Articles by PEN International
Esber Yagmurdereli: Twenty-one years of a perversion of justice
(WiPC/IFEX) – The following is a WiPC release on jailed writer Esber Yagmurdereli: **Updates IFEX alerts of 5 June and 29 January 1998, 17 November, 14 November, 23 October and 25 July 1997, 19 December and 26 May 1995** “There is nothing further I can do. I am ready to go to jail and wait […]
WiPC alarmed by dissident writer’s arrest; widespread government crackdown on dissidents feared
(WiPC/IFEX) – WiPC is greatly alarmed by the arrest and detention of geologist and dissident writer Nguyen Thanh Giang, reportedly for possessing documents critical of the government. According to news reports, Giang was arrested in Hanoi on 4 March 1999. Communist Party sources have been quoted as saying that he is likely to be sentenced […]
Writer Wang Lixiong released
(WiPC/IFEX) – WiPC has been informed that Chinese author Wang Lixiong was released without charge on 11 March 1999 following the intervention of a USA State Department spokesperson on the case. Wang Lixiong was reportedly arrested in the Xinjiang Autonomous Region on 4 February for “revealing state secrets.” It is believed that Wang had been […]
Writer detained in Xinjiang
(WiPC/IFEX) – WiPC has received confirmation that Chinese author Wang Lixiong was arrested in Xinjiang Province. According to WiPC’s information, he was detained on 4 February 1999 and officially arrested on 11 February, although his family were not informed of the arrest until 4 March. As of 10 March Wang remained detained for investigation. **For […]
Malaolu released
(WiPC/IFEX) – Journalist Niran Malaolu was released on 4 March 1999 following a general pardon issued by General Abdulsalam Abubakar, Chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council. A group of ninety-five prisoners sentenced for their participation in an alleged coup attempt in 1997 have all benefited from the same measure. **Updates IFEX alerts of 4 March […]
Three years on, poet still jailed without charge or trial
(WiPC/IFEX) – The following is a 10 February 1999 WiPC letter to Shaikh Issa Bin Salman Al-Khalifa, Amir of Bahrain, protesting the continued incarceration of poet and religious scholar Sheikh Al-Jamri without charge or trial: **Updates IFEX alerts of 17 February 1998, 11 October, 4 October and 19 June 1995** His Highness Shaikh Issa Bin […]
WiPC Special Action for International Women’s Day, 8 March 1999
(WiPC/IFEX) – The following is a WiPC Special Action for International Women’s Day, 8 March 1999. International Women’s Day falls on 8 March 1999. The WiPC has traditionally highlighted the cases of women writers and journalists who are facing persecution and who may benefit from publicity on their cases. A number of Centres have requested […]
Niran Malaolu: increased concerns about journalist’s health after nearly fourteen months in prison
(WiPC/IFEX) – WiPC is gravely concerned about journalist Niran Malaolu, who is reportedly being denied urgent medical treatment despite his rapidly deteriorating health. On a recent visit to Katsina prison, Malaolu’s wife, Bukola, found her husband critically ill. According to her, he has still not been treated for typhoid fever contracted several months ago and […]