PEN Melbourne

Türkiye: Writer Yavuz Ekinci on trial again as spurious terror-propaganda case resumes — PEN International | Promoting Literature & Defending Freedom of Expression Worldwide ‘That Kurdish writer Yavuz Ekinci finds himself in court again for his writings after the case against him was dismissed exposes the authorities of Türkiye’s pernicious pursuit of those who dare explo...

A verdict is expected on 6 October in the preposterous case against Yavuz Ekinci. He faces years in prison on terror propaganda grounds for his book Rüyası Bölünenler (Dream Divided). We urge #Türkiye to drop all charges and to uphold the freedom to create.
www.pen-international.org/news/trkiye-...

We Will Not Be Silenced Event at Wheeler Centre - PEN Melbourne An esteemed panel of experts come together to discuss why we must fight to protect freedom of expression in the face of increasing attempts to censor and

penmelbourne.org/we-will-not-...

Join us at The Wheeler Centre for this panel featuring Mary Kostakidis, Micaela Sahhar and Sarah Schwartz where they’ll highlight the imperative need to protect writers and journalists’ freedom of speech, dissent and open political discourse.
🔗 Tickets are available now via the link below.

We Will Not Be Silenced Event at Wheeler Centre - PEN Melbourne An esteemed panel of experts come together to discuss why we must fight to protect freedom of expression in the face of increasing attempts to censor and

penmelbourne.org/we-will-not-...

Alaa Abdel Fattah: British-Egyptian activist released from prison Alaa Abdel Fattah, who was imprisoned in Egypt for six years, is reunited with his family in Cairo after being pardoned.

Alaa Abd El Fattah has not been defeated!
The British-Egyptian writer and activist has been reunited with family after he was pardoned by Egyptian President, Abdul Fattah Al-Sisi.
PEN Melbourne honour the families resistance and tenacity in achieving Alaa's release.

www.bbc.com/news/article...

We stand with @peninternational and their resolutions to defend free expression, gender diversity, human rights, and climate justice. Full statement available via the link in their bio 🔗

Stand with Mary Kostakidis | The Information Rights Project The Information Rights Project protects freedom of communication and access to information.

informationrights.org/take-action/...

🚨 An Open Letter in Defence of Free Expression and the Right to Share Information 🚨

Join us as we stand with Mary Kostakidis to fight these allegations which our democracy depends on for free and open discussions.

🔗 Follow the link below to show your support 🔗

Writing Against Silencing: PEN Melbourne Workshop - Emerging Writers' Festival By inviting workshop participants to write against the attempted silencing of emerging writers, we will consider what it means to create in danger, under censorship, and the importance of free creativ...

emergingwritersfestival.org.au/event/writin...

Writing Against Silencing: PEN Melbourne Workshop
Explore the tensions between creative expression and censorship in the Asia-Pacific region during this online event with author Sreedhevi Iyer on 17/08/25 between 4-7pm.

Belarus: Five years of relentless crackdown on cultural rights  — PEN International | Promoting Literature & Defending Freedom of Expression Worldwide ‘Belarusian culture, language and identity have come under sustained onslaught over the past five years. It is high time the international community takes a stance in support of the Belarusian…

#Belarus: Five years after the fraudulent 2020 elections, the crackdown on writers and cultural figures continues with impunity. PEN Belarus, PEN International & PEN America call for accountability and unwavering support for Belarusian culture.

🤍 Free Alaa 🤍
Members of PEN Melbourne gathered outside the street level of the British Consulate in Melbourne on Monday to hold our second Vigil For Alaa.
Join us on 18th of August, between 3pm and 5pm in the same place.
We will be there on the third Monday of every month.
#freealaa

Threat looms over Narges Mohammadi amid ongoing intimidation from state-affiliated actors Woman, Life, Freedom

narges.foundation/threat-looms...

🚨 The Free Narges Coalition Steering Committee has published a public statement with information following the reports which have emerged after serious threats were made to the safety and life of Narges Mohammadi 🚨
Follow the link below to learn more.

#NargesMohammadi

Upcoming Event: Victoria's Path to Treaty on Thursday 17 July - PEN Melbourne Canada and New Zealand began signing treaties with their respective First Nations people centuries ago. Why is Australia so far behind? Treaty offers an

🔗 Book your ticket now via the link below 🔗

penmelbourne.org/upcoming-eve...

🖤❤️💛 Join us in partnership with The Wheeler Centre on Thursday 17th July, 630pm, for this live conversation at The Wheeler Centre 💛❤️🖤
Hosted by Bridget Brennan with Ngarra Murray, this event will explore Treaty in Victoria, while asking where we stand following the outcome of The Voice Referendum.

