WiPC News

English PEN warmly welcomes the release of several of our Burmese
colleagues who were among 651 prisoners to be freed as part of a
presidential amnesty announced today, 13 January 2012. However, we
remain concerned for several others who are believed to remain behind
bars, and continue to call for their immediate and unconditional
release. For more details please click here.

UK: CAMEROONIAN PLAYWRIGHT DETAINED IN YARL’S WOOD
11 January 2012

English PEN are deeply concerned by the detention of Cameroonian playwright Lydia Besong and her husband, human rights defender Bernard Batey here in the UK. According
to reports, both Lydia and Bernard were detained yesterday, 10 January
2011, despite the fact that they and their lawyers were still awaiting a
Home Office decision on a protection claim filed in October last year.
The couple are believed to be scheduled for deportation on the morning
of Saturday 21 January, and there are serious concerns that they would
be at risk of persecution if repatriated. For more details and to take urgent action, please click here.

English PEN is appalled by the killing of Raúl Régulo Garza Quirino, reporter for the weekly newspaper La Ultima Palabra.
The journalist was gunned down on 6 January 2012 by a gang in
Cadereyta, state of Nuevo León, and is the first journalist in Mexico to
be murdered in 2012. English PEN calls on the Mexican authorities to
carry out a thorough investigation into Garza’s killing and to bring to
an end Mexico’s climate of impunity in which attacks such as these take
place. For more information and to send letters of appeal, please click here.

CHINA: ANOTHER WRITER HANDED DOWN A LENGTHY SENTENCE
6 January 2012

English PEN is dismayed at the conviction of another Chinese writer on subversion charges. Dissident writer Chen Xi
was sentenced to ten years in prison on 26 December 2011 for ‘inciting
subversion of state power’ in essays published online on overseas
websites. His conviction follows that of writer Chen Wei, who was
handed down a nine year sentence on 23 December 2011 for ‘inciting
subversion’ in four of his critical online articles. For more information, please click here.

Messages of thanks from our detained Turkish colleagues provide clear evidence of the value of PEN’s Season’s Greetings initiative as a source of support and encouragement for persecuted and imprisoned writers around the world. To read the message received from investigative journalist and writer Nedim Şener, please click here.

ETHIOPIA: SWEDISH JOURNALISTS SENTENCED TO 11 YEARS IN PRISON
3 January 2012

English PEN condemns the draconian punishment handed down to Swedish journalists Johann Persson and Martin Schibbye
by an Ethiopian judge on 26 December 2011. The two journalists were
found guilty of entering the country illegally and ‘supporting
terrorism’ and have been sentenced to 11 years in prison. Please join us
in calling for their immediate release – more details here.

English PEN condemns the imprisonment of the writer Chen Wei. An
Honorary Member of the Independent Chinese PEN Centre (ICPC) and joint
winner of the 2011 Liu Xiaobo Courage to Write award, Chen Wei was
sentenced on 23 December 2011 to nine years in prison for ‘subversive
writing.’ The conviction is based on articles published on Chinese
websites overseas.  English PEN calls for the immediate and
unconditional release of Chen Wei and of all those currently detained in
China in violation of their right to free expression. For more information and to send appeals, please click here.

BAHRAIN: BLOGGER AND ACTIVIST ZAINAB AL-KHAWAJA RELEASED ON BAIL
21 December 2011

English PEN welcomes the release on bail of blogger and activist Zainab Al-Khawaja
on 20 December 2011. However, we remain deeply concerned that she still
faces charges for her peaceful activities, and are therefore urging the
Bahraini authorities to abide by their obligations under Article 19 of
the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), and
calling for the unconditional release of Zainab Al-Khawaja and of all
those currently detained in Bahrain solely for the peaceful expression
their opinions. For more information, please click here.

ETHIOPIA: TWO SWEDISH JOURNALISTS FOUND GUILTY OF ‘SUPPORTING TERRORISM’
21 December 2011

English PEN is deeply concerned by the news that the Swedish journalists Johan Persson and Martin Schibbye
have been found guilty of ‘supporting terrorism’ by an Ethiopian
court.  The reporters were arrested on 1 July 2011 in Ethiopia’s Ogaden
region, following a battle between Ethiopian forces and the Ogaden
National Liberation Front (ONLF). The ONLF is regarded by Ethiopia as a
terrorist organization. Persson and Schibbye were charged under
anti-terrorism legislation and face up to 15 years’ imprisonment. For more information, please click here.

PEN INTERNATIONAL DEEPLY SADDENED BY DEATH OF VACLAV HAVEL
19 December 2011

Václav Havel, dissident playwright and poet, honorary president of Czech
PEN and statesman, who died on 18 December 2011 aged 75, will be
remembered by all at PEN for his remarkable contribution to literature
and his outstanding commitment to freedom of expression. For more details, please click here.


