Bhekisisa Mncube: "The tragedy is that the theatre works. A crowd with placards may be ignored. The image of a crowd with sticks and spears travels. The image circulates. The message hardens. Migrants see it." www.litnet.co.za/when-the-sti...

#EVENT: Ninety years after Lorca was killed at the start of the Spanish Civil War, his words still defy oppression. Join us on 29 July for The Poetry of Freedom, live and recorded readings from acclaimed writers and artists. Book your free ticket here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-poetry...

Stefaans Coetzee: "Hy wil nie mense in kampe verdeel nie, daarom praat hy met almal. Van Julius Malema se bondgenote tot mense in Solidariteit en AfriForum." www.litnet.co.za/johan-allers...

Today, on the anniversary of Victoria Amelina's death, we remember her through her words. Poem About a Crow was inspired by her interviews with women who lived through Russian occupation. Translated by Uilleam Blacker.

"Een stevige duik in de Angolese cultuur en geschiedenis; Leila Pinto vertelt het liefdesverhaal van haar grootouders en schetst de geschiedenis van het oude Koninkrijk Bailundo." ~ Erik van den Bergh voertaal.nu/leesimpressi...

When governments and markets both want the same culture. Nils Håkanson on why protecting languages has never been more urgent. Read the latest PEN/Opp editorial ⬇️ penopp.org/articles/mul...

"Het is een auteur die, denk ik, zeker verschillende revivals zou kunnen beleven in de komende decennia, zoals het werk en de figuur van Herman Gorter nu weer opleeft onder veel jonge Nederlandstalige dichters." ~ Alfred Schaffer voertaal.nu/breyten-schr...

"Ons tienjarige gemengderashond (DBV) het die afgelope drie maande die probleem dat hy sy stoelgang net enige plek doen. Deesdae doen hy dit in die huis, kantoor en sy bed en bly lê dan so daarmee saam en slaap." ~ Naomi voertaal.nu/vra-die-veea...

"Hy was by uitstek ’n skrywer wat aan die leser daardie soort leeservaring kon besorg waarvoor Roland Barthes destyds die begrip jouissance gebruik het." ~ Louise Viljoen voertaal.nu/breyten-schr...

🚨 For poets, journalists, rappers and writers around the world, speaking freely comes at an unthinkable cost — imprisonment, persecution, or worse. PEN International is raising £10,000 to defend voices under threat. Persecuted for their words. Freed by our actions. Donate today!

Christo van der Rheede: "My verhouding met Abdullah Ibrahim bereik egter ’n hoogtepunt in 2003 toe hy die skool waar ek sedert 1999 as prinsipaal aangestel was, gekies het om ’n musiekopleidingsprogram vir laerskoolkinders te loods." www.litnet.co.za/abdullah-ibr...

"Digitale navorsing moenie rekenaars wees wat die navorsing 'vanself' uitvoer nie. Menslike kennis is steeds van waarde en moet benut word." ~ Anke van der Merwe voertaal.nu/breyten-schr...

Frederik de Jager: "Die eerste drukoplaag is pas afgelewer, en ek is nie skaam daarvoor nie. Heel groots daarop, trouens. En dit is vir my lekker om weer uitgewer te speel, al is dit op mikroskopiese skaal." www.litnet.co.za/elders-gesie...

The historic town of Nxuba (Cradock) is set to transform into a vibrant hub of literary exploration and artistic storytelling as the Schreiner Karoo Writers Festival returns from June 18th to June 21st, 2026. www.litnet.co.za/pres-release...

Mphuthumi Ntabeni: "The image is almost too apt, which may be why Jill Lepore, never innocent of the well-placed metaphor, places it at the conceptual centre of We the People, her Pulitzer Prize-winning history of 2026." www.litnet.co.za/the-machine-...

Nicaragua’s crackdown on free expression continues. Books by #GiocondaBelli & #SergioRamírez have been banned, while both writers have been stripped of nationality & forced into exile. Our statement. @giocondabelli.bsky.social @penamericas.bsky.social www.pen-international.org/news/nicarag...

#Iran: Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi is being denied the medical care she urgently needs, and her life is at risk. We call for her to receive urgent medical care and to be released unconditionally and immediately. Read our full statement: www.pen-international.org/news/iran-au....

