PEN Canada envisions a world where
writers are free to write,
readers are free to read,
and freedom of expression prevails
Norwegian PEN, PEN International and ARTICLE 19 condemn the cruel decision to open a new criminal investigation against civil society leader and publisher Osman Kavala, immediately after his acquittal in the ‘Gezi Park’ trial yesterday. The European Court of Human Rights has previously found that his 928-day arbitrary detention violated his right to freedom of […]
Responding to the news that award-winning writer Aslı Erdoğan and renowned linguist Necmiye Alpay were acquitted of terror-related charges by an Istanbul court earlier today, Salil Tripathi, Chair of PEN International’s Writers in Prison Committee said: ‘We, the PEN community, are delighted with the wonderful news today from Turkey, which is all too rare: we celebrate the […]
Last December PEN Belgium/Flanders held a marathon reading of imprisoned author Ahmet Altan’s novel Ik zal de wereld nooit meer zien (I will never see the world again). 30 well-known Flemish writers stood in solidarity with Altan, reading the novel in its entirety. Altan remains in Silviri prison, where he is serving a 10-and-a-half year prison sentence. PEN Belgium/Flanders […]
TORONTO, Feb. 13, 2020 – Police barred reporters from covering the Wet’suwet’en protests, with reporters being allegedly obstructed and threatened with arrest for simply doing their jobs. This was a clear infringement of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. “The actions of the police in this case — barring the media from covering a protest on […]
Much anticipated curbing of libel law to take place soon in Sierra Leone If the will of pressure groups, especially stakeholders in literary circles, meets the will of the government of Sierra Leone, the country will soon reach a freedom of expression milestone, reflecting the country’s national motto: “Unity, Freedom and Justice”. There are great […]
Haiti: human rights under threat In September 2018, the Haitian government appointed a Minister for human rights and ending extreme poverty. The Haitian interministerial committee on human rights developed a national action plan to strengthen human rights. On April 3 2019, during its statement on the situation in Haiti to the Security Council in New York, the United […]
The Turkish authorities must drop all charges against award-winning writer Aslı Erdoğan, who faces up to nine years and four months in prison for her writings, PEN International said today, ahead of an expected verdict on February 14 2020. Aslı Erdoğan was detained in August 2016 following a police raid on her apartment. She was […]
The prosecution of Québécois writer Yvan Godbout for the ‘production of child pornography’ in relation to scenes in his novel Hansel & Gretel, and his editor, Éditions ADA inc., for the ‘production and distribution of child pornography’, represents a significant test of the protection of freedom of expression in Quebec and Canada more broadly, said PEN […]
PARIS DECLARATION ON FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION CONFRONTED WITH HATE SPEECH Writers for Peace Committee Supported by PEN Club Français unanimously adopted at the meeting of the Writers for Peace Committee Paris, France, January 21st, 2020 * We have never forgotten. Five years have passed since the triple attack of January 2015 in Paris, the attack […]
To commemorate Human Rights Day, PEN International and PEN Centres are launching an essay series and holding events on human rights issues across the globe. The sword’s struggle to weaken the pen in Nigeria Nigeria has, in recent months, been making headlines worldwide for its government’s crass disregard for democratic principles. The government professes alliance to democratic […]
Finding the Words: Writers on Inspiration, Desire, War, Celebrity, Exile, and Breaking the Rules