting in March, based on a 2022 article, and was acquitted in November. He was also detained in June after criticizing Abdullah Öcalan’s treatment in prison and tried for “terrorist propaganda,” but was acquitted and released…
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DetainedMesaed Al-Musaileem
Activist, Online CommentatorKuwaitMiddle East and North AfricaMesaed Al-Musaileem is a Kuwaiti activist and online commentator who has faced multiple convictions in absentia and ongoing legal persecution linked to his activism and social media activity. After years of legal cases and prison sentences in Kuwait, he left the country in 2015 and later sought asylum in Bosnia…
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Continued HarassmentMeysam Rashidi
Journalist, Online ComentatorIranMiddle East and North AfricaMeysam Rashidi, an Iranian online commentator and sports journalist, was detained on August 5, 2025, after posting critical comments online about the Ardabil municipality following a complaint by the mayor. He was released on bail on August 7, 2025, pending trial. Earlier, on March 7, 2025, he was reportedly attacked…
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.