PEN International

“Abtin’s death stands a clear reminder of the colossal risks faced by independent writers in Iran and the paramount need to free all writers unjustly imprisoned because of their writings.”

Award winning novelist Kakwenza Rukirabashaija detained without being formally charged.

Uladzimir Mackievič was arrested in August 2021 and charged with organising and preparing actions that grossly violate public order. He has been in pre-trial detention ever since; no date has been set for his trial.

Nobel laureate and PEN International Vice President Orhan Pamuk is under investigation over accusations that he “insulted Atatürk” and the Turkish flag in his novel ‘Nights of Plague’.

“That the Belarusian authorities moved to shut down PEN Belarus on the one-year anniversary of the country’s disputed presidential elections last year is a tragic reminder of the myriad violations faced by the brave people of Belarus in recent months, and their resolve in the face of adversity” – PEN International.

PEN International highlights several cases of Uyghur writers and scholars who received long prison terms, which reflect the worsening censorship and repression targeting Uyghurs and other minorities in China’s Xinjiang region.

Poet Ahnaf Jazeem was arrested on 16 May 2020 under Sri Lanka’s Prevention of Terrorism Act for publishing a Tamil-language poetry anthology which authorities said promote extremism.

Hasél was convicted of “glorifying terrorism” in his lyrics and tweets; he now begins a nine-month prison sentence.