Articles by PEN International
Writer and nuclear scientist Yury Bandazhevsky refused early release
(WiPC/IFEX) – Writer and nuclear scientist Yury Bandazhevsky was refused early release by the Belarus authorities in January 2005. The WiPC of International PEN considers Bandazhevsky to be detained in violation of his right to freedom of expression. Reports that he is in ill health add to the urgency of the organisation’s call for Bandazhevsky’s […]
PEN receives reports of writers freed
(WiPC/IFEX) – According to information received by International PEN’s WiPC, Vietnamese writers Nguyen Dan Que, Nguyen Van Ly and Nguyen Dinh Huy have left their internment camps. The three men were reported to have been granted amnesty on the occasion of the Vietnamese new year. According to reports, Nguyen Van Ly has gone to Hue, […]
Austrian author receives suspended six-month prison sentence
WiPC/IPA/IFEX) – The following is a joint WiPC, IPA and International Booksellers Federation (IBF) appeal to Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis: Kostas Karamanlis Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic Maximos Mansion (“Megaro Maximou”) 19, Herodou Attikou str GR-106 74 Athens 02 February 2005 Your Excellency, The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN, the International Publishers’ […]
Writer Yang Tianshui released, two others remain in prison
(WiPC/IFEX) – According to information furnished to International PEN’s WiPC, Yang Tianshui was released on 25 January 2005. Yang was arrested on 24 December 2004 in Hangzhou, some 100 km south of Shanghai, on charges of “inciting subversion of state power”. Yang, aged 43, is a freelance writer who was imprisoned for 10 years for […]
Writer and publisher to face hearings on 2 March 2005
(WiPC/IFEX) – International PEN is concerned that writers continue to be tried in direct denial of their right to freedom of expression despite recent changes to Turkish laws. Two of Turkey’s most noted dissident writers, Fikret Baskaya and Ragip Zarakolu, will be appearing in separate courts on 2 March 2005. International PEN will be sending […]
Two writers arrested
(WiPC/IFEX) – Two more writers are reported to have been arrested in China in recent days as part of an apparent crackdown against dissent. Academic Li Boguang and writer Yang Tianshui are reported to remain detained after having been arrested on 14 December and 24 December 2004 respectively. International PEN is calling on the Chinese […]
Playwright receives death threats, goes into hiding; English PEN launches campaign against “offence” law
(WiPC/IFEX) – The following is a WiPC, International PEN, advisory: UNITED KINGDOM: ENGLISH PEN SETS UP CAMPAIGN AGAINST “OFFENCE” LAW AS PLAYWRIGHT GOES INTO HIDING As playwright Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti goes into hiding following death threats from Sikh extremists, the British Government moves to introduce legislation that could make it illegal to express provocative views […]
IPA and International PEN issue joint guide on Penal Code
(IPA/WiPC/IFEX) – The following is a 16 December 2004 joint IPA and International PEN press release: New Turkish Penal Code Threatens Freedom of Expression Publishers and Writers Alarm EU on New Turkish Penal Code and suggest immediate ways to improve its content Late last week, the International Publishers’ Association (IPA) and International PEN urged Jan […]