The Day of the Imprisoned Writer is an annual, international day intended to recognize and support writers who resist repression of the basic human right to freedom of expression and who stand up to attacks made against their right to impart information. This day is observed each year on November 15. It was started in 1981 by PEN International's Writers in Prison Committee.
In addition to increasing the public's awareness of persecuted writers in general, PEN uses the Day of the Imprisoned Writer to direct attention to several specific persecuted or imprisoned writers and their individual circumstances. Each of the selected writers is from a different part of the world, and each case represents circumstances of repression that occur when governments or other entities in power feel threatened by what writers have written. On this day, the general public is encouraged to take actionâÂÂin the form of donations and letters of appealâÂÂon behalf of the selected writers.
The day also serves to commemorate all of the writers killed since the previous year's Day of the Imprisoned Writer. Between November 15, 2007, and November 15, 2008, at least 39 writers from around the world were killed in circumstances that appeared to be related to their professions.
Highlighted writers from past observances
2013
- ; internet writer and website editor, China - Tibet
- Dina Meza; human rights defender and journalist, Honduras
- Zahra Rahnavard; author and political activist, Iran
- Rodney Sieh; newspaper founder, publisher and editor-in-chief, Liberia
- Fazñl Say; writer, composer and musician, Turkey
2012
2011
- Abduljalil al-Singace; blogger and human rights defender, Bahrain
- Reeyot Alemu; opposition journalist, Ethiopia
- Nedim Sener and Ahmet Ã
Âñk; writers in prison, Turkey
- Susana Chavez Castillo; poet and human rights defender, Mexico
- Tashi Rabten (pen-name TeâÂÂurang); dissident writer, Tibet
2010
- Robert Mintya; newspaper editor, Cameroon
- Hossein Derakhshan; blogger, Iran
- Bladimir Antuna (full name José Bladimir Antuna GarcÃÂa); crime reporter, Mexico
- Tal Al-Mallouhi; blogger and poet, Syria
- Dilmurod Saidov; journalist, Uzbekistan
2009
2008
2007
- Normando Hernanez Gonzalez; journalist, Cuba
- Jamshid Karimov; journalist, Ouzbekistan
- Fatou Jaw Manneh; journalist, Gambia
- Yaghoub Yadali; novelist, Iran
- Zargana Maung Thura; poet and comedian, Burma
2006
- Hrant Dink; newspaper editor, Turkey
- Wesenseged Gebrekidan; journalist, Ethiopia
- Lydia Cacho; writer, Mexico
- Yang Xiaoqing; internet journalist, China
2005
- Orhan Pamuk; writer, Turkey
- Shi Tao; poet and activist, China
- Dr. Roya Toloui; writer and womenâÂÂs rights activist, Iran
- Paul Kamara; journalist, Sierra Leone
- Victor Rolando Arroyo; journalist, Cuba
2004
See also
References
External links