8 August 2007

Urgent Request for Action from the International President, International Secretary, and International Chair of International PEN

Death sentence in Iran

The news that the death sentence against Iranian Kurdish journalist Adnan Hassanpour was confirmed in Tehran has come as a deep shock to International PEN. As International President and International Secretary of International PEN, and as International Chair of its Writers in Prison Committee, it is our opinion that it is a case of utmost gravity when a colleague is sentenced to death for the peaceful exercise of the right to advocate his or her opinions and to disseminate information. Thankfully, it is highly unusual for writers to be sentenced to death, and every time this happens International PEN should respond.

We therefore urge all PEN Centres to act upon the Rapid Action Alert issued by the Writers in Prison Committee on 30 July. Click here for the alert: www.internationalpen.org.uk/index.php?pid=33&aid=656&type=current

PEN Centres are asked to send at least one letter of protest to the Iranian embassies in their own countries, and, if possible, also to approach their own governments, urging them to put as much pressure on the Iranian authorities as possible to remove the death sentence against Adnan Hassanpour. Please take action as soon as possible. If your Centre has not already formed a Writers in Prison Committee and would like to consider doing so, please contact

Sara Whyatt : sara.whyatt@internationalpen.org.uk

Yours sincerely,

Jiri Grusa, International President

Eugene Schoulgin, International Secretary

Karin Clark, International Chair, Writers in Prison Committee