Category Archives: PEN International News

PEN America Condemns Violent Attack on Speaker at Middlebury College

NEW YORK—PEN America condemned a violent attack on author Charles Murray and Middlebury College Professor Allison Stanger that took place on the evening of Thursday, March 2, 2017, when Murray was invited to speak on campus. Continue reading

China – Tibet: PEN reiterates its calls for the release of writer and editor Kunchok Tsephel Gopey Tsang

Kunchok-Tsephel-Gopey-Tsang1 March 2017 – PEN International reiterates its calls on the Chinese authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Tibetan writer and editor, Kunchok Tsephel Gopey Tsang.  Gopey Tsang, the co-founder/editor of the Tibetan language website Chomei (The Lamp), www.tibetcm.com, was convicted of “disclosing state secrets” on 12 November 2009, and is currently serving a 15-year prison sentence. 26 February 2017 marked the eighth anniversary of his arrest. On the basis of the available evidence, PEN International believes that he is very likely to have been imprisoned solely for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression. PEN is also concerned by reports of the deterioration of Gopey Tsang’s health and calls on the authorities to ensure that he is granted access to all necessary medical care. Continue reading

China: Suspension of Feminist Social Media Another Example of “Zero Tolerance”

NEW YORK—The suspension of a feminist group’s social media accounts underscores China’s “zero tolerance” policy for free speech and human rights, said PEN America in a statement today. Continue reading

New PEN report examines obstacles to minority-language publishing

21 February 2017 – To mark International Mother Language Day, PEN International has launched a new report which examines the condition for minority language creative writing industries in Kenya, Haiti, Serbia and Nigeria. Continue reading

TLRC Meeting and Asia-Pacific Centres’ Meeting

The PEN International TLRC Meeting and Asia-Pacific Centres’ Meeting, Bengaluru, India (Wed 24th – Friday 28th April  2017)

 

PEN International are proud to organise the meeting in partnership with the literary organisation Sangam House and the Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS). Continue reading

Trump Administration’s Threat to Impose Ideological Test for Immigrants Evokes Dark Chapter in U.S. History, says PEN America

PEN America-logoJanuary 27, 2017

NEW YORK—In response to an executive order to strengthen vetting of immigrants into the United States, signed this afternoon by President Donald J. Trump, PEN America Executive Director Suzanne Nossel released the following statement: Continue reading

Arrest of Journalists Intimidates Press at Crucial Moment for Reporting on Mass Protest

NEW YORK—The arrests of several journalists covering protests in Washington, D.C., on felony riot charges is an alarming encroachment on the right of the press to document public demonstrations, PEN America said in a statement today.

Evan Engel of Vocativ, Alex Rubinstein of RT America, freelance journalist Aaron Cantu, and documentary producer Jack Keller were arrested while covering protests on the day of Donald J. Trump’s inauguration, along with at least two other independent journalists. They appear to have been caught up in mass arrests by police after some protesters committed acts of vandalism. Rubinstein, Engel, and Keller have stated that they identified themselves as press to the police, but were arrested anyway.

Felony riot charges carry a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine.

“Even a few weeks ago, the prospect of large numbers of journalists in America facing criminal charges, fines, and prison terms for doing their jobs would have seemed far-fetched,” said Suzanne Nossel, Executive Director of PEN America. “By slapping these journalists with felony charges, the U.S. Attorney’s office is intimidating the press at a time when mass protests are expanding and there is a pressing need for accurate reporting in the public interest. It is the obligation of our government officials to enable rather than impair that. The U.S. Attorney should drop these charges immediately.”

###

PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect open expression in the United States and worldwide. We champion the freedom to write, recognizing the power of the word to transform the world. Our mission is to unite writers and their allies to celebrate creative expression and defend the liberties that make it possible.

CONTACT
Sarah Edkins, Director of Communications: [email protected], +1.646.779.4830

Source: https://pen.org/press-release/journalists-arrested-riot-charges-dc/

PEN International’s Open Letter: Time for China to release writers, journalists and activists

pen2016Today, on World Human Rights Day, our Pen International community of writers, readers, activists and publishers condemn the Chinese authorities’ sustained and increasing attack on free expression and call for an immediate end to China’s worsening crackdown on fundamental human rights. Continue reading