
International PEN Writers in Prison Committee Caselist July-December Now Available




14 February 2008

The latest edition of the Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC) of International PEN’s twice yearly caselist is now av ai lable to download from our website:
http://www.internationalpen.org.uk/index.php?pid=33&aid=747&query=case%20list.

In the past year, the WiPC monitored over 1,000 attacks reported in that period, it is clear that the pattern of arrests, threats and even killings of those who speak out has not abated.

Among them are 55 writers and journalists killed in 2007, a shockingly high figure, almost double the figure for previous years. While it is not always possible to be completely sure that the killings were directly linked to the victims’ writings, it is clear that at least 18 were deliberately targeted. Among them was the courageous editor, Hrant Dink, assassinated in Turkey for his commentary on the Armenian genocide and whose death lead to mass protests. Most dangerous place of all to be in 2007 was Iraq where 21 print journalists were murdered alongside more working in the broadcast media.

Writers det ai ned worldwide consistently report poor conditions. Last year there were rumours that four journalists held in Eritrea since 2001 had died through neglect and ill treatment. Twenty-six others are still unaccounted for. In Cuba, reports of poor conditions are rife, with severe long-term health problems reported for the vast majority of the over 30 prisoners held there. As the 2008 Beijing Olympics near the Chinese authorities appear resolute in their refusal to allow dissenting voices with around 40 writers and journalists serving lengthy in Chinese prisons. In Burma, the numbers of det ai ned suddenly swelled in late 2007 following the quickly suppressed democracy demonstrations. Other countries holding writers for many years include Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Ethiopia, Iran, and Azerb ai jan. Good news came with the release of 94 det ai nees, representing around a third of those serving long prison terms.

Increasingly governments choose not to resort to prison cells to keep their dissident writers out of the way, but instead subject them to long, and often convoluted trials. Most notable is the case of Turkey where around 60 writers, journalists and publishers are on trial, with some hearings dragging out for many years. Most do not end with prison sentences, but financial and emotional toll of endless court hearings can wear down dissenters and dissuade others from speaking out.

Death threats are a common feature of life for journalists across the globe with over 80 reported in 2007. As the threats are frequently unreported, the figure is likely to be much higher. It is sobering to note that many of those who were subsequently killed had lived with such threats for considerable periods.

International PEN members world wide have stood up to protest these attacks, responding to the 105 Rapid Action Alerts issued on urgent cases in the last year, with letters of protest and public awareness rising. Eighty-four of the cases on PEN’s records have been elected as Honorary Members of PEN Centres whose members develop close contact with them and their families, and to camp ai gn on their behalf. In 2007 a WiPC camp ai gn was staged on Criminal Defamation and Insult Laws that are widely used to quell government critics, which focussed on Turkey, Egypt, Mexico, the European Union and Africa. In 2008 the focus will be on China as the Beijing Games approach, and, later in the year, on free expression in the Americas.

To learn more about International PEN’s activities for writers under attack go to: the Writers in Prison Committee section of the International PEN website http://www.internationalpen.org.uk/index.php?pid=4.

To dowload the latest caselist go to http://www.internationalpen.org.uk/index.php?pid=33&aid=747&query=case%20list