Articles by PEN International
Human rights lawyers and Internet writers Nguyen Van Dai and Le Thi Cong Nhan sentenced to prison
(WiPC/IFEX) – The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN protests the imprisonment of lawyers and internet writers Nguyen Van Dai and Le Thi Cong Nhan (f), who were sentenced to five years and four years respectively by the Hanoi People’s Court on 11 May 2007. PEN is alarmed about an apparent crackdown on leading […]
Publisher acquitted of “insult to Turkishness” in one case, second trial continues; his translator charged with insulting state, memory of Ataturk
(WiPC/IFEX) – The following is a 9 May 2007 WiPC press release: TURKEY: Trial Against Publisher Ragip Zarakolu Ends with Acquittal One of two trials against publisher Ragip Zarakolu that has been dragging on since March 2005 has ended with acquittal. However, the translator of the book for which Zarakolu was tried now faces charges. […]
Journalist Umida Niyazova released following appeals court decision
(WiPC/IFEX) – The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN is delighted by the 8 May 2007 news that journalist and human rights defender, Umida Niyazova, who was sentenced to seven years in prison on 1 May 2007, has had her sentence reduced to a suspended term by an appeal court. According to a report […]
“More to be done to eliminate murder as a means of censorship,” notes WiPC on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day
(WiPC/IFEX) – The following is a WiPC press release: World Press Freedom Day: 3 May 2007 On 3 May 2007, World Press Freedom Day, International PEN joins other freedom of expression organisations world wide in honouring journalists who have been killed in the practice of their professions. This year UNESCO, World Press Freedom Day sponsor, […]
WiPC concerned that detained writer not receiving urgently required medical care
(WiPC/IFEX) – The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN is seriously concerned about the detention of writer and journalist Tran Khai Thanh Thuy, who was reportedly arrested on 21 April 2007 for her critical writings. PEN considers her to be held solely for peacefully exercising her right to free expression. Thuy suffers from diabetes […]
Journalist reportedly tortured during detention, forced to confess alleged crimes
(WiPC/IFEX) – WiPC is seriously concerned about “The Zimbabwean” reporter Gift Phiri, due to stand trial on 25 April 2007 on charges of working as a journalist without official accreditation and “publishing false news”. WiPC is concerned about the treatment Phiri received while in police detention earlier this month, particularly allegations of torture. It fears […]
Journalist’s forced detention in psychiatric hospital, in apparent retaliation for his reporting, extended for six more months
(WiPC/IFEX) – Dzamshid (Jamshid) Karimov, held under psychiatric detention since September 2006, has reportedly had the order extended for a further six months and is now not due to be released until mid-September. The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN fears that Karimov is apparently held in retaliation for his reporting on human rights […]
Two more suspects in Dink murder arrested; “Agos” editors’ charges still pending; publisher avoids court hearing for fear of safety
(WiPC/IFEX) – The following is a 29 March 2007 WiPC press release: Court Cases Against Agos Continue At the time of his murder on 19 January this year, Hrant Dink, the editor of the Turkish Armenian magazine Agos, was on trial in two cases: one, on charges of “insult to Turkishness” for an article quoting […]