Articles by PEN America
Poets’ statement on behalf of imprisoned Albanian poet
(PEN/IFEX) – The following is a PEN poets’ statement addressed to President Slobodan Milosevic on behalf of imprisoned Albanian poet Flora Brovina: **Updates IFEX alerts of 23 June and 30 April 1999** PEN POETS’ STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF IMPRISONED ALBANIAN POET FLORA BROVINA August 27, 1999 As poets, we write to express our outrage at […]
PEN supports appeal for free expression from Iranian writers
(PEN/IFEX) – The following is a PEN American Center press release: PRESS RELEASE July 15, 1999 URGENT MESSAGE FROM IRANIAN WRITERS PEN SUPPORTS APPEAL FOR FREE EXPRESSION PEN American Center calls your attention to the following urgent appeal by Iranian writers in response to the recent wave of violence and censorship. Please circulate widely among […]
Turkish playwright and Syrian poet to receive 1999 PEN/Barbara Goldsmith Freedom-to-Write Awards
(PEN/IFEX) – The following is a 29 April PEN American Center press release: April 29, 1999 Turkish Playwright and Syrian Poet to Receive 1999 PEN/Barbara Goldsmith Freedom-to-Write Awards Blind Turkish playwright, poet, short story author, screenwriter, and lawyer Esber Yagmurdereli, fifty-three, has been in and out of prison since 1978. He was released in 1991, […]
Florida teacher wins 1999 PEN/Newman’s Own First Amendment Award
(PEN/IFEX) – The following is a 29 April PEN American Center press release: April 29, 1999 Florida Teacher Wins 1999 PEN/Newman’s Own First Amendment Award ReLeah Lent, an English teacher at Mosley High School in Lynn Haven, Florida, has been named winner of the 1999 PEN/Newman’s Own First Amendment Award. Described by her students as […]
PEN expresses its concern over Veran Matic’s detention
(PEN/IFEX) – PEN American Center expressed grave concern about the 24 March 1999 arrest and detention of Radio B92 editor-in-chief Veran Matic, who was released shortly before noon (local time) after being held in police custody for more than eight hours without access to family or lawyers. According to PEN’s information, neither Matic, who is […]
PEN issues open letter to Iranian leader further to sustained attacks on the press; writers questioned
(PEN/IFEX) – The following open letter to President Khatami of Iran was issued by PEN on 8 October 1998: **For recent examples of attacks on the press in Iran, see IFEX alerts of 8 October, 2 October, 23 September, 20 September 1998 and others** Your Excellency, As a worldwide organization of writers dedicated to protecting […]
International PEN President Homero Aridjis receives death threats
(PEN/IFEX) – According to PEN American Center, Homero Aridjis, President of International PEN, President of the Group of 100 and internationally renowned author and poet, has been the target of continuing death threats. On Monday 17 August 1998, Aridjis received a death threat on his answering machine, with intimidating and insulting language directed against him […]
Newspaper office raided; staff members detained
(PEN/IFEX) – According to PEN American Center, on 26 April 1998, officials from the Gambian Immigration Department, the National Intelligence Agency and the police raided the news bureau of “The Daily Observer” newspaper while it was in production. While the officials apparently came looking for writers and editors who had already left for the day, […]