Update 📣: Writer and PEN Sweden member Joakim Medin stands trial in absentia in Istanbul tomorrow. He faces years in prison on preposterous terrorism grounds for his journalistic work. We call on #Türkiye to drop all charges More about the case: www.pen-international.org/news/trkiye-...

"𝘠𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘬𝘰𝘦𝘪 bly ’n sleutelteks in Breytenbach se oeuvre omdat dit ’n werk is waarin sy digterskap hom feitlik onmiddellik in sy volle omvang aangemeld het, soos later deur verskeie navorsers aangetoon is." ~ Francis Galloway voertaal.nu/breyten-schr...

#Belarus: Writer and journalist Andrzej Poczobut spent over five years imprisoned for speaking truth to power. We welcome his release and urge authorities to free all unjustly jailed. Read our full statement with @penbelarus.bsky.social and Polish PEN ⬇️ www.pen-international.org/news/belarus...

Op Voertaal: "Mooi uitgegeven, veelzijdige bundel met 22 korte artikelen geschreven door ongedocumenteerde mensen, journalisten en/of activisten." ~ Erik van den Bergh voertaal.nu/leesimpressi...

These are 26 Ukrainian journalists held in Russian captivity. Behind every name is someone imprisoned for telling the truth. Pressure begins with people who refuse to forget. Share these names and demand justice, find out more ⬇️ www.pen-international.org/our-campaign...

Johan Allers besoek die Stedelijk Museum en ontdek ’n pareltje in die uitstalling Beyond the Manosphere – masculinities today. www.litnet.co.za/pareltjes-ui...

In the words of our President, Burhan Sonmez, when journalists are silenced, truth is pushed into darkness. For a whole month, we're mobilising our global network to bring all detained Ukrainian journalists home. #WPFD2026 #FreeUkrainianJournalists www.pen-international.org/our-campaign...

Izak de Vries: "Gebruik ons dus die stuk, so netjies gedoen in Moslemafrikaans, as ’n leë raam waarin ons, as die gehoor, moet kyk, word die vrae ook aan ons gevra: Sien jy dalk jouself in die raam?" www.litnet.co.za/suidoosterfe...

📣 UPDATE: An Algerian court has set June 4th as the next hearing for poet & human rights defender Mohamed Tadjadit, who faces trumped-up charges, potentially carrying the death penalty, for his expression. Read more about his case: www.pen-international.org/cases/mohame...

Philip de Vos: "En ja, Mimi die mens was ondeund en snaaks en het nooit voorgegee of gespog of vertel hoe bekend sy oorsee en nou hier in Suid-Afrika was nie." www.litnet.co.za/mimi-coertse...

Izak de Vries: "Niks word aan die toeval oorgelaat nie. Elke woord is skynbaar geweeg en word iewers anders in ’n spieëlbeeld weerkaats." www.litnet.co.za/einde-en-beg...

Nanette van Rooyen: "Sy staar met triomf na die emmers en kanne en potte vol blomme. Pers flappe, vlamlelies, bosse magrietjies, affodille, oleanders, botterblomme, krisante, twee strelitzias en een rooi hibiskus." www.litnet.co.za/wenner-van-d...

"Drie in 1948 gepubliceerde verhalen met scherpe beelden van de contrasten tussen de oorspronkelijke bewoners van Congo en de koloniale nieuwkomers." ~ Erik van den Bergh voertaal.nu/leesimpressi...

Jaco Jacobs: "My 300ste boek se titel is 𝘝𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘮𝘥𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘬𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘱 ’𝘯 𝘋𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘥𝘢𝘨 𝘨𝘦𝘣𝘦𝘶𝘳. (Die Engelse vertaling, 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘰𝘯 𝘢 𝘛𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘥𝘢𝘺, verskyn gelyktydig met die Afrikaanse boek.)" www.litnet.co.za/jaco-jacobs-...

#Italy: Writer @robertosaviano.bsky.social has been cleared of defaming Matteo Salvini. While the court’s verdict reaffirms the vital importance of free expression, we must not forget the years spent fighting these baseless charges. Read the statement ⬇️ www.pen-international.org/news/italy-r...

