PEN International

Death threats, physical attacks, an emergence of hate speech and accusations of official censorship of critical media have escalated the perilous situation for freedom of expression in Tunisia, say over 20 IFEX members.

The life sentence handed down to poet Mohammed Ibn al-Dheeb al-Ajami for a critical poem he wrote was reduced to fifteen years on 25 February 2013.

Following the arrest of over 70 peaceful demonstrators in Ismayilli, a partnership group is calling on the international community to hold Azerbaijan to the commitments it has taken before the Council of Europe and the UN to uphold freedom of expression.

Filipino poet and activist Ericson Acosta is expected to be released imminently after being detained for almost two years on what are now acknowledged to be trumped up charges of illegal possession of explosives.

Syrian playwright Zaki Cordillo has been detained in Damascus since 13 August 2012 at an unknown location and may be at serious risk of torture and ill-treatment.

Thirty IFEX members protested the sentencing of bloggers, citizen journalists and rights activists, jailed for up to 13 years in the biggest ever trial of pro-democracy activists in Vietnam.

Saudi writer Turki Al-Hamad was arrested on 24 December after sending out a series of controversial tweets. He is at risk of being facing the death penalty.

A leading Uighur writer has spent most of the past eight years detained incommunicado in China without access to family visits, fostering speculation about his condition and possible death.