One Humanity Award

Sayed Parwez Kambakhsh, a student at Balkh university and reporter for the local daily Jahan-e-naw (the new world), was arrested on October 27, 2007 for blasphemy, after circulating an article downloaded from the internet which claimed that the Prophet Mohammed had ignored women’s rights. In January 2008, he was sentenced to death after a closed hearing with no legal representation. This sentence was later commuted to 20 years in prison. On September 7, 2009 the Afghan Ministry of Justice confirmed that Kambakhsh had been released two weeks earlier under a Presidential pardon.

At PEN Canada’s 2010 Toronto International Festival of Authors (known then as IFOA) Annual Benefit, Sayed Parwez Kambakhsh was awarded PEN Canada’s One Humanity Award, made possible at the time by the generosity of PEN supporter Florence Minz.

Marian Botsford Fraser, Chair of PEN International’s WiPC, accepted the award on his behalf. “Parwez Kambakhsh is safe, in exile,” said Botsford Fraser, “but I don’t think he can yet be said to be free as he did not feel it was wise to travel here tonight. Instead, he sent me these words to read to you: ‘I am sorry that for many reasons I cannot be here. But anyway, let me say my most sincere thanks to PEN Canada. For their good faith towards me, I am thankful. I will use this money to spend on my education. And I say endless thanks to you, for releasing me from prison.’”