PEN Canada envisions a world where
writers are free to write,
readers are free to read,
and freedom of expression prevails
PEN Canada’s Ken Filkow prize recognizes an individual or group that has advanced freedom of expression in Canada.
PEN International is shocked and deeply saddened by the news that Lyra McKee, a 29-year-old journalist, was shot and killed in Northern Ireland last night while covering rioting in Derry. McKee was a young, passionate and courageous journalist, described as a ‘tireless advocate and activist’ for the LGBTI community. Responding to the news, Salil Tripathi, chair of PEN International’s Writers […]
The Italian authorities should immediately drop criminal defamation charges against writer, journalist and PEN award winner Roberto Saviano, and repeal all criminal defamation laws, PEN International and English PEN said today. On March 20, 2019, Roberto Saviano announced that he had been summoned to stand trial on charges of defaming Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and Interior […]
PEN International strongly condemns the apparent increasing use of military legislation and courts to prosecute writers in Egypt. Article 204 of the 2014 Constitution provides that civilians cannot stand trial before military courts except for crimes related to military sector. Furthermore, trying civilians by the military justice in Egypt contravenes Articles 9, 14 and 19 of the International […]
With the adoption of two new laws criminalising ‘insult’ to the state and the dissemination of ‘fake news’, as well as plans to increase government control of the Internet, the Russian authorities are imposing further, excessive restrictions on freedom of expression and undermining media freedom, PEN International, PEN Moscow and St Petersburg PEN said today. […]
PEN welcomes the release of Rashad Ramazanov, an Azerbaijani blogger and writer who was arrested on May 9, 2013 and sentenced to nine years in prison on fabricated charges of illegal possession and sale of drugs.
PEN International joins Danish, Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish PEN centres in expressing deep concern for the well-being of Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh, who was handed over 38 years in prison and 148 lashes for national security-related offences.
PEN Canada is currently accepting submissions for the 2019 RBC/PEN Canada New Voices Award. The competition is for unpublished writers aged 17-30. The winner receives a $3,000 cash prize and mentorship from a distinguished Canadian writer. You can submit an entry here up to midnight of April 15, 2019 April 21 2019. This year the […]
PEN Canada pays tribute to the life and work of Margaret Atwood and Graeme Gibson in a conversation with Rick Mercer. Join PEN Canada as we honour literary power couple Margaret Atwood and Graeme Gibson, founding members and past presidents of our centre. We’ll engage them in conversation about their early days with PEN — they […]
Artist and journalist Zehra Doğan was released yesterday from Tarsus prison in Mersin, Turkey, after serving over five hundred days behind bars. Doğan was given a prison sentence of two years, nine months and 22 days on a charge of ‘propagandising for a terrorist organisation’ for her work as a painter and journalist. Doğan should […]
Finding the Words: Writers on Inspiration, Desire, War, Celebrity, Exile, and Breaking the Rules