PEN HONOURS IMPRISONED WRITERS ON INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY
7 December 2011

10 December 2011 (International Human Rights Day) marks the first
anniversary of the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to our colleague Liu Xiaobo,
former president of the Independent Chinese PEN Centre (ICPC) and an
Honorary Member of English PEN. One year on, he and over thirty other
writers remain in prison in China, and many more suffer ‘soft’
detention, surveillance, and censorship. PEN demands their immediate and
unconditional release, and calls upon our members and supporters to use
this anniversary to raise awareness of the deteriorating human rights
climate in the People’s Republic of China and to express solidarity with
their imprisoned colleagues. For more details, please click here.


VIETNAM: INTERNET WRITER’S SENTENCE REDUCED
7 December 2011

English PEN welcomes the decision of an appeals court to reduce the
sentence being served by university teacher and Internet writer Pham Minh Hoang. He is expected to be released on 12 January 2012, but will have to serve
three years of house arrest following his release. We continue to call
for the immediate and unconditional release of Pham Minh Hoang and all
other writers and journalists currently detained in Vietnam in violation
of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to
which Vietnam is a signatory. For more details, please click here.

English PEN warmly welcomes the news that our Honorary Member dissident journalist Djamshid Karimov
was reportedly released on 6 November 2011 following five years’
detention in a psychiatric facility. However, we remain deeply concerned
at reports that Karimov’s health may have suffered due to the forced
administration of psychotropic medicines. We are also concerned that a
number of other writers and journalists, including our Honorary Member
Mamadali Makhmudov, remain in long-term detention in Uzbekistan. We
continue to call on the Uzbek authorities to live up to its commitments
to protect freedom of expression under Article 19 of the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. For more information and to take action, please click here.

MEXICO: ANOTHER NEWSPAPER OFFICE ATTACKED BY ARMED GANG
21 November 2011

English PEN was alarmed to learn of the recent armed assault on the offices of the Mexican daily newspaper, El Siglo de Torreón;
the attack is the second of its kind in ten days. English PEN is
calling on the Mexican authorities to bring the perpetrators of the
attack to justice and to end the climate of impunity in which these
assaults take place, and urges our members to send urgent letters of
appeal. For more details, please click here.

English PEN was horrified to learn of the death of yet another blogger, known as ‘Rascatripas‘,
who was murdered and decapitated by a Mexican drugs gang for writing
about their crimes. We are calling on the Mexican authorities to bring
the guilty to justice and bring to an end to the impunity that exists
for those who attack and kill journalists and writers in Mexico. For more information, please click here.

MEXICO: NEWSPAPER OFFICES ATTACKED AND BURNED BY ARMED GANG
11 November 2011

English PEN was alarmed to learn of the recent attack on the newspaper offices of El Buen Tono,
the Mexican daily newspaper based in Cordoba, Veracruz state. English
PEN calls on the Mexican authorities to bring the perpetrators of the
attack to justice and to end the climate of impunity in which these
attacks take place. For more information, please click here.

Publisher and Honorary Member of English PEN Ragip Zarakolu was
reportedly moved to a high security ‘F-Type’ prison on 4 November 2011.
Zarakolu, who was arrested on 29 October 2011 alongside over 40 other
activists, including Professor Büşra Ersanli, is being held in pre-trial detention, charged under Anti-Terror legislation. For more information, please click here.

TURKEY: RAGIP ZARAKOLU RELEASES PUBLIC LETTER FROM PRISON
4 November 2011

Writer, academic, publisher, and Honorary Member Ragip Zarakolu
released an open letter from prison on 2 November 2011 through his
lawyer. Zarakolu was arrested on 29 October 2011 and has been formally
charged with ‘membership of an illegal organisation’. He is detained
alongside over 40 other opposition activists, including writer and
academic Professor Büşra Ersanlı. To read the letter, please click here.

TURKEY: WRITER AND ACADEMIC RAGIP ZARAKOLU FORMALLY CHARGED
3 November 2011

English PEN has learned that on 1 November 2011, our Honorary Member writer, academic and publisher Ragip Zarakolu was formally charged under the Anti Terror Law, alongside Professor Büşra Ersanlı.
We have received further details that lead us to fear that the charges
are related to the exercise of their right to freedom of expression. For more details, please click here.

Urunboy Usmonov, journalist with the British Broadcasting
Service’s Central Asian Service, has been found guilty of spreading
Islamic propaganda through his reporting on the banned extremist group
Hizb-ut-Tahir. Despite the welcome news that Usmonov was immediately
released under an amnesty law and allowed to walk free, English PEN
remains concerned that the charges were the result of Usmonov’s
legitimate journalistic activity. We are also troubled by reports that
Usmonov suffered abuse and mistreatment while in detention. For more information, please click here.

TURKEY: OBSCENITY TRIALS AGAINST PUBLISHERS AND TRANSLATORS OF WORKS BY FOREIGN WRITERS
11 October 2011

Two books by American authors are currently on trial in Turkey on
obscenity charges which, if the law is applied strictly, could lead to
imprisonment for their publishers and translators. There is widespread
concern about the growing number of cases being brought against
publishers and translators in Turkey who are threatened with
imprisonment for publishing books which have been published freely
elsewhere. For more information, please click here.

