PEN International

Articles by PEN International

Mazen Darwish, SCM Director

Call to release freedom of expression defenders held incommunicado

Over 80 groups around the world call on the authorities to free human rights defenders, journalists, bloggers and writers, some of whom have been detained incommunicado; and request help from UN Special Envoy to Syria Kofi Annan.

Link to: Poet reportedly sentenced to death, detention location unknown

Poet reportedly sentenced to death, detention location unknown

WiPC is extremely concerned about the condition and whereabouts of Abdelmoniem Rahma, who was arrested in September 2011 in Blue Nile State.

Link to: Two members of the Iranian Writers Association imprisoned

Two members of the Iranian Writers Association imprisoned

Manijeh Najm Eraghi was arrested on 3 June 2012 after being summoned by Tehran’s State Security police, and transferred to Evin Prison to serve out a one-year prison sentence.

Participants at the 21 May event organised during Bahrain's UPR in Geneva., BCHR/GCHR

Rights organisations alarmed over threats to civil society after trip to UN

Human rights defenders, activists, journalists, doctors and lawyers who attended Bahrain UPR events in Geneva in May with IFEX members and partners have been threatened for speaking out about violations.

Ayman Omrane

Anthology of Tunisian Revolution released in French

IFEX-TMG and PEN’s Anthology of freedom of expression, now available in English, French and Arabic, honours the writers, activists and photographers who contributed to the struggle for free expression in Tunisia.

Nawaat.org/IFEX-TMG

IFEX-TMG calls for seven-year sentences to be overturned

Ahead of a court of appeal hearing on 28 May, IFEX-TMG urges judiciary to quash the seven-year prison terms handed down to Ghazi Ben Mohamed Beji and Jaber Ben Abdallah Majri for online publishing.

One hundred organisations call to end assault on freedom of speech, and to free all detained human rights defenders and netizens

UPDATE: The president of IFEX member Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR), Nabeel Rajab, was re-arrested and sentenced to three years in prison on 16 August. Many other human rights defenders remain in prison, including BCHR’s founder Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, and his daughter, Zainab Al-Khawaja.

Link to: Writer arrested, held incommunicado

Writer arrested, held incommunicado

Salama Kila was arrested on 23 April 2012 for his writings about the recent events taking place in the country, and is considered to be at serious risk of torture and ill-treatment.