Day of the Imprisoned Writer
DOIW 2024
Alaa Abd El-Fattah (Egypt)
Occupation: Writer, blogger, software developer
Situation: Imprisoned #FreeAlaa #ImprisonedWriter
Introduction:British-Egyptian writer and activist Alaa Abd El-Fattah remains arbitrarily imprisoned after serving an unjust five-year prison sentence in Egypt on politically motivated charges, in a grossly unfair trial. During his detention, he has endured severe conditions, including denial of access to a lawyer, UK consular visits, and basic necessities like a mattress and a pillow. Join this year’s Day of the Imprisoned Writer, calling for his immediate and unconditional release.
How you can help:
1. Send Alaa Abd El-Fattah a message of solidarity. [Embed form]
2. Contact Egyptian and UK authorities [opens in accordion- accordion link taking to Advocacy section]
Advocacy
PEN International urges the Egyptian authorities to release Alaa Abd El-Fattah immediately and unconditionally, having fully served his unjust prison sentence.
Please join us in calling on the Egyptian government to release Alaa.
Write to:
President of EgyptAbdel Fattah el-Sisi.
Address for letters: Al Ittihadiya Palace, Cairo, Egypt.
Send an Email to: Presidency@op.gov.eg
Please send electronic copies to:
-The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on: Contact.us@mfa.gov.eg -The Egyptian Embassy in your own country. Embassy addresses may be found here: https://www.embassypages.com/egypt
Alaa Abd El-Fattah (Egypt)
Occupation: Journalist, publisher, activist
Situation: Imprisoned #FreeJimmyLai #ImprisonedWriter
‘The Chinese and Hong Kong SAR governments tried to silence my dad by throwing him in jail. But that silence is deafening. Today I want the whole world to hear his story.’ Sebastien Lai addressing the United Nations Human Rights Council, June 2023.
Introduction:
Jimmy Lai, a pro-democracy campaigner, writer, and founder of the now-shuttered Apple Daily newspaper, has been imprisoned in solitary confinement since December 2020 and now faces prosecution under Hong Kong’s National Security Law. If convicted, he faces a potential life sentence for his peaceful advocacy for freedom and democracy in Hong Kong. Join us in calling for his immediate and unconditional release for the Day of the Imprisoned Writer 2024.
How you can help:
1. Write a message of hope to Jimmy Lai. [Embed form] This solidarity action is in collaboration with English PEN’s PENWrites campaign. All letters will be subject to screening as a safety precaution.PENWrites is English PEN’s international letter-writing campaign in solidarity with writers in prison and at risk around the world. For decades, PEN has supported writers who are persecuted for exercising their right to freedom of expression, and PEN members have long supported fellow writers by sending letters of solidarity. #PENWrites.Please take a few moments to write a message of solidarity and support to Jimmy Lai:
2. Email the Hong Kong authorities [opens in accordion- accordion link taking to
Advocacy
PEN International calls on the Hong Kong authorities to release Jimmy Lai immediately and unconditionally, drop all charges against him, and repeal restrictive laws that threaten press freedom and freedom of expression in Hong Kong.
Appeals can be sent to:
Chief Executive of Hong KongMr. John LeeE-mail: ceo@ceo.gov.hkTel: (852) 2878 3300Fax: (852) 2509 0580Address: Tamar, Hong Konghttps://www.ceo.gov.hk/tc/welcome.html
Secretary for Justice of Hong KongMr. Paul LamOffice Tel: 3918 4111Email: sjo@doj.gov.hkOffice Address5th floor, Main Wing, Justice Place, 18 Lower Albert Road, Central, Hong Kong.
Please also send a message to the Chinese Embassy in your country.
Kaciaryna Andrejeva (Bielorrusia)
Occupation: Journalist, writer, poet.
Situation: Imprisoned #KaciarynaAndrejeva #ImprisonedWriter
And whenever I stray
On paths faraway
Where beasts left
Tracks in the snow
I am scared no longer,
Amused no longer –No more trouble
No more woe.
The songs around
Have lost their sound
And instead of songs:
The crunch of spines.
In my beloved country
Before spring comes finally,
Through my prison bars
You still shine.
Kaciaryna Andrejeva, written from prison in 2021
Translated from Belarusian by Hanna Komar and John Farndon for #FreeAllWords
Introduction:
Journalist, writer and poet, Kaciaryna Andrejeva (real name Bachvałava) is serving an eight-year prison sentence in Belarus on bogus charges of ‘state treason’. Andrejeva is currently being held in a medium-security penal colony in Homel, southeastern Belarus. Join us in calling for her immediate and unconditional release for the Day of the Imprisoned Writer.
How you can help:
1. Write a message of hope to Kaciaryna Andrejeva.
2. Write to the Belarusian authorities and your diplomatic contacts [opens in accordion- accordion link taking to Advocacy section]
Advocacy
PEN International urges the Belarusian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Kaciaryna Andrejeva as well as fellow writers and journalists held in Belarus solely for peacefully expressing their views.
Appeal letters can be sent to: President of Belarus: Aliaksandr Lukašenka Head of the Administration of the President of Belarus: Dmitry Krutoi First Deputy Head of the Administration of the President of Belarus: Natalya PetkevichAddress: Independence Palace, praspiekt Pieramožcaŭ 12, Minsk, Minskaja voblasć, Belarus.
Please send electronic copies to:
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus: Maxim Ryzhenkov. Email: mail@mfa.gov.by.The Embassy of Belarus in your own country. Embassy addresses may be found here.
Please inform PEN International of any action you take and any feedback you receive.
José Ruben Zamora (Guatemala)
Occupation: Journalist.
Situation: House Arrest #JoseRubénZamora #ImprisonedWriter
The challenge of the independent press is to tell the truth, to tell it like it is, from all possible points of view. As a rule, it is often an exercise against the tide, in a hostile, lonely and marginal context, and is often considered subversive by the powers that be.
Jose Rubén Zamora Marroquín, August 2024, speech written for the Award for Journalistic Excellence 2024 by the Gabriel García Márquez Foundation.
Introduction:
Jose Rubén Zamora Marroquín, a leading Guatemalan journalist and founder of elPeriódico, has faced threats, criminalisation and arbitrary detention for his investigations into corruption within Alejandro Giammatei’s government. On 18 October 2024, Zamora was placed under house arrest after more than 800 days behind bars. Join us in calling for his immediate and unconditional release on the Day of the Imprisoned Writer.
How can you help:
1. Write a message of hope to Jose Rubén Zamora Marroquín. SOLIDARITY
2. Email the Guatemalan authorities demanding his immediate and unconditional release
Advocacy
PEN International urges the Guatemalan authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Jose Rubén Zamora Marroquín, put an end to the legal and judicial harassment of journalists in Guatemala, and protect them from violence or intimidation, allowing them to work freely. Appeals can be sent to:
President of Guatemala
Bernardo Arévalo
Twitter: @BArevalodeLeon
Instagram: bernardoarevalogt
Vice President of Guatemala
Karin Herrera
Twitter @KarinHerreraVP
Email: uip@vicepresidencia.gob.gt; contacto@vicepresidencia.gob.gt
Procuraduría General de la Nación (PGN)
Twitter: @PGNguatemala
Instagram: pgnguatemalaoficial
Learn more about Jose Rubén Zamora Marroquín's case