Today
marks the fifth anniversary of the murder of acclaimed journalist,
author and human rights advocate Anna Politkovskaya – shot dead in the
elevator of her Moscow apartment on Saturday 7 October 2006. To mark the
occasion PEN International is renewing its calls on the Russian
authorities to end the impunity of those responsible for the killing. For more information, please click here.

JUSTICE FOR ANNA POLITKOVSKAYA: FIVE YEARS ON
4 October 2011

On the 5th Anniversary of the murder of acclaimed journalist, author and human rights advocate Anna Politkovskaya,
English PEN renews its calls for the Russian authorities to end the
impunity of those responsible for the killing. Whilst we welcome the
recent indications that some progress is finally being made in the
investigation into the 2006 murder, it is clear that much more is
required to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice. PEN
calls on the Russian authorities to ensure a full and impartial
investigation in order to identify those responsible for ordering the
murder. For more information, please click here.

English PEN reiterates its continued protest at the detention of academic, blogger and human rights activist Dr Abduljalil Al-Singace and human rights defender Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja,
whose life sentences for their peaceful opposition activities were
confirmed on appeal by a military court on 28 September 2011. We are
calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Dr Al-Singace and
Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja for the peaceful exercise of their opinions, in
accordance with Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights, to which Bahrain is a signatory. We are also urging
the authorities to ensure that there is a full and independent
investigation into allegations that they were tortured in pre-trial
detention. For more details, please click here.

English PEN warmly welcomes the recent release under amnesty of writers Tran Duc Thach and Nguyen Van Tinh. On
30 August 2011, dissident writers Tran Duc Thach and Nguyen Van Tinh
were included in an amnesty celebrating Vietnamese National Day (2
September). According to Radio Free Asia (RFA), they were the
only political prisoners among more than 10,000 to be freed (for the
full report and an interview with Tran Duc Thach on his release click here).
Both writers were arrested in September 2008 as part of an ongoing
crackdown on peaceful dissent in Vietnam. They were tried under Article
88 of the Penal Code for ‘propaganda against the Socialist Republic of
Vietnam’ and were sentenced to three years in prison. For more information, please click here.

English PEN protests the arrest and detention of two more journalists under Ethiopia’s sweeping antiterrorist legislation. Sileshi Hagos and Eskinder Nega
were arrested on 9 and 14 September 2011 respectively, accused of
involvement with the banned political party Ginbot 7. They appeared
before a court on 15 September and were remanded in custody for 28 days.
There are concerns that Nega has been ill-treated in detention. For more information and to send appeals, please click here.

English PEN protests in the strongest possible terms the murder of Primera Hora editor María Elizabeth Macías Castro and the disappearance of El Mañanero reporter Gabriel Manuel Fonseca Hernández,
which occurred within a few days of each other. Macías’ body was found
decapitated in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas state, on 24 September 2011,
while Fonseca went missing in Acayucan, Veracruz state, on 19 September.
Macías is the ninth print journalist to be killed in Mexico this year;
Fonseca the second to have disappeared. English PEN is calling on the
federal and state authorities to investigate these latest crimes as a
matter of the utmost urgency, focusing on the victims’ journalistic work
as a possible motive, and to bring the culprits to justice. For more information and to send appeals, please click here. 

VIETNAM: ACTIVIST AND INTERNET WRITER SENTENCED
23 September 2011

English PEN protests the four-year sentence handed down to activist and Internet writer Lu Van Bay
on 22 August 2011 for his critical online writings. We are calling for
the immediate and unconditional release of Lu Van Bay and of all those
currently detained in Vietnam in violation of the International Covenant
on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Vietnam is a signatory.
For more details and to send appeals, please click here.

IRAQ: JOURNALIST, PLAYWRIGHT, FILM-MAKER AND MEMBER OF IRAQI PEN MURDERED
22 September 2011

English PEN is appalled by the murder of prominent journalist, playwright, filmmaker and member of Iraqi PEN Hadi al-Mahdi,
who was shot dead at his home in Baghdad on 8 September 2011. We are
calling for an independent and transparent investigation into his
murder, so that those responsible can be brought to justice, and for
full protection to other journalists and writers who face politically
motivated threats and attacks. For more information, please click here.

IRAN: JOURNALIST, POET AND ACTIVIST FARANAK FARID ARRESTED; SERIOUS HEALTH CONCERNS
20 September 2011

There are serious concerns for the welfare of journalist, poet and activist Faranak Farid,
who was arrested on 3 September 2011 in Tabriz, north-west Iran,
apparently for her peaceful activism and writings on environmental
issues and women’s rights. For more information, please click here.

ERITREA: TEN YEARS ON, DAWIT ISAAK STILL DETAINED INCOMMUNICADO
16 September 2011

English PEN protests the decade-long imprisonment of Eritrean-Swedish journalist and author Dawit Isaak
who has been detained incommunicado without charge since 23 September
2001. Dawit is said to be held in appalling conditions and to be in poor
physical and mental health; there are serious concerns for his
wellbeing.

