by PenSydney | Jan 22, 2026 | News
PEN Melbourne, PEN Sydney and PEN Perth express our deep concern regarding the Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill that was passed by parliament this week. Freedom of expression, including the right to challenge, critique and debate ideas, especially...
by PenSydney | Jan 17, 2026 | News
On 14 January, Filipino poet, writer, and activist Amanda Echanis was acquitted of weapons and explosives charges after spending more than five years in detention. The court found the prosecution failed to establish the elements of the case. Although a welcome...
by PenSydney | Jan 13, 2026 | News
The cancellation of Adelaide Writers’ Week after the removal of Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah and the withdrawal of the majority of writers calls for a detailed explanation. It is a clear infringement of freedom of expression. The three Australian PEN Centres; Perth,...
by PenSydney | Jan 12, 2026 | News
77 writers have withdrawn from the Adelaide Writers’ Week (AWW) after the Adelaide Festival Board decided to drop Australian-Palestinian author Randa Abdel-Fattah for community cohesion. In a statement, the Adelaide Festival Board explained “[it] would not be...
by PenSydney | Oct 30, 2025 | News
Leila Sadeghi had no idea of the danger that awaited her when she returned to Iran for her father’s funeral. As a translator of feminist articles the regime had put a target on her back. She was now trapped in Iran. I stood at the Tehran airport immigration desk in my...
by PenSydney | Jun 29, 2025 | News
Artist and mother Mehrangiz Eminpour was killed in the Israeli attacks on Tehran on Monday June 2. PEN Sydney extends our condolences to her ex-husband and father of their children writer Reza Khandan Mahabadi. Reza Khandan Mahabadi, a writer and member of the...
