Articles by PEN International
CAPSULE REPORT: Silencing of journalists with criminal defamation laws continues in 2008, says WiPC
(WiPC/IFEX) – The following is a WiPC capsule report: DEFAMATION AND ‘INSULT’: WRITERS REACT FREE EXPRESSION, CORRUPTION AND CRIMINAL DEFAMATION IN AFRICA: HOW CRIMINAL DEFAMATION, INSULT AND LIBEL LAWS ARE USED TO SILENCE AFRICAN JOURNALISTS In January 2008, the Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC) of International PEN released a report on how criminal defamation legislation […]
Publisher faces possible prison sentence at upcoming trial hearing
(WiPC/IFEX) – The following is an abridged version of a 17 March 2008 International PEN press release: TURKEY: Fears that 8 April Trial Hearing Will Lead to Sentencing of Publisher Ragip Zarakolu The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN fears that a trial hearing on 8 April 2008 will end with the sentencing, possibly […]
Growing concerns for the health and safety of controversial feminist Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasrin in Delhi
(WiPC/IFEX) – International PEN’s Writers in Prison Committee is increasingly concerned for the safety and well-being of Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasrin, who has been under government protection in a safe house in Delhi since 21 November 2007. Her health is said to be rapidly deteriorating and there are concerns about her treatment in confinement and […]
Appeals court orders that novelist serve full term in prison; risk of re-arrest
(WiPC/IFEX) – WiPC has learned with alarm of the threat of re-arrest of novelist Yaghoub Yadali. He was sentenced on charges of “insult” in September 2007 to one year in prison, and nine months of the term were suspended. However, on 24 February 2008 an appeals court ordered that he serve the term in prison. […]
Banned women writers continue to denounce injustices, risking arrest and lengthy imprisonment, says WiPC
(WiPC/IFEX) – The following is an abridged version of a 4 March 2008 WiPC press release: Women Writing Under Surveillance in China Five months exactly before the opening of the Beijing Olympics on 8 August 2008, International PEN is marking International Women’s Day (8 March) by celebrating the work of three women writers under threat […]
Serious health concerns for long-detained writers Xu Wei, Jin Haike, Yang Zili and Zhang Honghai; reports of ill-treatment
(WiPC/IFEX) – The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN is seriously concerned by recent reports of deteriorating health and lack of sufficient medical treatment for detained writers Xu Wei, Jin Haike, Yang Zili and Zhang Honghai, who are all serving lengthy sentences on subversion charges for their critical writings. PEN calls for them to […]
Writer and student leader Amin Ghazaei detained, fears of ill-treatment and health concerns
(WiPC/IFEX) – The WiPC of International PEN is seriously concerned about the detention of writer and activist Amin Ghazaei, who has been held incommunicado without charge since 14 January 2008. He is among scores of student activists to have been detained in December 2007 and Janaury 2008. WiPC fears that he may be detained solely […]
CAPSULE REPORT: Criminal defamation, insult and libel laws used to silence African journalists, says WiPC report
(WiPC/IFEX) – The following is a 29 January 2008 WiPC report: DEFAMATION AND ‘INSULT’: WRITERS REACT FREE EXPRESSION, CORRUPTION AND CRIMINAL DEFAMATION IN AFRICA: HOW CRIMINAL DEFAMATION, INSULT AND LIBEL LAWS ARE USED TO SILENCE AFRICAN JOURNALISTS The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN today makes available the sixth and final in a series […]