Next week, 19-23 September 2011, PEN centres around
the world will be taking part in a week of action for Dawit. We will be
calling on the Eritrean authorities to provide details of his
whereabouts and assurances that he is receiving all necessary medical
treatment as a matter of urgency. We will also be calling for his
immediate and unconditional release as well as that of the many other
Eritreans imprisoned for their writings since September 2001. For
details of actions and guidelines of how you can be involved, please click here.

ETHIOPIA: THREE PRINT JOURNALISTS CHARGED WITH TERRORISM; CONCERN FOR WELL-BEING
14 September 2011

English PEN protests the terrorism charges brought against two Ethiopian
journalists and one Swedish reporter on 6 September 2011, which could
see them imprisoned for up to 20 years if convicted. Feteh columnist Reeyot Alemu, Awramba Times deputy editor Woubshet Taye and Kontinet reporter Martin Schibbye
have all been detained since June. Taye has reportedly been tortured
while Alemu’s health is deteriorating rapidly; neither has been given
access to medical treatment. English PEN fears that the three
journalists are being targeted for their critical reporting in violation
of their right to freedom of expression. We are therefore calling on
the Ethiopian authorities to drop the charges and release them, and in
the meantime ensure that Alemu and Taye are given immediate access to
the medical treatment they require. For more details, please click here.

SUDAN: TWO JOURNALISTS RELEASED; ONE STILL FACES DEATH PENALTY
13 September 2011

English PEN welcomes the release from prison of Rai Al-Shaab deputy editor Abu Zar Al-Amin and Al-Sahafa journalist Jaafar Alsabki Ibrahim
on 22 and 28 August 2011 respectively. Both had been detained on
anti-state charges since 2010. Ibrahim has reportedly been pardoned,
whilst Al-Amin was released on bail and still faces the death penalty if
convicted. We are therefore calling on the authorities to drop all
remaining charges against Al-Amin, and are urging President Omar
Al-Bashir to fulfil his recent promise to release all journalists
detained in Sudan and to refrain from reinstating pre-publication
censorship. To send an appeal letter and for more details, please click here.

MEXICO: TWO WOMEN JOURNALISTS FOUND STRANGLED IN MEXICO CITY
8 September 2011

On 1 September 2011, Contralinea founder Ana María Marcela Yarce Viveros and freelance journalist Rocio González Trápaga
were found dead in Mexico City. Both women were reportedly abducted the
previous night and strangled. Yarce’s murder brings the number of print
journalists killed in Mexico this year to eight. English PEN is
calling on the federal and state authorities to investigate these
murders as a matter of the utmost urgency, and to bring the culprits to
justice. Please send letters of appeal – guidelines and addresses here.

MEXICO: JOURNALIST ABDUCTED IN SINALOA STATE; FEARS FOR SAFETY
26 August 2011

English PEN is alarmed by the abduction of Humberto Millán Salazar, editor of the online newspaper A-Discusión
and presenter for Radio Fórmula, in Culiacán, Sinaloa state, on 24
August 2011. It has been suggested that the kidnapping may be linked to
his criticism of local politicians. Such abductions frequently end in
murder; six print journalists have been killed in Mexico this year
alone. We are therefore calling on the state and federal and state
authorities to do everything in their power to find Millán and bring him
to safety, and to punish those responsible. For more information, please click here.

RUSSIA: POLICE OFFICER ARRESTED ON SUSPICION OF ANNA POLITKOVSKAYA MURDER
25 August 2011

The trial of journalist Urunboy Usmonov of the British
Broadcasting Service’s Central Asian Service, on behalf of whom we have
been campaigning since his arrest in June this year, began last week.
Usmonov is indicted on fabricated charges of ‘complicity in the
activities of banned extremist Islamic group Hizb ut-Tahrir’. English
PEN is calling for the trumped up charges against Usmonov to be dropped
and for the Tajik authorities to ensure that no individual is persecuted
for carrying out legitimate journalistic activities. Please send
letters of appeal – for more details, please click here.

VIETNAM: INTERNET WRITER SENTENCED
15 August 2011

English PEN protests the three-year sentence handed down to French-Vietnamese university teacher and Internet writer Pham Minh Hoang
on 10 August 2011 for his critical online writings. We are calling for
his immediate and unconditional release and for the release of all those
currently detained in Vietnam in violation of the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Vietnam is a
signatory. For more information, please click here.

English PEN is seriously concerned about the detention of internet writers Ahmad Mansoor and Nasser Bin Gheith,
who are facing charges for their dissident activities and writings.
Mansoor has reportedly been subject to ill-treatment in prison, and
there are serious concerns for his welfare. For more information, please click here.

