PEN International

Articles by PEN International

A Turkish soldier stands guard outside the Silivri Prison and Courthouse complex in Istanbul, 27 December 2016. A PEN delegation held a vigil outside the prison on 26 January 2017, REUTERS/Osman Orsal

World writers join PEN in solidarity with Turkey’s imprisoned writers, as high-level mission ends

As a high-level mission ends in Istanbul, leading world writers join PEN in a message of solidarity to Turkish writers protesting the heavy-handed crackdown against free expression in the country.

Asia round-up: Campaign for imprisoned Chinese writers, attacks on media, digital media gains and more

December: World authors campaign to release Chinese writers; relative calm in Nepal’s media; targeted killings in Philippines and Burma; recognition of digital journalists in Hong Kong.

Ahmet Sik, pen international

Turkish investigative journalist Ahmet Şık arrested

Şık was arrested at his home in Istanbul this morning as a government crackdown targeting critical voices in the press intensified further.

Ahmad Naji, Facebook

Egyptian novelist Ahmed Naji released from prison pending appeal

Naji has served 10 months of a sentence imposed in February 2016 for ‘violating public modesty’. The court suspended his sentence pending his appeal scheduled for 1 January 2017. He was released on 22 December.

The Douma 4: Samira Al-Khalil, Nazim Hammadi, Razan Zaitouneh and Wa’el Hamada

Three years on and no word on Douma’s missing activists

The prominent Syrian human rights defenders Razan Zaitouneh, Samira Al-Khalil, Wa’el Hamada and Nazim Hammadi remain missing three years after armed men abducted them.

The Douma 4: Samira Al-Khalil, Nazim Hammadi, Razan Zaitouneh and Wa’el Hamada

Three years on and no word on Douma’s missing activists

The prominent Syrian human rights defenders Razan Zaitouneh, Samira Al-Khalil, Wa’el Hamada and Nazim Hammadi remain missing three years after armed men abducted them.

Imprisoned journalist Faisal Hayyat

Bahrain must cease judicial harassment of Faisal Hayyat and other Bahraini journalists

48 human rights organizations have signed a letter asking King Hamad to cease its judicial harassment of human rights defenders and its violation of their right to freedom of expression.

Link to: Australia urged to process Kurdish Iranian journalist’s asylum claim

Australia urged to process Kurdish Iranian journalist’s asylum claim

In September 2015, a coalition of international and Australian human rights groups launched a campaign on behalf of Kurdish Iranian journalist Behrouz Boochani, then held in immigration detention on Manus Island, Papua New Guinea (PNG) where he had been sent by Australian officials against his will.