Writers in Prison

PEN International established the Writers in Prison Committee in 1960 in response to the harassment, torture, imprisonment and murder of writers by governments around the world. Through its letter-writing campaigns and lobbying of foreign and local governments, PEN seeks to end both custodial and non-custodial forms of repression of writers' free expression. Over the years, many writers have been released from prison, largely due to the international pressure brought about by PEN and other organizations. Nevertheless, these abuses show no sign of abating.

The WiPC team alerts the PEN membership of urgent cases, keeps it abreast of developments on individual cases of attacks as well as global trends affecting free expression, and gives advice on actions and campaigns. These include protest letters, lobbying governments, and public awareness raising. Today there are Writers in Prison Committees in 64 PEN Centres worldwide.

At the end of 2008, International PEN had officially registered the imprisonment of 171 writers. In addition it reported the deaths of two writers killed because of their writing, and listed another 18 writers’ deaths as suspicious. Dozens of other writers have been logged by International PEN as having endured brief imprisonments, death threats and harassment for speaking freely.

Sydney PEN’s work on behalf of writers in prison is one of the most important things we do, and it works. In 2008 our advocacy work, together with that of our colleagues at PEN International, helped to release 94 writers from prison. In 2009, the Australian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka has had a personal involvement in the release of an imprisoned newspaper editor after receiving many letters from members of Sydney PEN.

Over 120 Sydney PEN members have registered to join us in sending appeals on behalf of writers harassed, censored, imprisoned and murdered in our region. At the end of each year, PEN members send seasons' greetings to fellow writers and journalists imprisoned around the world, expressing their solidarity and wishes for the New Year.

The Empty Chair

In 1980, the 15th of November was earmarked by PEN International as ‘The Day of the Imprisoned Writer’, a day when writers worldwide would come together to commemorate their colleagues under attack. At each event an ‘empty chair’ symbolised a writer who could not be present because they were imprisoned, detained, disappeared, threatened or killed. In most instances ‘The Empty Chair’ represented a specific individual rather than all writers at risk.

Sydney PEN encourages individuals, organisations and writers festivals to interpret The Empty Chair campaign to recognise imprisoned writers in our region. In the past few years, we have facilitated The Empty Chair at the Sydney Writers' Festival, the Byron Bay Writers' Festival, the National Young Writers' Festival, the Festival of Dangerous Ideas, the University of Sydney Verge Arts Festival, the Brisbane Writers' Festival, and more. You can download The Empty Chair Kit to read about the campaign’s history and how you can take part – all you need is an empty chair! Each month we refresh the kit with a new featured WiP case.

An imprisoned writer’s feelings about our program

We occasionally hear from imprisoned writers about how much they value letters from our members, or the letters sent on their behalf to governments, and about the important role our letters play in raising spirits and linking the prisoners to readers and writers worldwide.

Teresa Toda is a journalist, former sub-editor for Egin, and Basque PEN member. She was accused of cooperating with Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (ETA), for which she was sentenced on 19 December 2007. She is known for her anti-Franco and left wing activism for which she was expelled from university and it is thought that her imprisonment is linked to her non violent political activities. Here is Teresa’s response to our seasonal greetings in 2008:

Dear PEN Club friends,

Have been truly moved for all the cards I have received over X-mas from writers (and, from now on, friends!) from the UK, the USA and Australia, sending a tender message of solidarity and good wishes. I would have liked to reply to each and everyone of you, but I am only allowed to write two letters weekly, so it becomes quite impossible. Therefore, I trust my gratitude will reach you all on the internet.

You really cannot imagine the value of a few words, a few lines, written on lovely, pretty cards! They bring us imprisoned writers echoes of freedom, they help us our spirits high in face of our troubles and they show our gaolers that they can not cut us off from the outside world nor fully hide the injustice of our situation and the attacks on liberty of expression and opinion. Thus, keep it up! PEN Club members' work is important on an international level, very important, but also on a person-to-person level, keeping up the links with those writers cut off from their chosen profession and tasks by unjust rulings.

I hope my warmest gratitude will reach you all, as well as my best wishes for 2009! Teresa Toda, Basque PEN writer in prison.

Teresa Toda 
CP M.8 
37799 Topas, Salamanca, Spain

PEN Poem Relay

In 2007, Sydney PEN worked with BarNet to create a website to host a virtual global translation relay featuring the poem “June” by Sydney PEN Honorary Member, imprisoned Chinese poet Shi Tao. Visit the site for the history and content of this amazing journey of international awareness and support for imprisoned writers.

Writers in Detention Committee

The Sydney PEN WiD Committee, the first of its kind in PEN, was established in 2003 to bring to light the presence of writers in Australian refugee detention centres. In 2004, the Committee’s work earned Sydney PEN the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Community Award. The Committee was, happily, made redundant in 2006 when no more writers were known to be detained in this country. Chaired by Dr Denise Leith, the Committee of Rosie Scott and Tom Keneally AO edited an anthology of work by writers in detention, released as a special issue of the journal Southerly entitled Another Country (64.1, 2004). Download the history of the Committee.