Articles by PEN International
Editor Morteza Firouzi in imminent danger of execution
(WiPC/IFEX) -Morteza Firouzi, editor of the English-language daily “Iran News”, was sentenced to death in January on charges of espionage. His appeal has reportedly now been rejected by the Supreme Court and he may be hanged in the next few days. Only a commutation issued by Iran’s leader may save him. **Update to IFEX alerts […]
Journalists released
(WiPC/IFEX) – WiPC, International PEN reports that journalists Akinwumi Adesokan and Jenkins Alumona were both released on 31 December 1997. Alumona, editor of “The News”, was arrested in Lagos on 8 November 1997. Adesokan, novelist and former literary correspondent for “The News”, was arrested on 12 November 1997. **Updates IFEX alerts of 23 and 4 […]
Additional information on release of Faraj Sarkuhi
(WiPC/IFEX) – PEN reports that, as anticipated, Faraj Sarkuhi was released on the morning of 28 January 1998. PEN confirms that Sarkuhi telephoned his family members in Europe. At present, PEN has no further news regarding his current condition or plans. **Further to earlier IFEX update of 29 January 1998** PEN released the following statement: […]
Fears for safety of detained journalists and writers
(WiPC/IFEX) – At the year’s end, the Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN is becoming increasingly concerned by the escalation of attacks on writers and journalists in Nigeria. Four journalists remain in long-term detention, and, given the notoriously bad prison conditions in the country’s prisons – one well-known political prisoner (not a writer) recently […]
Playwright Ali Sneid sentenced to eighteen months in prison
(WiPC/IFEX) – According to Amnesty International, playwright Ali Sneid was recently sentenced to eighteen months’ imprisonment. **Updates IFEX alert dated 14 October 1997** Background Information According to reports PEN has received, Sneid was detained on 26 September at the bus station in Madaba while boarding a bus. He was initially held in the custody of […]
Further information on Wei Jingsheng’s release; at least 36 other writers remain in prison, says WiPC
**Further to IFEX alert update of 17 November 1997. Updates alerts of 28 and 21 October, 29 August, 1 July 1997 and others** (WiPC/IFEX) In the following update, WIPC provides further information on Wei’s health and action recommendations regarding his exile and the situation of other prisoners. “The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN […]
Writer Esber Yagmurdereli released on health grounds; poet and publisher Recep Marasli remains in detention
(WiPC/IFEX) – On 9 November 1997, writer Esber Yagmurdereli was released provisionally for one year on health grounds. Nevertheless, the threat of re-imprisonment still hangs over him. **Updates IFEX alerts dated 23 October 1997, 19 December and 26 May 1995 (Esber Yagmurdereli); and 10 October, 30 September, 20 May and 19 March 1997 (Recep Marasli)** […]
Writers in Prison Committee responds to Ministry of Justice’s claim that there are no prisoners of conscience in South Korea
(WiPC/IFEX) – International PEN believes that there are a number of writers in prison in South Korea who are guilty of no criminal activity, but have been sentenced merely as a result of their freely-expressed opinions. Although they may have infringed the National Security Law, PEN believes that this law is itself problematic: its vague, […]