PEN Centres have published their media statement highlighting concerns about the decision to remove Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah from Adelaide Writers’ Week. Adelaide writers_festival cancelled PEN Perth patron, Peter Greste also shared his letter to the Adelaide Festival, alongside a recent Guardian article in which he again defends the importance of the ‘grey zone’ – theContinueContinue reading “Adelaide Writers’ Week media statement”
Category Archives: General
Murray Hunter faces criminal charges
Australian writer and academic, Murray Hunter, is facing criminal charges in Thailand for articles he published online criticising Malaysia’s Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). Malaysia is the current Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and is obligated under the ASEAN Charter to uphold human rights and freedoms, democracy, rule of law andContinueContinue reading “Murray Hunter faces criminal charges”
Hany Babu released on Bail
After more than five hard years behind bars – arrested in July 2020 under the controversial Bhima Koregaon / Elgar Parishad case – Dr Hany Babu has been granted bail by the Bombay High Court. This wasn’t some quick detour behind bars – the bail was granted on the grounds of prolonged pre-trial detention, aContinueContinue reading “Hany Babu released on Bail”
Jimmy Lai found guilty
On 15 December 2025, writer and media publisher Jimmy Lai was found guilty on two counts of conspiring to collude with foreign forces under Hong Kong’s draconian National Security Law (NSL), and a third count of seditious publications under the territory’s colonial-era sedition law. Lai, who recently turned 78, now faces spending the remainder of his life behind bars,ContinueContinue reading “Jimmy Lai found guilty”
Suspended death sentence for Yang Hengjun
Writer Yang Hengjun’s health deteriorates as China’s decision on his suspended death sentence looms. See more. See the letter (and download below) PEN Perth and other PEN organisations have sent to Senator Penny Wong. Feel free to use this letter and send on your own behalf to help raise awareness. PEN_LTR_SenWong_Yang
AGM and Reading Secular India
Annual General Meeting 2024 Date: Sat, 27 Jul 2024 Time: 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM AWSTLocation: Centre for Stories (100 Aberdeen Street Northbridge, WA 6003) Welcome to the PEN Perth Annual General Meeting 2024! Join us at the Centre for Stories for a meeting to discuss achievements over the last year, updates on our incarcerated adoptees, and aContinueContinue reading “AGM and Reading Secular India”
JUNE Newsletter: AGM, Assange, Ma Thida
Key news Julian Assange freed Since founding WikiLeaks 18 years ago, Julian Assange has endured legal wranglings, arrest warrants, political asylum, incarceration and the threat of extradition to the US. He walked free and returned to Australia on 26 June. Here are some links to analyses of the case: The Conversation: https://theconversation.com/julian-assange-is-free-but-curly-legal-questions-about-his-case-remain-233339 The Spectator (UK):ContinueContinue reading “JUNE Newsletter: AGM, Assange, Ma Thida”
Ma Thida – June events
Ma Thida is a medical doctor, writer and human rights activist. She believes in freedom of expression. In 1993, she was sentenced to 20 years in prison for “endangering public peace, having contact with illegal organisations, and distributing unlawful literature.” She was released in 1999 and was awarded the Reebok Human Rights Award, the PEN/BarbaraContinueContinue reading “Ma Thida – June events”
MAY 2024 Newsletter
Event: A Conversation with Ma Thida: Myanmar and the Road to Freedom 15JUNE, 2 – 3pm (AWST) Location: Centre for Stories (100 Aberdeen Street Northbridge, WA 6003) In 1993, Ma Thida was sentenced to 20 years in prison for championing freedom of expression and literature in Myanmar. She was a prisoner of conscience for sixContinueContinue reading “MAY 2024 Newsletter”
April 2024 newsletter
PEN’s global community condemns book bans around the world “In the face of rising censorship, we must confront the tyranny of those who seek to silence the voices of dissent and truth. Through book bans, authorities attempt to suffocate the essence of freedom, but we must stand firm. Let literature be our shield against oppression,ContinueContinue reading “April 2024 newsletter”
March Newsletter
Past event: Spotlight on Palestine Our Spotlight On Palestine event was a success: we had a full room and talented young writers sharing their moving pieces and thoughts on the Palestinian situation. Thank you to Rashida Murphy for organising this event. PEN International case list In 2023, global censorship persisted amidst escalating conflicts. In EuropeContinueContinue reading “March Newsletter”
FEB Newsletter
Newsflash: Yang Hengjun’s death sentence PEN International joins the undersigned PEN Centres in condemning the handing down of a suspended death sentence to Australian writer Yang Hengjun, five years after he was detained and accused of espionage. According to a statement published by Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong, the death sentence can beContinueContinue reading “FEB Newsletter”