'Each letter day, I get so many letters from PEN members and I am engulfed by very beautiful feelings... I can feel myself with you, always, and perhaps that is why I never feel helpless.'

Zehra Doğan, Kurdish artist and writer

PENWrites is our international letter​-writing campaign in solidarity with writers in prison and at risk around the world.

For decades, PEN has supported writers who are persecuted, harassed, and imprisoned for exercising their right to freedom of expression, and PEN members have long supported fellow writers by sending letters of support.

The impact of such a simple act should not be underestimated.

Countless writers have told us how letters and messages they received provided much-needed moral support in extremely difficult circumstances, serving as a crucial reminder that they had not been forgotten. Others have spoken of how they were afforded better treatment in prison as a result of cards flooding in from all over the world.

How can you support imprisoned writers?

Sign up to the PENWrites mailing list to find out how you can support our featured writers.

We'll be in touch with details of their cases, PENWrites events, and the latest case developments as they unfold.

Featured writers

Our featured writers are Amanuel Asrat, Nedim Türfent, Pham Doan Trang, Writers in Myanmar, the staff and members of PEN Belarus, Dr Abduljalil Al-Singace, Kakwenza Rukirabashaija, Rahile Dawut, Galal El-Behairy, Jimmy Lai, and Mahvash Sabet – please take a few moments to send a message of support.

Resources

Read our helpful guide to writing letters in solidarity and how you can support writers at risk.

FAQs

'I want you to know that your letters, which have rendered iron curtains meaningless and ineffective, have filled my two-step-long cell with resistance, resolve and hope.'

Nedim Türfent, Kurdish journalist and poet