English PEN warmly welcomes the news that our recently released Honorary Member Eynulla Fatullayev has finally received
27,000 euros compensation from the Azerbaijani government, in accordance with the
European Court of Human Rights ruling of April 2010. English PEN and other organisations campaigning on behalf of Eynulla Fatullayev had long been urging
the authorities to comply with this ruling and were pleased to learn
that they have finally done so. Fatullayev himself referred to the
compensation as “a victory for the whole democratic community” and
thanked everyone who had been involved in campaigns on his behalf. For more information, please click here.

ECUADOR: EL UNIVERSO JOURNALIST AND DIRECTORS SENTENCED TO THREE YEARS IN PRISON AND US $40 MILLION FINE FOR LIBELING PRESIDENT
3 August 2011

English PEN protests the three-year prison sentences and US$40 million in fines imposed on El Universo columnist Emilio Palacio and the newspaper’s co-directors Carlos Eduardo Pérez Barriga, César Enrique Pérez Barriga, Carlos Nicolás Pérez Enrique
on 20 July 2011 for allegedly libeling President Rafael Correa in an
article published in February this year. English PEN calls on the
President to withdraw the case and to ensure that defamation and other
press offences are decriminalised in line with Ecuador’s international
human rights obligations. For more information, please click here.


TURKEY: HRANT DINK’S KILLER SENTENCED TO OVER 22 YEARS IN PRISON; OTHER TRIALS CONTINUE
1 August 2011

Last week, on 25 July 2011, Ogün Samast, was convicted and sentenced to
22 years and 10 months in prison for the “premeditated murder” of
Turkish-Armenian editor Hrant Dink in January 2007. English PEN
welcomes news of the conviction, but nevertheless continues to call for
those who had colluded in Dink’s assassination to also be brought to
justice. For more information, please click here.

VIETNAM: EDITOR AND PRIEST NGUYEN VAN LY RETURNED TO PRISON
27 July 2011

English PEN protests the three-year sentence handed down to French-Vietnamese university teacher and Internet writer Pham Minh Hoang
on 10 August 2011 for his critical online writings. We are calling for
his immediate and unconditional release and for the release of all those
currently detained in Vietnam in violation of the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Vietnam is a
signatory. For more information, please click here.

English PEN’s Writers in Prison Committee was appalled to learn of the murder on 5 July 2011 of poet and song writer Ibrahim Qashoush,
known as ‘the singer of the revolution’. Qashoush’s body was found in a
river the day after he had been abducted by Syrian security forces. His
throat had been slit. We urge the Syrian authorities to conduct a full
and impartial investigation into Qashoush’s death and to bring the
perpetrators of the crime to justice. For more information, please click here.

English PEN warmly welcomed the news that Urunboy Usmonov, who
has worked for ten years for the British Broadcasting Corporation’s
(BBC) Central Asian Service, was released on bail on 14 July 2011.
However, we condemn his continued indictment on charges believed to be
linked to his legitimate activity as a journalist and call for an open
and impartial investigation into all charges against him. For more information, please click here.

BAHRAIN: POET AYAT AL-GORMEZI RELEASED FROM PRISON
15 July 2011

English PEN welcomes the release on 13 July 2011 of poet and student Ayat Al-Gormezi,
one month after she was sentenced to one year in prison on anti-state
charges for poems critical of the Bahraini King. Ayat Al-Gormezi’s
family fear that she remains at risk of re-arrest since the sentence
against her has apparently not been revoked. Reports suggest that she
may now being held under house arrest. PEN continues to call for the
charges against Ayat Al-Gormezi to be quashed, and for the immediate and
unconditional release of all those who remain detained in Bahrain for
the peaceful expression of their views, in accordance with Article 19 of
the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which
Bahrain is a signatory. For more information, please click here.

English PEN protests the murder of El Heraldo de Urabá and Urabá al Día journalist Luis Eduardo Gómez,
who was shot dead in front of his wife in Arboletes, Antioquia
department, on 30 June 2011. Gómez had reported on local corruption and
the “parapolitics” scandal, involving links between politicians and
illegal paramilitary groups in Colombia, and was acting as a witness in
investigations by the attorney general. English PEN also protests the
recent threats received by reporters Mary Luz Avendaño and Gonzalo Guillén
in relation to their investigative journalism. We call on the Colombian
authorities to investigate Gómez’ murder and the threats against
Avendaño and Guillén and to ensure that those responsible are brought to
justice. For more information, please click here.

MEXICO: JOURNALIST AND SON MURDERED IN MEXICO STATE
14 July 2011

English PEN is appalled by the murder of yet another journalist in Mexico: Angel Castillo Corona,
who was killed along with his 16-year-old son in Mexico State on 3 July
2011. Castillo’s death brings the number of journalists murdered in the
country in the last month to three, while one other has been abducted
in the same period. In all, a total of 41 print journalists and writers
have been killed in Mexico since 2004, while 10 more have gone missing.
English PEN calls on the federal and state authorities to investigate
Castillo’s murder as a matter of the utmost urgency, and to bring the
culprits to justice. We also continue to urge the authorities to
implement the journalist protection mechanisms it promised in November
2010 immediately. For more information, please click here.