"Nee, benader moeilike gedigte eerder met ’n oop gemoed en laat dit oor jou spoel soos ’n seebrander. Jy sal verbaas wees hoe bevrydend nuwe insigte hulself dan aanmeld." ~ Neil Cochrane voertaal.nu/breyten-schr...

📣 Join us on Thursday, 23 April at 13:00 BST for Voices Freed: International Solidarity in a Time of Global Disorder, an online discussion marking the launch of the 2026 Case List. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/voices-fre...

No matter your role - journalist, researcher, campaigner, survivor, or whistleblower - you should be protected when speaking in the public interest. We are calling for universal protections against SLAPPs. Take action: antislapp.uk/solutions/ta... #StopSLAPPs

Diegene wat nog nie ’n Etienne van Heerden Veldsoirée bygewoon het nie, sou dalk wou plek bespreek vir 2026. www.litnet.co.za/voorlopige-p...

Izak de Vries: "Daar word besonderse kunsfilms gemaak in Iran en sou ons Iran se ménse kon leer deur hul kuns, sal ons minder maklik val vir die snert van valse leiers." www.litnet.co.za/die-appel-kl...

#China: PEN International joins 25 organisations, including @amnesty.org and @frontlinedefenders.bsky.social, in calling for the immediate release of human rights lawyer Yu Wensheng at the end of his sentence. Read the joint statement ⬇️ www.pen-international.org/news/china-a...

Writers in Gaza continue to write through war and loss. We have published a collection of writing and testimonies from the ground, and in memory of writers killed since October 2023. Read the collection and testimonies: www.pen-international.org/gaza-collect...

The 𝑃𝐸𝑁 𝐼𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝐹𝑒𝑙𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑖 𝐴𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑑: 𝑊𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑠 𝑅𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 is launched, a special mention created in collaboration between the Premio Inge Feltrinelli and PEN International to recognize the work of authors and activists who, through writing, defend rights, freedom, and dignity. (1/3)

"Die pad na Chimayó kronkel deur die voorheuwels van noordelike Nieu-Meksiko, verby katoenbome wat in die wind wieg en kleihuise wat lyk asof hulle al eeue lank hier waghou, maar terselfdertyd in die landskap wegsmelt." ~ Maryke Roberts voertaal.nu/onverwagte-p...

#Bahrain: PEN International and partners urged the authorities to release Dr Abduljalil Al-Singace, imprisoned for 15 years for his pro-democracy activism. Read our joint appeal ⬇️ www.pen-international.org/news/bahrain...

From #InternationalWomensDay until 20 March, we are raising our voices for #ValeryjaKaściuhova. Three actions you can take: ✍️ Send solidarity 📣 Ask your government to raise her case 🔁 Share her story www.pen-international.org/our-campaign...

We welcome the news of the release of Eritrean cartoonist Biniam “Cobra” Solomon after 15 years in detention without charge. Many writers and journalists in Eritrea remain behind bars. Learn more ⬇️ www.pen-international.org/our-campaign... www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Op Voertaal: "Flitsende, soms absurde, veelal rauwe verhalen van in Den Haag wonende schrijfster van Russische afkomst." ~ Erik van den Bergh voertaal.nu/leesimpressi...

"Moenie sy boeke nadertrek as jy op soek is na antwoorde nie; trek dit nader as jy op soek is na vryheid." ~ Churchil Naudé voertaal.nu/breyten-schr...

"Strijdbare en betrokken roman over een zestienjarige Iraanse in Shiraz die indringend vertelt over haar leven, repressie en verzet." ~ Erik van den Bergh voertaal.nu/leesimpressi...

"Sy word tereg die 'moeder van Amerikaanse modernisme' genoem – ’n kunstenaar wat nie net haar eie pad gekerf het nie, maar ook geslagte kunstenaars wêreldwyd beïnvloed het." ~ Maryke Roberts voertaal.nu/georgia-okee...

A letter can remind someone in prison that they are not forgotten. 💌 Belarusian writer, editor and political scientist Valeryja Kaściuhova is imprisoned for speaking truth to power. Send her a message of solidarity today: www.pen-international.org/our-campaign...