Acting Chair’s message July 2026 As members and friends will know, one of the ways PEN centres around the world raise awareness of the fight for freedom of expression is to have empty chairs at public events. An empty chair has indeed become one of the most powerful symbols of the FIFA World Cup. FrenchContinueContinue reading “Why 400 Empty Chairs matter more than ever”
Category Archives: General
Why linguistic rights are human rights
Acting Chair’s message June 2026 Linguistic rights are human rights because language is central to identity, culture and freedom of expression. Dear members and fellow travellers Last month, on behalf of PEN Perth, I attended the online meeting of the Translation and Linguistic Rights Committee (TLRC), one of the PEN International sub-committees. The TLRC missionContinueContinue reading “Why linguistic rights are human rights”
Writers under siege: Defending freedom of expression
Acting Chair’s message May 2026 Writers under siege are facing imprisonment, censorship and exile in increasing numbers across the world. Protecting freedom of expression is at the heart of PEN’s mission. PEN International launched its International Case List 2026 on 23 April 2026. Since 1960, case lists have been updated regularly. This year’s Case ListContinueContinue reading “Writers under siege: Defending freedom of expression”
Banned books: Myanmar
In 2023, PEN America labels Myanmar ‘the world’s worst jailer of writers’. It might well be also called ‘the world’s worst book banner’. Under Aung San Suu Kyi’s nearly 10 years rule, as the military stepped back, the democratic experiment led to some freedom of expression, albeit ‘with the persistence of taboo issues, such asContinueContinue reading “Banned books: Myanmar”
A struggle for ethnic equality in Myanmar
Chair’s message April 2026 Dear members and fellow travellers As I write to you, many South Asian communities are marking the beginning of a new year, guided by their lunar calendars. From Myanmar to Nepal, Bangladesh to Sri Lanka, and across many parts of India, these celebrations share a spirit of renewal, reflection, and optimism.ContinueContinue reading “A struggle for ethnic equality in Myanmar”
Writer in prison: Narges Mohammadi, Iran
Multi award-winning writer, journalist, human rights defender and Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi (54) was free from an Iranian prison on medical grounds as of 31 December 2024, a year in which she received three new prison sentences. Held since 16 November 2021, she is serving multiple unjust sentences, totalling 35 years’ imprisonment including 154 lashes. In JanuaryContinueContinue reading “Writer in prison: Narges Mohammadi, Iran”
Banned books: Life and Death in Shanghai by Nien Cheng
At a March meeting of the PEN International Women Writers Committee, Sotiria Georganti focused on a selection of banned books around the world and spotlighted Life and Death in Shanghai by Nien Cheng (1915–2009). As a memoir documenting the Red Guards’ cruelty and the Chinese Cultural Revolution’s chaotic nature, it is prohibited for sale inContinueContinue reading “Banned books: Life and Death in Shanghai by Nien Cheng”
Why freedom of expression must remain above politics
Chair’s message March 2026 Freedom of expression is the foundation of every free society. For more than a century, PEN has defended writers and literature regardless of politics, religion or ideology. Dear members and fellow travellers In 1934, as war threatened to engulf the world, H.G. Wells addressed the PEN Congress in Edinburgh: “The defenceContinueContinue reading “Why freedom of expression must remain above politics”
History of banned books in Iran
Since the 1979 Revolution, book banning in Iran has been a constant. Religious, political and moral grounds against foreign and local authors were at their most severe for the twenty years preceding the Reform period (1997–2005; see The Dial).[1] Some relaxation of the rules occurred then, but President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (2005–2013) engineered a backlash againstContinueContinue reading “History of banned books in Iran”
Chair’s message February 2026
Dear members and fellow travellers Welcome to 2026. We began the year with a letter from a writer recently released from prison. We are not able to share their name, but we can share their words: “Let me start by thanking PEN International … and all the writers and artists who united in solidarity forContinueContinue reading “Chair’s message February 2026”
Boualem Sansal: A victory for freedom of expression… and a reward
Eighty-year-old Franco-Algerian writer and journalist Boualem Sansal was arrested in November 2024 by Algerian authorities on trumped-up charges of ‘undermining national unity’ and ‘attacking state institutions’ after suggesting in an interview with the extreme-right wing media Frontières, France had unfairly transferred Moroccan territory to Algeria during the colonial era.[1] This territorial issue has soured French–AlgerianContinueContinue reading “Boualem Sansal: A victory for freedom of expression… and a reward”
Charges dropped against Murray Hunter
After months of legal uncertainty, the criminal defamation charges against Australian writer and commentator Murray Hunter have been formally withdrawn by a Bangkok court, with the matter resolved without penalty or costs. Hunter described the experience as “personally very traumatic” but said he is relieved to have his passport returned and to regain the freedomContinueContinue reading “Charges dropped against Murray Hunter”