CHINA/TIBET: WRITER AND EDITOR TASHI RABTEN SENTENCED
12 July 2011

English PEN protests the four-year prison sentence handed down to Tibetan writer and editor Tashi Rabten (pen-name
Te’urang) on 2 June 2011 for his critical writings. We are calling for
the immediate and unconditional release of Tashi Rabten and all others
held in violation of Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil
and Political Rights, to which China is a signatory. For more information, please click here.

SINGAPORE: BRITISH AUTHOR ALAN SHADRAKE GRANTED EARLY RELEASE
12 July 2011

English PEN warmly welcomes the early release from prison of British author Alan Shadrake
on 9 July 2011. Alan had served five weeks of an eight-week sentence
for contempt of court when he was released for good behaviour. He was
immediately deported to the United Kingdom, and is now staying with
family members. For more information, please click here.

SUDAN: RAI AL SHAAB EDITOR AND AL-SAHAFA JOURNALIST FACE POSSIBLE DEATH PENALTY
8 July 2011

English PEN protests the anti-state charges brought against Rai al-Shaab editor Abu Zar Al-Amin and Al-Sahafa journalist Jaafar Alsabki Ibrahim
in June 2011, which mean that they now face possible execution. Al-Amin
was due for release on 3 July after his five-year sentence was reduced
to one year, but now faces further prosecution after the security
services brought two new complaints against him – including one by an
officer Al-Amin claims to have tortured him. Ibrahim, who had been
detained incommunicado without charge since November 2010, was finally
brought before a court in June and charged with ‘undermining the
constitutional system.’ Both men face long prison sentences or the death
penalty if convicted. English PEN considers them to be held in
violation of their right to freedom of expression and calls on the
Sudanese authorities to release them immediately and unconditionally. For more information, please click here.

English PEN protests the additional eight-year sentence handed down to freelance journalist Qi Chonghuai
on 9 June 2011, two weeks before the end of his four-year sentence for
extortion and blackmail. It is widely believed that he is targeted for
his critical reporting, and for letters smuggled out of prison in 2009
alleging ill-treatment. English PEN considers Qi Chonghuai to be held
solely for peacefully exercising his right to free expression which is
protected under Article 35 of the Chinese Constitution and Article 19 of
the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights, to which China is a signatory. We are calling for his immediate
and unconditional release, and seeking assurances that he will not be
ill-treated in prison. For more information, please click here.

In December 2009, English PEN joined the campaign on behalf of Cameroonian playwright Lydia Besong and her husband, human rights campaigner Bernard Batey, who had been told to leave the UK and return to Cameroon. We
were very sorry to learn that their fresh claim for asylum has since
been turned down by the UKBA and a subsequent appeal refused, and that
now an application for leave to appeal to the High Court has also been
unsuccessful.

Campaigners for Lydia and Bernard have launched an
appeal to raise funds for a judicial review of their case. The couple’s
numerous supporters are also being urged to write immediately to the
Home Secretary and to their local MP asking that Lydia and Bernard be
given leave to remain in the UK, and we would urge you to do the same.
You will find two sample letters below, although please do write a more
personal letter if you have time, and please do send us copies for our
records. For more information, please click here.

MEXICO: LYDIA CACHO THREATENED WITH DEATH; FEARS FOR SAFETY
1 July 2011

English PEN is deeply alarmed by anonymous death threats received by
author, journalist and winner of the 2010 PEN/Pinter Prize for an
International Writer of Courage Lydia Cacho on 14 June 2011, and
by the Mexican authorities’ apparent lack of response. Cacho believes
that the threats, which made direct reference to her journalism, stem
from her naming of alleged sex traffickers in her writings. The threats
come in the same month as the murder of two Mexican columnists and the
abduction of one other journalist. In all, a total of 40 of print
journalists and writers have been killed in Mexico since 2004, while 10
more have gone missing. English PEN is calling on the the federal and
state authorities to investigate the threats against Cacho and to
provide her with protection as a matter of the utmost urgency. We also
call on the authorities to implement the journalist protection
mechanisms it promised in November 2010 immediately. For more information, please click here.

CHINA: ARTIST AI WEIWEI FACES ENORMOUS FINES
30 June 2011

On 28 June 2011, it was reported that Ai Weiwei, the
internationally acclaimed artist who had been freed on bail a week
earlier, had been visited by government tax officials with a demand for
over 12 m yuan (c. 1.3 m Euro) in unpaid taxes and fines. Ai’s
supporters in China and abroad believe that these heavy fines have been
levied in retaliation for his criticism of the government. Ai Weiwei had
been arrested in early April 2011 on for unspecified “economic crimes”.
PEN continues to monitor Ai Weiwei’s case, and has serious concerns
about the continuing restrictions on his right to communicate with
others. We also remain alarmed about the overall dire state of freedom
of expression in China. For more information, please click here.

