Finnish PEN at Helsinki Book Fair

Writers’ freedom of expression association Finnish PEN celebrates its 90th year this autumn. We are having five discussions on free speech,...

/ 21 October 2018

Finnish PEN’s Resolution on Stifling of Digital Freedom passed in Pune

Digitalization is transforming the world at an unprecedented pace in human history giving people powerful tools to improve lives and...

/ 19 October 2018

Egypt: PEN calls for the poet Galal El-Behairy’s sentence to be quashed

PEN calls for charges of ‘insulting the military’ and ‘spreading false news’ to be quashed in an open letter and...

/ 10 August 2018

PEN event – Writers for freedom of speech July 16th

The Writer’s Association Finnish PEN organizes an event with PEN America on Monday, 16 July 2018 at 2–4.00 pm on...

/ 11 July 2018

New information on Galal El-Behairy’s case

Finnish PEN has received new information about the case of the Egyptian poet Galal El-Behairy, who’s currently facing charges in Military...

/ 26 June 2018

China: Uyghur pop musician and lyric writer detained, concerns for his well-being

PEN International is seriously concerned for the well-being of Uyghur pop musician and lyric writer, Ablajan Awut Ayup (popularly known...

/ 22 June 2018

#FreeGalal poetry demonstration was seen and heard

A group of supporters of the poet Galal El-Behairy gathered in front of the embassy of Egypt in Helsinki to...

/ 21 June 2018

Please join us in Helsinki: #FreeGalal demonstration on World Refugee Day 20 June 2018

The 20th of June is UN’s World Refugee Day. It is about sharing responsibility for global issues. Many PEN centres around...

/ 19 June 2018

Bangladesh: Publisher killed

11 June 2018 – PEN International is deeply saddened and concerned at today’s news that publisher and writer, Shahzahan Bachchu, was murdered in Munshiganj, Bangladesh...

/ 14 June 2018

#FreeGalal and Megaphone X at Freedom of Expression Club on 9 June 2018

Freedom of Expression Club: Ramy Essam – Freedom to Sing was organized at Tenho Restobar on Sat 9 June 2018...

/ 12 June 2018

Freedom of Expression Club: Ramy Essam – Freedom to Sing 9.6.2018

Tenho Restobar (Helsinginkatu 15, 2nd floor), Saturday 9 June 2018 18–20pm Ramy Essam is a superstar of Arabic rock music,...

/ 1 June 2018

Oleg Sentsov on hunger strike – sign Finnish PEN’s online appeal NOW

Ukrainian writer and filmmaker Oleg Sentsov has been on hunger strike since 14 May 2018 to urge the Russian authorities...

/ 21 May 2018

Galal El-Behairy: Statement

In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful, My friends, it is with great sorrow that I...

/ 15 May 2018

Egypt’s grim blow on freedom of expression and human rights: the tortured poet Galal El-Behairy must be freed

A Statement by Finnish PEN 8 May 2018 Updated 14 May 2018: More signatories added. Update on 26 June 2018: Galal...

/ 8 May 2018

The 25th celebration of World Press Freedom Day on May 3rd!

On The World Press Freedom Day May 3rd Venla Hiidensalo, the new President of Finnish PEN, was interviewed by the Finland’s...

/ 4 May 2018

PEN calls for justice for Daphne Caruana Galizia

On World Press Freedom Day 3 May 2018 PEN calls for justice for Daphne Caruana Galizia and the protection of...

/ 3 May 2018

Çiler İlhan: You killed / Öldürdünüz

You Killed   You killed my mother. You killed my father: My uncles and my aunts. You killed my grandmother and...

/ 17 April 2018

The PEN International Women’s Manifesto

The first and founding principle of the PEN Charter asserts that ‘literature knows no frontiers’. These frontiers were traditionally thought...

/ 8 March 2018

Kai Ekholm receives Finnish PEN’s Freedom of Expression Award

Kai Ekholm is Director of the National Library of Finland. He is well known as a researcher on freedom of...

/ 14 February 2018
kirjailija Uladzimir Njakljajeu

Uladzimir Njakljajeu sentenced for 10 days in prison

Free Uladzimir Njakljajeu Statement by Finnish PEN 3.11.2017 The poet and civil rights activist Uladzimir Njakljajeu (Vladimir Neklyaev) has been...

/ 3 November 2017