(WiPC/IFEX) – The following is the full text of a letter by Moris Farhi, Chair of the Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN, which calls for the release of all writers and journalists currently imprisoned in Nigeria. “Sir, Reacting to the death of Nigeria’s President, General Sani Abacha, the Writers in Prison Committee of […]
(WiPC/IFEX) – The following is the full text of a letter by Moris Farhi,
Chair of the Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN, which calls
for the release of all writers and journalists currently imprisoned in
Nigeria.
“Sir,
Reacting to the death of Nigeria’s President, General Sani Abacha, the
Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN calls for the immediate
release of all writers and journalists imprisoned in Nigeria.
“PEN delegates from 31 countries are meeting in Chichester this week to
discuss freedom of expression and human rights concerns. Many PEN Centres
around the world have elected a number of jailed Nigerian writers and
journalists as their honorary members and have campaigned to have their
colleagues released.
“Since the execution of the writer Ken Saro-Wiwa in 1995, PEN has also
intensified its efforts to end the arbitrary detention and harassment of
writers and journalists in Nigeria.
“The Writers in Prison Committee also urges that all charges against Nobel
Laureate Wole Soyinka be dropped and expresses its hope that all Nigerian
writers in exile be allowed to return home, if they so wish, without fear of
persecution.
“Finally, PEN reminds multinational enterprises in Nigeria of their ethical
duty to uphold international standards of free expression and promote human
rights in Nigeria.
“Moris Farhi
Chair”
