Articles by PEN America
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, […]
Government newspaper publishes “confession” by Faraj Sarkoohi allegedly extracted under torture
(PEN/IFEX) – PEN American Center reports that an article in the 3 November 1997 edition of the government newspaper “Jomhouri Eslami” contained a “confession” by detained editor Faraj Sarkoohi, which was allegedly extracted under torture with the intent to discredit him. In the article written by Sarkoohi, who is currently serving a one-year sentence for […]
PEN receives reply to appeal on assault of journalist Leung Tin-wai
**Updates IFEX alert of 17 May 1996** PEN American Center received a reply to its letter to Hong Kong Governor Chris Patten expressing concern at the attack on editor Leung Tin-Wai. The letter, signed by Patten, follows: “Dear Ms. Hollander, “Thank you for your letter of 17 May 1996. I fully share your concerns about […]
Mumia Abu-Jamal granted stay of execution
**Updates IFEX alerts dated 2 August, 26,19,14 and 7 July 1995** On 7 August 1995, Philadelphia Judge Albert Sabo granted the black journalist and writer Mumia Abu-Jamal an indefinite stay of execution until such time as all proceedings in his case have been concluded. Abu-Jamal was scheduled to be executed on 17 August. In a […]
Proposed Amendment to the Constitution prohibiting desecration of US flag
On 25 May 1995, a Subcommittee on the Constitution of the House of Representatives agreed by a seven-to-five vote on a proposed constitutional amendment empowering Congress and the states to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States of America. The proposed amendment (H. J. Res. 79) will next be considered by […]