Category Archives: Rapid Action Network

Take Action for Uyghur writer and PEN member Ilham Tohti

PEN International is seriously concerned for the well-being of Uyghur writer, academic and Uyghur PEN member, Ilham Tohti, who was formally charged with “splittism” on 20 February 2014, amid a crackdown on Chinese Uyghurs critical of the government. His wife received formal notification of the charges on 25 February. Dozens of writers have joined American PEN in calling for his release. Continue reading

Day of the Imprisoned Writer: Gao Yu

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People’s Republic of China
Journalist

HONG KONG-LITERATURE-FREEDOMBeijing-based veteran journalist, Gao Yu, ‘disappeared’ on 23 April 2014 Continue reading

MYANMAR: Five journalists sentenced to 10 years in prison; 50 others face charges for a peaceful protest

17 July 2014 RAN

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Five journalists with the Unity weekly journal, arrested in January and February 2014, were each sentenced to 10 years in prison with hard labour on 10 July 2014 over a report about an Continue reading

Kazakhstan: Aron Atabek denied medical treatment

Posted June 23rd, 2014 by English PEN staff & filed under Campaigns.

PEN is deeply concerned at reports that the Kazakh prison authorities are denying medical treatment to imprisoned poet Aron Atabek

Poet Aron Atabek is reportedly suffering intense spine and leg pain due to injuries sustained during an assault by Continue reading

CHINA: Veteran journalist Gao Yu (f) charged with ‘leaking state secrets abroad’; fears for safety.

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RAPID ACTION NETWORK

9 May 2014

RAN 09/14

CHINA: Veteran journalist Gao Yu (f) charged with ‘leaking state secrets abroad’; fears for safety.

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Veteran journalist Gao Yu went missing on 24 April 2014 and there was no information concerning her fate until 8 May 2014 when the official Chinese news agency Xinhua confirmed that Gao Yu is being detained by Beijing police on the charge of ‘leaking state secrets abroad’. She is accused of leaking a secret document to editors of a foreign website in August 2013. Footage of her ‘confessing’, feared to have been taken under duress, was shown on state television. Her whereabouts remain unknown, and there are serious concerns for her well-being and integrity.

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CHINA: Publisher Yao Wentian (aka Yiu Mantin) sentenced to 10 years in prison.

CHINA: Publisher Yao Wentian (aka Yiu Mantin) sentenced to 10 years in prison.


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RAPID ACTION NETWORK
12 May 2014

Update #1 to RAN 02/14

CHINA: Publisher Yao Wentian (aka Yiu Mantin) sentenced to 10 years in prison.

PEN International is shocked by the heavy sentencing of Hong-based publisher Yao Wentian on 7 May 2014. Yao, who has been held in Shenzhen since 27 October 2013, was convicted by the Shenzhen Intermediate People’s Court on the charge of ‘smuggling prohibited items’ and sentenced to a 10-year jail term. At the time of his arrest he was preparing to publish a book by US-based yao_wentian_detained_sondissident writer Yu Jie, entitled Chinese Godfather Xi Jinping. PEN believes the trial and conviction to bepolitically motivated. Yao suffers from asthma and a heart complaint and there are serious concerns for his health.
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CHINA: Another writer handed down a lengthy prison term

RAPID ACTION NETWORK
6 January 2012
RAN 01/12

CHINA: Another writer handed down a lengthy prison term

The Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC) of PEN International is dismayed at the conviction of another Chinese writer on subversion charges. Dissident writer Chen Xi was sentenced to ten years in prison on 26 December 2011 for ‘inciting subversion of state power’ in essays published online on overseas websites. Continue reading

CHINA: Writer Chen Wei Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison

RAN 66/11 23 December 2011

The Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC) of PEN International condemns the imprisonment of the writer Chen Wei. An honorary member of the Independent Chinese PEN Centre and winner of the Liu Xiaobo Courage to Write award, Chen Wei was sentenced on 23 December 2011 to nine years in prison for ‘subversive writing.’ The conviction is based on articles published on Chinese websites overseas. The WiPC calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Chen Wei. Continue reading