Türkiye: Arrest warrant issued against journalist and poet Nedim Türfent condemned   — PEN International | Promoting Literature & Defending Freedom of Expression Worldwide 04 July 2025 – PEN International joins international free expression, media freedom, human rights and journalists’ organisations in expressing deep concern over reports that an arrest warrant has been...

www.pen-international.org/news/trkiye-...

#Türkiye: We join PEN International and others in expressing deep concern over the arrest warrant issued against journalist, poet, and Honorary PEN member, Nedim Türfent.

We call for the warrant to be retracted without delay.

🔗 Follow the link in the comments to read the joint statement

RSF and 32 other organisations call on UK Prime Minister to meet son of jailed British publisher Jimmy Lai In a joint letter coordinated by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), 33 organisations around the globe have written to UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer asking him to meet Sebastien Lai, the son of Brit...

🔗 To read the full article, follow the link below:

rsf.org/en/rsf-and-3...

#jimmylai #reporterswithoutborders #penmelbourne #peninternational

Reporters Without Borders and 33 global organisations (including several PEN Centres, and Amnesty International) have written to the UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer asking him to meet with the son of British publisher Jimmy Lai who has been arbitrarily jailed in Hong Kong since December 2020.

Gazeteci Nedim Türfent hakkında yakalama kararı - Diken 27/06/2025 - Gazeteci Nedim Türfent hakkında 'terör örgütü propagandası yapma' iddiasıyla yakalama kararı çıkarıldı.

#Türkiye: PEN International is deeply concerned by reports that an arrest warrant has been issued against journalist, poet, and Honorary PEN member Nedim Türfent on terror-propaganda grounds.

Read more ⬇️
www.diken.com.tr/gazeteci-ned...

📢 We stand with PEN International and support their latest joint statement with the Montenegrin PEN Centre, where both centres have urged the Montenegro authorities to uphold academic freedom 📢

#peninternational #penmontenegro #academicfreedom

Monday's June 16th Melbourne Action was aimed at building awareness of Alaa Abd el-Fattah’s case, who holds joint British and Egyptian citizenship. PEN Melbourne members took up a position outside the British consulate's office building to raise awareness of his case.
#freealaa

🕊️ FREE ALAA 🕊️

PEN Melbourne invites you to join a Vigil For Alaa

📍 Monday June 16, 3.30 - 5.30pm 
@ The British Consulate, 90 Collins Street Melbourne/ Naarm

Genocide is the ultimate form of silencing. There is no safe place in Gaza. Impose an arms embargo and end the genocide now. PEN International - PEN Melbourne PEN Melbourne joins PEN International's call for an "immediate arms embargo on all parties to the conflict, and particularly a ban on the export of all

🔗 To learn more and read the full statement from PEN International, follow the link below:

penmelbourne.org/pen-internat...

PEN Melbourne condemns the killing and silencing of writers, poets, journalists, for simply going about their work peacefully and with courage reporting the war. At least 176 journalists, 120 academics, and 23 writers have been killed in the war, many directly targeted along with their families.

Türkiye: Authorities should immediately and unconditionally release journalist and author Furkan Karabay and stop their judicial harassment.
Journalists should be allowed to do their work without risk of persecution.  
#journalismisnotacrime

Türkiye: Release and drop charges against journalists Hamza Kaan and Mehmet Üçar — PEN International | Promoting Literature & Defending Freedom of Expression Worldwide RAPID ACTION NETWORK  - RAN 01/2025 21 May 2025 : Journalists Hamza Kaan and Mehmet Üçar have been detained since 26 November 2024 on fabricated terror-related grounds for their writings. They wil...

Türkiye: journalists Hamza Kaan and Mehmet Üçar face up to 15 years in prison on fabricated terror grounds for their writings.

Join us in urging their immediate release.

Take action now: www.pen-international.org/news/turkiye...

Türkiye: Release and drop charges against journalists Hamza Kaan and Mehmet Üçar — PEN International | Promoting Literature & Defending Freedom of Expression Worldwide RAPID ACTION NETWORK  - RAN 01/2025 21 May 2025 : Journalists Hamza Kaan and Mehmet Üçar have been detained since 26 November 2024 on fabricated terror-related grounds for their writings. They wil...

#Türkiye: Hamza Kaan and Mehmet Üçar face up to 15 years in prison on fabricated terror grounds for their writings.

Join us in urging their immediate release.

Take action now: www.pen-international.org/news/turkiye...

China: Writer Yang Hengjun’s letter from jail is a powerful expression of humanity and hope in the face of repression — PEN International | Promoting Literature & Defending Freedom of Expression World... ‘Yang Hengjun’s letter from behind bars is a powerful expression of his unshakable humanity and his unyielding resolve to use his voice to call for a better world. The suspended death sentence ...

Letter from Dr Yang to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

www.pen-international.org/news/china-w...

“I feel all of your support beside me as I stagger through the hardest and darkest chapter of my life, allowing me to immerse in the warmth of humanity.”
- Dr Yang Hengjun