Every year in December, members of the PEN community come together to write messages of solidarity, support and hope to their fellow writers imprisoned or killed for practicing their right to free expression. From the longer PEN International list (available by request; email queries@pencanada.ca), this year’s writers come from Hong Kong, Egypt, Eritrea and Iran.
What to include in your letter
Your message could simply state you are a fellow writer/journalist who has learned of their imprisonment or other censorship as detailed in the background to their case, and that you are sending a message of goodwill in the hope that your card finds them in good health.
Some tips:
- The writers represent a variety of religious faiths or none. Therefore, it is not advised that you send cards with overtly religious symbolism to any of the prisoners as this may cause problems. Similarly avoid messages or images that are overtly political and be aware that in some cultures images of art works that include nude images, including classic arts, may not be accepted by prison censors.
- Send general greetings or tourist cards from your own town.
- Print out names and addresses in non-Latin script where provided and stick on the envelopes as this will enhance the likelihood of letters reaching their destination.
- Give a return address should the prisoner be able to reply.
If you get a reply from the prisoner, please copy to Aurélia Dondo, PEN International (aurelia.dondo@pen-international.org).
Jimmy Lai | China – Hong Kong
Writer, media publisher and activist. Initially detained in August 2020 and has been continuously imprisoned since December 2020. He currently faces a potential life sentence if convicted of violating the National Security Law. More information.
How to submit
Please send messages of support to English PEN’s PENWrites campaign, which features Jimmy Lai as part of its campaign.
Alaa Abd El-Fattah | Egypt
British-Egyptian writer, prominent blogger, and pro-democracy activist. El-Fattah remains imprisoned despite fully serving a five-year prison sentence following a grossly unfair trial before the Emergency State Security Court. Alaa Abd El-Fattah has been subjected to torture and ill-treatment in detention on multiple occasions. For over two years, he was denied access to basic necessities, including a mattress, bed sheets, books, and newspapers. More information.
How to submit
Please send your messages to monasosh@gmail.com and freedomforalaa@gmail.com.
Galal El-Behairy | Egypt
Poet, lyricist, and activist. Initially arrested on March 3, 2018 and sentenced to three years in prison. After serving his sentence, he was re-arrested and is currently being kept in pre-trial detention. His family reported deterioration in his mental and physical health conditions. More information.
How to submit
Please request the full mailing list by reaching out to PEN staff (queries@pencanada.ca).
Amanuel Asrat | Eritrea
Journalist, poet, art critic and song writer.
Place of detention: unknown within Eritrea’s brutal prison system.
Credited for the resurgence of Eritrean poetry in the early 2000s. Arrested at his home in Asmara on the morning of 23 September 2001 amid a crackdown on Eritrea’s independent media and government critics. At the time of his arrest, he was the editor-in-chief of the leading independent newspaper, Zemen. He has been held in incommunicado detention without trial for the last 22 years. Eritrean authorities have ignored calls to disclose his whereabouts and state of wellbeing. More information.
How to submit
Email your solidarity messages PEN Eritrea in Exile (peneritrea@gmail.com), which will pass the messages on to Amanuel’s parents and siblings.
Dawit Habtemichael | Eritrea
Journalist and teacher.
Place of detention: unknown within Eritrea’s brutal prison system.
Co-founded the independent Tigrinya weekly newspaper, Mekalih (Echo) and served in the Editorial Board. Arrested on September 21 at the school where he taught in that year’s crackdown on independent media and government critics. Unlawfully detained and held incommunicado, without trial for the last 22 years. Eritrean authorities have ignored calls to disclose his whereabouts and state of wellbeing. More information.
How to submit
Email your solidarity messages PEN Eritrea in Exile (peneritrea@gmail.com), which will pass the messages on to Dawit’s daughter.
Dawit Isaak | Eritrea
Journalist, writer and playwright.
Place of detention: unknown within Eritrea’s brutal prison system.
A co-owner and editor of Eritrea’s first independent newspaper, Setit. Arbitrarily arrested at his home in Asmara on September 23, 2001 and has been detained incommunicado, without trial since then. He was reportedly released from jail on November 19, 2005 and allowed to seek medical attention. However, two days later he was arrested on his way to hospital and taken back to prison. Eritrean authorities have ignored calls to disclose his whereabouts and state of wellbeing. More information.
How to submit
Email your solidarity messages PEN Eritrea in Exile (peneritrea@gmail.com), which will pass the messages on to Dawit’s wife, daughters, and brother.
Fessehaye Yohannes | Eritrea
Writer, journalist, playwright, poet, and lyricist.
Place of detention: unknown within Eritrea’s brutal prison system.
Co-owner of the independent Setit newspaper. Arrested on the morning of September 23, 2001 the massive crackdown by Eritrean security forces between targeting independent journalists and government critics. He has been unlawfully detained for the last 22 years incommunicado and without trial. Eritrean authorities refuse to disclose any details on his whereabouts, health, and wellbeing. More information.
How to submit
Email your solidarity messages PEN Eritrea in Exile (peneritrea@gmail.com), which will pass the messages on to Fessehaye’s brother.
Seyoum Tsehaye | Eritrea
Freelance journalist and human rights defender.
Place of detention: unknown within Eritrea’s brutal prison system.
Arbitrarily arrested in the September 2001 crackdown by Eritrean forces on independent journalists and government critics. He has been detained incommunicado, without trial for the last 22 years. Before his arrest and detention, he had assisted in the founding of Eritrea’s first state TV channel where he eventually quite due to censorship. He wrote critical articles on the government’s failure to respect human rights. Eritrean authorities have ignored requests to disclose his whereabouts and health status. More information.
How to submit
Email your solidarity messages PEN Eritrea in Exile (peneritrea@gmail.com), which will pass the messages on to Seyoum’s daughters and niece.
Narges Mohammadi | Iran
Writer, Noble Peace prize winner, journalist, human rights defender. An Honorary Member of the Canadian, Danish, Belgian, Norwegian, and Swedish PEN Centres, Narges Mohammadi was sentenced to a total of 10 years imprisonment, 150 lashes, and a 12 million Iranian Rial fine. Her family believes that her arrest and imprisonment came in retaliation for her book White Torture, in which 14 women share their experiences of imprisonment in Iran. For recent updates on her case, please click here.
How to submit
Please request the full mailing list by reaching out to PEN staff (queries@pencanada.ca).
