PEN Canada envisions a world where
writers are free to write,
readers are free to read,
and freedom of expression prevails
Physical attacks, online harassment and censorship: In recent days, media freedom organizations have shed light on threats against journalists reporting on the arrival of migrants into Greece. These attacks are taking place in a context of violence against migrants and those supporting them, such as NGOs and self-organized groups. They restrict the ability of journalists to work safely […]
UAE: Appeal for free expression to be tolerated as Hay Festival Abu Dhabi brings authors to the Emirates As the Hay Festival Abu Dhabi opens on February 25-28 2020 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), we the undersigned call on the authorities to show their respect for the right to freedom of expression by freeing […]
Noor Naga is the winner of the 2019 RBC/PEN Canada New Voices Award for unpublished writers aged 17-30. The award, funded by the RBC Emerging Artists Project, includes a $3,000 cash prize and mentorship from a Canadian author. Since winning the prize, Naga has been working with her mentor Anne Michaels. Naga has a verse-novel, […]
Nominations for the 2020 PEN Canada/Ken Filkow prize are now open. The $1,000 annual prize is awarded to an individual or group that has advanced freedom of expression in Canada. The deadline for nominations is April 17, 2020. Previous winners of the prize include Raihan Abir and Desmond Cole. You can see a tribute to […]
London, February 25, 2020 – The conviction and sentencing of Swedish-Chinese publisher Gui Minhai to 10 years in prison on charges of ‘providing intelligence’ abroad appears to be in retaliation for his work as a publisher and in response to international calls for his freedom, said PEN International today, as it called on the Chinese authorities […]
London, February 21, 2020 – The decision of the High Court to overturn the conviction and sentence of academic, activist and writer Dr. Stella Nyanzi, is a reassuring sign of the just nature of Uganda’s judicial system to recognize fair trial violations, said PEN International today, as it welcomed the ruling. At a hearing at […]
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 […]
Finding the Words: Writers on Inspiration, Desire, War, Celebrity, Exile, and Breaking the Rules