Articles by PEN International
Detained poet released
(WiPC/IFEX) – Poet Reynaldo Soto Hernandez was reportedly released from prison on 6 September 1997 upon completion of his three year sentence under the “dangerousness” law. **Updates IFEX alert dated 10 April 1996** Soto Hernandez, who was also a human rights activist and a journalist for the Cuba Press news agency, had been arrested in […]
Anniversary of mysterious death of Iranian writer and translator; other suspicious deaths recalled; state tv broadcasts program denouncing writers; fear among writers in Iran after intimidation and detentions
The 53-year-old Iranian translator Ahmad Miralai was reportedly detained by security forces on 24 October 1995 and taken to a hotel for questioning. A few hours later, his body was found in Isfahan. A half empty bottle and cigarettes were said to be lying beside his body, which had injection marks in it (see IFEX […]
Writer and poet Mansur Rajih on death row for over thirteen years
The writer and poet Mansur Muhammad Mansur Rajih has been detained under sentence of death for over thirteen years. He was convicted of murder by the Ta’iz Court of First Instance in March 1984, subsequently upheld by the Court of Appeal in 1986 and finalised by the Supreme Court in Sana’a. He faces execution if […]
Writer Liu Xiaobo served with three year sentence
Liu Xiaobo, a writer and outspoken critic of the Chinese government, was arrested on 8 October 1996 and summarily sentenced the following day to three years’ “re-education through labour.” It is reported that his sentence is linked to his petition last month for freedom of speech and the right to form independent politic parties. Background […]
Cuba Press correspondent Reynaldo Soto Hernandez remains in prison
October 1996 marks the first anniversary of the founding of the independent Cuban news agency Cuba Press. However, one of its correspondents, the award-winning poet and journalist Reynaldo Soto Hernandez, has been imprisoned for almost two years. Soto was detained around January 1995 and sentenced to three years in prison under the vaguely-defined “dangerousness” law. […]
Writer Nguyen Xuan Tu sentenced to twelve months in prison
Writer and biologist Nguyen Xuan Tu, also known as Ha Si Phu, was given a twelve month prison sentence on 22 August 1996 on charges of possessing “secret” documents. No details are presently available to International PEN as to the nature of these documents. It is feared, however, that the real reason for his arrest […]
Concerns at lack of medical provision for imprisoned writers
Reports have been received of lack of medical provision and in some cases denial of medical treatment for imprisoned writers in China. They include: **For background to cases, see IFEX alerts as noted in text** Chen Ziming, a publisher, sentenced to 13 years in prison for “counter-revolution” in February 1991 and held in Beijing No […]
Some religious writers freed in Iran while others remain in prison
Four religious writers and scholars have been released from prison in Iran after international pressure. The four are followers of the Garnd Ayatalloh Shirazi and were detained at the end of 1995. There were fears that they had been badly tortured. Hujjatol Islam Sheikh Jafar Ghani, Hujjatol Islam Muhammed Ali Ma’ash, Hujjatol Islam wal Muslimin […]