Journalist and writer Cheng Lei is set to become the next president of PEN Melbourne, bringing her lived experience of wrongful imprisonment and a powerful commitment to freedom of expression. Her extraordinary story of survival, release and rebuilding her life is featured in the recent Australian Story episode, Time After Time.

Across the United States, thousands of books have been removed from public school classrooms and libraries as part of an unprecedented wave of censorship.

Nine-year-old Ayla Lewis read her poem “Peace” at PEN Perth’s Poems of War and Peace event.

It was a real pleasure to see many of you at our recent AGM and at the event that followed, Poems of War and Peace. The open mic was a reminder of the extraordinary range of voices in our community – from established poets such as Dennis Haskell to nine-year-old Ayla, bravely taking her place at the microphone. My thanks to everyone who organised, participated in and attended the event.

Dear members and fellow travellers Let me begin by thanking Hélène Jaccomard who kept this column going while I was away for the last three issues of the newsletter. While in Europe, I was reminded rather soberingly of the pointy end of PEN International’s work when I joined a meeting of key PEN centres to discuss financial support for writers at risk.

With eyewitnesses unable to identify the accused, no identification parade conducted and no forensic evidence connecting them to the alleged crimes, a court acquitted 11 Muslim men charged in communal...

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‘Five years after Yang Hengjun’s secret trial, the injustice he faces remains as stark as ever. A writer should never face imprisonment, let alone a suspended death sentence, for peacefully expressing...

On International Women’s Day, PEN America is working to free women writers from the rising threats they face around the world.

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 wo…

“We are deeply shocked by the news of the brutal assault and subsequent detention of prominent Iranian writer and Nobel laureate, Narges Mohammadi last week. Mohammadi has always faced persecution due...

‘The PEN movement has been eagerly campaigning for this moment for years. As we welcome the release of PEN members Ales Bialiatski, Maksim Znak and Aliaksandr Fiaduta with immense relief, we urge just...

Lai, one of the fiercest critics of the Chinese state, faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.

Police have arrested Georgian poet Paata Shamugia during last night’s protest in Tbilisi. Reportedly, criminal police officers detained him near

‘By arresting PEN member Merdan Yanardağ on ludicrous espionage charges and appointing a trustee to TELE 1, the authorities clearly intend to wipe out what is left of critical journalism in Türkiye. W...

Grey Zone: The Debate Democracies Cannot Afford to Lose

This is not about those of us on this ship. It is about Palestinians, particularly Gazans. We have gone way past the time for words and gestures. It is time for action.

YouTube video by APT