Caselist - PEN International

PEN INTERNATIONAL Writers in Prison CommitteePEN International is the leading voice of literature worldwide, bringing together poets, novelists, essayists, historians, critics, translators,editors, journalists and screenwriters. Its members are united in a common concern for the craft and art of writing and a commitment tofreedom of expression through the written word. Through its Centres, PEN operates on all five continents with 144 centres in 102 countries.Founded in London in 1921, PEN connects an international community of writers. It is a forum where writers meet freely to discuss theirwork. It is also a voice speaking out for writers silenced in their own countries.The Writers in Prison Committee of Pen International was set up in 1960 as a result of mounting concern about attempts to silence criticalvoices around the world through the detention of writers. It works on behalf of all those who are detained or otherwise persecuted for theiropinions expressed in writing and for writers who are under attack for their peaceful political activities or for the practice of their profession,provided that they did not use violence or advocate violence or racial hatred.Member centres of PEN International are active in campaigning for an improvement in the conditions of persecuted writers and journalists.They send letters to the governments concerned and lobby their own governments to campaign for the release of detained writers and for investigationsin cases of torture and killings. Through writing to the families and, where possible, directly to prisoners, they provide encouragementand hope.PEN International has consultative status at the United Nations and with UNESCO.For more visit www.pen-international.orgPEN INTERNATIONAL CHARTERThe PEN Charter is based on resolutions passed at its international congresses and may be summarised as follows:PEN affirms that:1. Literature knows no frontiers and must remain common currency among people in spite of political or international upheavals.2. In all circumstances, and particularly in time of war, works of art, the patrimony of humanity at large, should be left untouched by nationalor political passion.3. Members of P.E.N. should at all times use what influence they have in favour of good understanding and mutual respect between nations;they pledge themselves to do their utmost to dispel race, class and national hatreds, and to champion the ideal of one humanity living inpeace in one world.4. P.E.N. stands for the principle of unhampered transmission of thought within each nation and between all nations, and members pledgethemselves to oppose any form of suppression of freedom of expression in the country and community to which they belong, as well asthroughout the world wherever this is possible. P.E.N. declares for a free press and opposes arbitrary censorship in time of peace. Itbelieves that the necessary advance of the world towards a more highly organized political and economic order renders a free criticism ofgovernments, administrations and institutions imperative. And since freedom implies voluntary restraint, members pledge themselves tooppose such evils of a free press as mendacious publication, deliberate falsehood and distortion of facts for political and personal ends.Membership of P.E.N. is open to all qualified writers, editors and translators who subscribe to these aims, without regard to nationality, ethnicorigin, language, colour or religion.Information sourcesThe WiPC gathers its information from a wide variety of sources. It seeks to confirm its information through two independent sources. Whereits information is unconfirmed, it will either take not action, or send an appeal worded to reflect the fact that the information is as yet incomplete.Sources include press reports, reports form individuals in the region in question, reports from other human rights groups PEN membersthemselves, embassy officials, academics, prisoners’ families, lawyers and friends, and exile groups. It also works with international NGOs,such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. It is a founder member of IFEX – the International Freedom of Expression Exchange.IFEX is a collaborative, on-line service in which several groups involved in the campaign for free expression pool information. Other membersinclude Article 19, the Committee to Protect Journalists, Index on Censorship, the International Federation of Journalists and Reporters sansFrontieres, as well as regional and national groups. For further details see the IFEX website www.IFEX.orgOur work would be impossible without our Sponsors who include:OXFAM/NOVIB, Swedish International Development Foundation, Norwegian Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the Swedish Ministry of Culture,the Fritt Ord Foundation, Individual donations and membership fees from PEN membersContentsThe Writers in Prison Committee of Pen International records of persecuted writers are updated daily. For up-to-date information on aparticular country (or countries), contact the Writers in Prison Committee headquarters in London.List of cases by countryAfrica 4The Americas 21Asia and Pacific 33Europe and Central Asia 51Anyone wishing to take action on any individual mentioned in this Caselist should contact the Writers in Prison Committee headquarters forany update there may be on the case and for advice on appeals.Explanation of Terms UsedImportant: Please ReadMain CasesThose cases listed as 'main cases' are those where the Writers in Prison Committee is confident that:i. the person is a writer or journalist or is persecuted because of their writings;ii. the person has not used violence towards his or her aims or advocated racial hatred.In these cases, the Writers in Prison Committee will take all possible action for their release or for compensation. In cases where a prisoner isheld without charge or trial for a considerable length of time, the Writers in Prison Committee will consider them to be a main case until andunless information is provided which shows that they have used violence or advocated racial hatred.Judicial concernThese are cases where the main concern includes convictions based on trial proceedings which were manifestly unfair, where there are seriousconcerns regarding allegations of torture or where there are other irregularities in the judicial process. In these cases, the Writers in PrisonCommittee calls for a re-trial following fair trial practice or is calling for an investigation of the alleged malpractice and for those found guiltyof committing such acts as torture to be brought to justice.Investigation caseAn investigation case is one where the Writers in Prison Committee:Middle East 76List of Centre with Honorary Members 90Case statistics 91i. needs more information to ascertain whether a person is a writer or is persecuted for their writings;ii. is not clear as to whether or not he or she has used violence or advocated racial hatred;iii. has insufficient information to confirm that the event has taken place;iv is seeking confirmation that the person is still detained.The Writers in Prison Committee publishes details of investigation cases so as to provide a complete account of reports of abuses againstindividuals practicising their right to free expression in all countries. However, it will not usually call for their release. Once sufficientinformation is available, their cases will be reclassified as a main case or dropped as appropriate.'*' by a name indicates that the case is new to the Committee’s list since the last Writers in Prison Committee report. The last report was datedJune 2011.