ETHIOPIA: TWO JOURNALISTS DETAINED INCOMMUNICADO WITHOUT CHARGE
30 June 2011

English PEN protests the incommunicado detention of Awramba Times deputy editor Woubshet Taye and Feteh columnist Reeyot Alemu,
who were arrested on 19 and 21 June 2011 respectively. Neither has been
charged to date but it is thought that both were arrested under
Ethiopia’s sweeping 2009 antiterrorism law, which allows for prison
sentences of up to 20 years. There are fears that the journalists are
being targeted for their critical reporting in violation of their right
to freedom of expression, and we are therefore calling on the Ethiopian
authorities to clarify the reason for their arrest immediately. For more information, please click here.

BAHRAIN: ACTIVIST AND BLOGGER SENTENCED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT
22 June 2011

English PEN is shocked by the life sentence handed down to academic and human rights activist Dr Abdul-Jalil Alsingace
on 22 June 2011 for his peaceful opposition activities. He is among
twenty-one activists convicted this morning of ‘plotting to overthrow
the government’ after a violent crackdown on peaceful opposition
protestors in the capital, Manama. PEN calls for the immediate and
unconditional release of all those currently detained in Bahrain for the
peaceful exercise of their opinions, including Dr Alsingace, and seeks
immediate guarantees of their safety. It reminds the Bahraini
authorities of their obligations to protect the right to freedom of
expression as guaranteed by Article 19 of the International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights, to which Bahrain is a signatory, and is
alarmed at the apparent use of excessive force to suppress peaceful
dissent. For more information, please click here.

MEXICO: TWO COLUMNISTS MURDERED; ONE EDITOR MISSING
22 June 2011

We were both saddened and outraged to learn of the murders of columnists Miguel Ángel López Velasco and Pablo Ruelas Barraza and the disappearance of editor Marco Antonio López Ortiz,
all in the last two weeks. In the most recent incident, López Velasco
was shot dead along with his wife and son in their home in Veracruz
state on 20 June 2011, while Ruelas was gunned down in Sonora state on
13 June. López Ortiz has not been seen since 7 June, when he was
reportedly abducted in Guerrero state. In all, a total of 40 of print
journalists and writers have been murdered in Mexico since 2004, while
10 more have gone missing. English PEN calls on the federal and state
authorities to investigate these latest crimes as a matter of the utmost
urgency, and to bring the culprits to justice. We also call on the
authorities to implement the journalist protection mechanisms it
promised in November 2010 immediately. For more information, please click here.

English PEN protests the one-year prison sentence and fine handed to Almasae editor Rachid Nini
on 9 June 2011. It is widely believed that these charges are in
retaliation for his articles criticising government policies and
official corruption. Nini has reportedly gone on hunger strike in
protest at prison conditions, and their are widespread concerns for his
well-being. English PEN believes that Nini has been jailed merely for
exercising his right to freedom of expression and calls for his
immediate and unconditional release. For more information, please click here.

TAJIKSTAN: BBC JOURNALIST ARRESTED
20 June 2011

English PEN joins the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in condemning the reported beating of its staff member journalist Urinboy Usmonov
and the denial of his right to access a lawyer. English PEN calls for
an open and impartial investigation in to the charges against Usmonov,
who is accused of membership of the banned Islamic movement Hizb
ut-Tahrir and of seeking to recruit members to the group via the
internet. For more information, please click here.

BAHRAIN: POET AYAT AL-GORMEZI SENTENCED
14 June 2011

English PEN protests the one-year sentence handed down to poet and student Ayat Al-Gormezi on anti-state charges for poems critical of the Bahraini King. We call for her immediate and unconditional release, and that of all those currently detained in Bahrain for the peaceful expression of their views, in accordance with Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Bahrain is a signatory. For more information, please click here.

GEORGIA: JOURNALISTS ATTACKED DURING POLICE CRACKDOWN ON OPPOSITION DEMONSTRATIONS
14 June 2011

English PEN joins the Georgian PEN Centre in condemning the attacks on
journalists by the Police Special Forces which took place on 26 May
2011, following opposition protests in Tbilisi. English PEN calls on the
Georgian government to allow a full and impartial investigation into
the attacks. For more information, please click here.

SYRIA: WRITERS RELEASED IN AMNESTY; OTHERS REMAIN DETAINED
10 June 2011

English PEN welcomes the news that a number of dissident writers in
Syria have been released in recent weeks. We nevertheless remain deeply
concerned for a number of writers who are still being held in violation
of their right to freedom of expression, and continue to call for their
immediate and unconditional release. For more information, please click here.

English PEN was shocked to learn of the brutal murder of the acclaimed poet Shamil Dzhikayev in North Ossetia last month. According to our information, Dzhikayev’s decapitated corpse was found
on 26 May 2011 in the outskirts of Vladikavkaz, the capital of North
Ossetia. It is believed that the motives for killing Dzhikayev, aged 71, an
acclaimed poet and Dean of Philology at North Ossetia University, was a
poem that he had written in 2008. For more information, please click here.

