It is that time of year when we start preparing to celebrate with family and friends. However, some writers and journalists worldwide will not have that opportunity. There are writers around the world 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 2026 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 or the Centre for Stories address noted below. For greetings to be posted, 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 writer, 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. See below or download the attached.
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
Warm regards
Writers in prison – details and contacts
Jimmy Lai (Hong Kong / China)
Writer and media publisher Jimmy Lai was initially detained in August 2020 and has been continuously imprisoned since December 2020 in connection to his journalism and activism. He currently faces a potential life sentence if convicted of violating the National Security Law. Find more information.
Write to: https://www.englishpen.org/campaigns/pen-writes/penwrites-jimmy-lai/
Photo by PEN International.
Pham Doan Trang (Vietnam)
Writer, publisher, journalist and pro-democracy activist. Arrested in October 2020 and currently serving a nine-year prison sentence. Find more information.
Note: To minimise duplication of efforts, please ask members to submit messages of support to English PEN’s PENWrites campaign, which features Pham Doan Trang as part of its campaign.
Hany Babu (India)
Linguistics scholar and social activist. Arrested on 28 July 2020 and currently on bail. Find more information.
Note: As mail sent to prison address has been previously 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.
Narges Mohammadi (Iran)
Writer, Noble Peace prize winner, journalist, human rights defender, and Honorary Member of the Danish, Belgian, Norwegian and Swedish PEN Centres, Narges Mohammadi was sentenced to a total of 10 years imprisonment, 150 lashes, and a 12 million Iranian Rial fine. Her family believes that her arrest and imprisonment came in retaliation for her book White Torture, in which 14 women share their experiences of imprisonment in Iran. She has recently been re-arrested. Find recent updates.
Address
Taghi Rahmani
2 Avenue de la Porte des Lilas,
75020 Paris, France
Amanda Echanis (Philippines)
Writer, poet and activist. Echanis has been detained since she her arrest on 2 December 2020 on a charge that is frequently used to detain writers, journalists and activists who criticise the government. Find more information.
Note: As mail cannot be sent to her directly without exposing sensitive contact details, 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 Amanda Echanis directly.
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