Dear members/friends
It is that time of year when we all start preparing to celebrate with family and friends. However, some writers and journalists worldwide will not have that opportunity. There are writers in prison in various countries who have been imprisoned for writing about human rights in defiance of a government policy. We at PEN Perth will be sending our best wishes to a selection of writers in prison to offer our support and let them know that we are thinking of them and working to raise awareness of their unlawful incarceration.
We would love it if you could send a card to one of the writers on our list. Please understand that the writers represent a variety of religious faiths or none, so it is not advised that you send cards with overtly religious symbolism, political messages, or artwork that includes explicit images, including nudity. A card depicting your hometown or country is often particularly appreciated by recipients. Please avoid reference to Christmas or other religious festivals. You can send your greetings any time through January as some will be observing Lunar New Year which in 2024 falls in early February.
It’s nice if you can provide a return address if they wish or are allowed to respond. You can use your own address if you wish or the Centre for Stories address noted below. Please print out names and addresses where provided and stick on the envelopes as this will enhance the likelihood of letters reaching their destination. Be careful to address the letters correctly.
If we get a reply from the prisoner, we will copy to: Aurelia Dondo, PEN International: aurelia.dondo@pen.international.org – for collating responses.
For more information on detainees, see www.pen-international.org.
We thank you very much for your support.
Regards
PEN Perth committee
PS If you are not yet a PEN Perth member and would like to join, please see PEN Perth website. You can also sign up to our newsletter on the same page to get a monthly update of events and news.
Message to use/adapt:
Dear [name]
I am a fellow writer/supporter and PEN Perth member who has learned of your imprisonment via the PEN International organisation. I am writing to send you a message of goodwill and hope that this card/email finds you in good health and reasonable spirits. I understand your situation must be very difficult, so I just wanted to let you know that you are not alone and we are working to raise the profile of your case and others. I wish you the best of luck and good health.
The return address if you wish to reply is:
Centre for Stories
100 Aberdeen Street
Northbridge WA 6003
Writers in prison – addresses
Alaa Abd El-Fattah (Egypt)
- British-Egyptian writer, blogger, pro-democracy activist, serving a five-year prison sentence following a grossly unfair trail before the Emergency State Security Court. He has been subjected to torture and ill treatment in detention, and for more than two years, was denied access to basic necessities.
- Alaa Abd El-Fattah
Taheel2, Wadi El-Natroun Rehabilitation Centre
Kilo 110 Cairo-Alexandria Desert Road
Egypt\ - Copy to: monasosh@gmail.comfreedomforalaa@gmail.com; https://egyptianconsulate.co.uk
Hany Babu (India)
- Linguistics scholar and social activist. Arrested on 28 July 2020 and currently in pre-trial detention.
- As mail from last year’s campaign was blocked and possibly destroyed, please scan all letters and email them directly to Ross Holder (ross.holder@pen-international.org) who will then share the digital copies of all received letters with a member of Hany Babu’s family
Wai Moe Naing (Myanmar)
- Writer and pro-democracy activist. Initially detained in April 2021. Currently serving a 54-year prison sentence.
- Special ward (Thee Thant Saung)
Monywa prison
Prison department
Home Affairs ministry
Monywa, Saggaing Division
Myanmar
Pham Doan Trang (Vietnam)
- Writer, publisher, journalist and pro-democracy activist. Arrested in October 2020 and currently serving a nine-year prison sentence.
- To minimise duplication of efforts, please submit messages of support to English PEN’s PENWrites campaign, which features Pham Doan Trang as part of its campaign. PENWrites: Pham Doan Trang – English Pen
Julian Assange (UK)
- Wikileaks founder and publisher Julian Assange was arrested in April 2019 at the Ecuadorian embassy in London, where he had been given asylum for almost seven years. On 17 June 2022, the UK Home Secretary approved his extradition to the US, where he would face trial on 17 counts under the Espionage Act and one count under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, which combined could see him imprisoned for up to 175 years. PEN International calls on the US authorities to drop the charges against Assange and withdraw their extradition request. PEN International further calls on the UK authorities to refrain from extraditing Assange and to release him from prison immediately.
- Assange would be happy to receive messages from PEN members. This can be done either through the post: https://writejulian.com or via www.emailaprisoner.com (details: HMP Belmarsh, prisoner number: A9379AY)
OPT/Israel: PEN International condemns the systematic violations of freedom of expression since October 7
20 October: PEN International strongly condemns the mounting violations of freedom of expression, including the killings and intimidation of journalists and systematic silencing of critical voices, in light of the recent escalation of violence between Israel and Hamas. PEN International stresses that journalists should be able to report on wars and conflicts freely and safely. Critical voices should be free to dissent and express themselves without fear or intimidation.
Full article here: https://penmelbourne.org/opt-israel-pen-international-condemns-the-systematic-violations-of-freedom-of-expression-since-october-7/
Suggested Reads
- Whistle blowers on trial article below, relating to David McBride for helping expose war crimes in Afghanistan and Richard Boyle for speaking up against aggressive debt collection practices at the tax office.
- New Year message from PEN International
penperth.com 