Articles by PEN International
Leading comedian and poet Zargana released
(WiPC/IFEX) – The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN welcomes the release of poet and comedian Zargana, who is said to be well though exhausted after his three-week detention. Zargana is among many pro-democracy activists reported to have been arrested in the ongoing government crackdown in Burma, including fellow comedian U Par Par Lay, […]
Editor, license owner of “Agos” magazine convicted of “insult to Turkishness”
(WiPC/IFEX) – On 11 October 2007, the Sisli Criminal Court in Istanbul sentenced Arat Dink, the editor of the Armenian Turkish magazine, “Agos”, and the magazine’s licence owner, Sarkis Serkopyan, to one-year suspended prison terms. They were convicted under the notorious Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code on charges of “insult to Turkishness”. International […]
Internet journalist released after five days in detention
(WiPC/IFEX) – The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN welcomes the release of Mohamed Hussein Jimale, correspondent for the news website Puntlandpost.com ( http://www.puntlandpost.com ) on 17 September 2007 following five days of detention. It would like to share the following statement issued by Somali-Speaking PEN: The Somali-speaking Centre of International PEN welcomes the […]
Journalist and photographer detained by authorities following publication of article on official corruption
(WiPC/IFEX) – WiPC is seriously concerned about the detention of journalist Qi Chonghuai, who has been detained since 25 June 2007, apparently for his publication of an article on official corruption. International PEN fears that Qi may be detained in violation of Article 19 of the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights, to which […]
Monk harassed, detained, beaten, allegedly tortured by authorities over critical writings
(WiPC/IFEX) – WiPC is seriously concerned about reports that Tibetan monk and writer Venerable Rinchen Sangpo has been subject to harassment and ill treatment by the authorities since August 2006, when he was released from one month’s detention without charge. PEN is seriously concerned that Rinchen Sangpo appears to be targeted for his critical writings, […]
Detained editor allegedly abused, his health deteriorating
(WiPC/IFEX) – The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN is seriously concerned by reports that Hada (editor’s note: the Mongols in Inner Mongolia use only one name), a Mongolian political prisoner held since 1995, has been recently maltreated in detention. International PEN believes Hada, who is serving a fifteen-year sentence for his writings, is […]
WiPC seriously concerned for the health of imprisoned writer Dolma Kyab
(WiPC/IFEX) – WiPC is seriously concerned for the health of teacher and writer Dolma Kyab (aka Lobsang Kelsang Gyatso), whose health is said to have deteriorated in detention. International PEN believes Dolma Kyab, who is serving a 10-year sentence for his writings, is held in violation of his rights to freedom of expression as guaranteed […]
Four Kurdish journalists and writers arrested for expressing support for two colleagues sentenced to death
(WiPC/IFEX) – WiPC is alarmed by the death sentence handed down to Iranian Kurdish journalist, writer and human rights activist Adnan Hassanpour on 16 July 2007. Hassanpour, who was arrested on 25 January 2007, is believed to have been convicted of being a mohareb (“enemy of God”) and “acting against national security”, apparently for expressing […]