MEXICO: BODY OF DISAPPEARED JOURNALIST FOUND
8 June 2011

English PEN protests the murder of La Verdad de Jáltipan columnist Noel López Olguín,
whose body was found in Veracruz state on 1 June 2011 following his
abduction on 8 March. A drug gang leader has confessed to killing him.
The motive for the crime is not known but it appears likely to be linked
to López’ journalism as his articles were reportedly extremely critical
of local corruption. López’ death brings to 38 the total of print
journalists and writers murdered in Mexico since 2004. The WiPC calls on
the federal and state authorities to investigate López’ murder as a
matter of the utmost urgency, and to bring the culprits to justice. It
also calls on the authorities to implement the journalist protection
mechanisms it promised in November 2010 immediately. For more information, please click here.

English PEN is deeply concerned about the arrests of poet and student Ayat Al-Gormezi and writer and journalist Abbas Al-Murshid
who have been held since 30 March and 15 May 2011 respectively. They
are believed to be detained for their peaceful dissident activities and
have reportedly been tortured in detention. We call for their immediate
and unconditional release and seeks urgent guarantees of their safety,
and respectfully remind the Bahraini authorities of their obligations to
protect the right to freedom of expression as guaranteed by Article 19
of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which
Bahrain is a state party. For more information, please click here.

English PEN is shocked and saddened by the death of journalist and author Syed Saleem Shahzad, Bureau Chief of Asia Times Online and author of the newly published Inside Al-Qaeda and the Taliban: Beyond Bin Laden and 9/11 (available here). He disappeared on 29 May 2011, two days after writing an article for Asia Times Online
suggesting complicity between Al-Qaeda and the Pakistani Navy. His body
was found on 31 May 2011 bearing signs of torture. PEN strongly urges
the Pakistani authorities to conduct a full and impartial investigation
into the death of Syed Saleem Shahzad as a matter of urgency, and to do
all in their power to bring the culprits to justice. For more information, please click here.

PAKISTAN: ENGLISH PEN CONDEMNS MURDER OF SYED SALEEM SHAHZAD
31 May 2011

English PEN strongly condemns and expresses outrage over the
disappearance, torture, and murder of Pakistani journalist and author Syed Saleem Shahzad. We offer our deepest condolences to Shahzad’s family. For more information, please click here.

SINGAPORE: BRITISH AUTHOR ALAN SHADRAKE LOSES APPEAL
31 May 2011

English PEN renews its call for the charges against British author Alan Shadrake
to be dropped after his six week prison sentence for contempt was
upheld by the Court of Appeal on 27 May 2011. An additional two weeks
has been added to his sentence in lieu of a heavy fine. Shadrake is
expected to begin serving his sentence on 1 June 2011. PEN considers
Shadrake to be sentenced solely for the peaceful exercise of his right
to free expression, and calls for his immediate and unconditional
release in accordance with Article 19 of the United Nations Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, and on humanitarian grounds. For more information, please click here.

English PEN protests the murder of political columnist and activist Wilfred Iván Ojeda Peralta,
who was abducted in La Victoria, Aragua state, on 16 May 2011 and found
dead the next day. The manner in which he was shot may indicate that it
was a contract killing ordered by an organised crime group. English PEN
calls on the Venezuelan authorities to conduct a thorough and impartial
investigation into the killing as a matter of urgency and to bring the
culprits to justice. For more information, please click here.

The sentencing of writers and journalists detained in Belarus on 19
December 2010 following demonstrations against the flawed presidential
elections has taken place. One of the five persons whose cases PEN is
following, Dimitri Bondarenko, was given a two year prison term, while Irina Khalip, Vladimir Neklyaev and Aleksandr Fiaduta were all given two year suspended sentences for alleged participation in riots. The fifth, Pavel Severinets
was sentenced to three years “restricted freedom”. While PEN welcomes
the releases on suspended sentences, we regret that these were not
unconditional, and continue to call for all restrictions to be lifted.
We also call for the immediate release of Dimitri Bondarenko, who is
apparently in very poor health. For more information, please click here.

AZERBAIJAN: ENGLISH PEN HAILS THE RELEASE OF EDITOR FATULLAYEV
26 May 2011

English PEN warmely welcomes the news that Azerbaijani editor Eynulla Fatullayev
has been pardoned and released from prison. Fatullayev, who has been
imprisoned for almost four years, was released by the authorities ahead
of Azerbaijan’s Independence Day on 28 May.  He is already at home and
has spoken on the phone to campaigners and journalists, saying he is
“optimistic” about the future. For more information, please click here.

ISRAEL/PALESTINE: WRITER AND ACADEMIC DETAINED WITHOUT CHARGE
24 May 2011

English PEN is seriously concerned about the detention of prominent Palestinian writer and academic Dr Ahmad Qatamesh,
who has been held without charge by the Israeli authorities in th

Originally posted with the url: www.englishpen.org/writersinprison/wipcnews/

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