Time flies. It was 13 years ago today when dear fellow playwrights and I appeared on stage, supported by Writing Our Legacy (photos by Bip Mistry). The title of my play, with a focus on cultural heritage and stereotypes, was: "Do you know who I am NOT?" Love, peace, and solidarity ❤️🕊✊️

📣 WAN-IFRA is seeking nominations for its 2026 Golden Pen of Freedom Award. The price will be awarded to #journalists and publishers whose commitment and bravery stand out @ifjasiapacific.bsky.social @europeanjournalists.org @bbcmediaaction.bsky.social wan-ifra.org/golden-pen-o...

Dear friends, at #EuroMernet Film Club, we have a month-long six-bill tribute to Bela Tarr, the renowned Hungarian director who died two weeks ago. We will screen these films until mid-February. They are in Hungarian with English subtitles. Love, peace, and solidarity ❤️🕊✊️

#Philippines: We welcome the acquittal of writer and activist Amanda Echanis after five years of unjust detention. Her persecution reflects the dangers of red-tagging and politically motivated charges. Our statement: www.pen-international.org/news/philipp...

At #EuroMernet Film Club this week, we have a triple bill to pay tribute to Bahram Beyzai, a doyen of Iranian cinema, who lived in exile and died on his 87th birthday two weeks ago. These three films reflect his main focus in all his films: cultural heritage. Love, peace, and solidarity. ❤️🕊✊️

My heart is bleeding. Richard was a true friend, an honorary brother, a comrade in righteous community causes such as support for refugees & much more. I'll contact all who loved Richard to share your fond memories with him so that we can produce a podcast & a tribute booklet. R.I.P. brother. 😢🖤🙇‍♂️🕊🙏

10 years ago, I received a kiss from the cute kitty Mo after a Christmas dinner. It then turned into a regular annual kiss exchange! 😻 Last week, it was my turn again to kiss her. 😻🥰🐈❤️🐾 Happy New Year to you all, my dear friends. Love, peace, and solidarity. ❤️🕊✊️ Ümit, The #CatFather #cats #catlover

A multi-award winner Palestinian drama at #EuroMernet Film Club this week: a wedding story near Christmas in Nazareth. As we were preparing to screen this film, we heard that the main actor in this film, Mohammad Bakri, died. Our condolences to his family & friends. Love, peace, and solidarity ❤️🕊✊️

From Mapuzugun in Argentina and Chile to Maya popti’ in Mexico and Guatemala. Languages reflect distinct linguistic and cultural contexts across the region. PEN International proudly presents Lenguas Vivas: 26 pieces in 26 Indigenous languages. Discover more: www.pen-international.org/lenguas-vivas

Very sad day.😢 Marjorie, my neighbour #cat passed away. I was hoping to give her some catnip treats on her 17th birthday. My lady neighbour, who hosted Marjorie like a true family member, felt so sad, too. We consoled each other, knowing that Marjorie had a loving home and she had a good life.🙏🙇‍♂️🕊🐈🐾❤️

Homage to #EndVAWG at #EuroMernet Film Club: The story of German women who fought for their participation in a male-dominant parliament. Undaunted, ambitious, and with infinite patience, they followed their path and defied prejudice and sexual discrimination. ♀️✌️ Love, peace, and solidarity ❤️🕊✊️♀️

PEN International’s Lenguas Vivas project elevates Indigenous voices across Latin America and sparks dialogue on inequality. It strengthens collaboration with Indigenous writers and shows how literature can address social challenges.

At a time of widespread war and growing authoritarianism, our Writers for Peace Committee insists that peace requires action and solidarity. Read the full statement: www.pen-international.org/news/human-r...

#DayoftheImprisonedWriter: Tomorrow, on #HumanRightsDay, our campaign comes to a close but our actions and words will continue. Over the past weeks, we’ve stood together for four imprisoned writers, raising our voices for freedom and justice. Until every voice is free, none of us are truly free.

Il Sole 24 Ore -Italy “By writing in Kurdish, I convey the sound and color of my native language." - “Scrivendo in curdo trasmetto il suono e il colore della mia lingua madre” - "Bi nivîsandina bi Kurdî, ez deng û rengê zimanê xwe yê dayikê vediguhezînim."

From my poetry reading in Durrës, Albania, on Saturday. Thanks to friends at Durres Aktiv for months of joint planning with @EuroMernet Poetry Club, and thanks to friends Agron and Jovan for collaborating with us. #Poetry enriches our minds and liberates our souls. Love, peace, and solidarity. ❤️🕊✊️

Dear friends, #,EuroMernet Film Club will screen several films throughout the global #16DaysOfActivism against #VAWG. Today, we have a double bill: Two countries (Algeria, Estonia), one hammam, one sauna, and many women in solidarity with each other. Love, peace, and solidarity ❤️🕊✊️

Dear friends, We have the pleasure of inviting you to our new exhibition. “Still She Rises, online” Ending #VAWG - Violence against Women and Girls (25 Nov. – 10 Dec. 2025; Community Area, Jubilee Library, Brighton) On display until 10 December, Human Rights Day. Love, peace, and solidarity. ❤️🕊✊️

The NUJ Dublin branch has launched a €3,000 bursary for student members to encourage a new generation of Irish language journalists into the profession. Students can join the union for just €15 a year. More information and application details⬇️ www.nuj.org.uk/resource/spa...

To mark Day of the #ImprisonedWriter today, send a message of solidarity through our letter-writing campaign, #PENWrites, and join indie bookshops across the UK who are taking part. 💌 Write a letter of hope: www.englishpen.org/campaigns/pe...

Our #DayoftheImprisonedWriter campaign starts today! Stand with writers behind bars: Rory Branker, Yalqun Rozi, Mohamed Tadjadit & Mzia Amaglobeli. You can write to authorities, sign petitions, or send messages of support — every action helps! www.pen-international.org/our-campaign...

The NUJ has defended the professional integrity of its members amid one-sided attacks. The union has demanded BBC governance reform and sustainable funding to safeguard public service journalism. www.nuj.org.uk/resource/nuj...

#Palestine🇵🇸: Despite the ceasefire, journalists in #Gaza continue to work under extremely difficult conditions to keep the world informed. The #IFJ-PJS Media Solidarity Center in Gaza City provides them with internet connection and a safe space to work ✊🏾

Judyth Hill (@judythhill.bsky.social), Chair of the Women Writers Committee, tells PEN International about the Committee's approach to action: transforming grief into compassion, and compassion into action. Discover more from @penintwomenwriters.bsky.social: www.pen-international.org/women-writer...

#PressFreedom📰: Journalist Serge Oulon vanished in June 2024 in Burkina Faso after an armed group stormed his home. His story reflects a wider crisis where Africa’s journalists are being silenced, jailed, or killed, and no one is being held accountable.

The NUJ has reiterated calls for the UK government to: 📢Establish a Commissioner for Covert Law Enforcement in NI. 📢Appoint an independent body to fully investigate covert surveillance. 📢Establish an independent inquiry into the murder of Martin O’Hagan. www.nuj.org.uk/resource/nuj...

We are deeply concerned by the #UK government’s plans to restrict repeat protests. The police already have the power to limit protest. This new amendment threatens to undermine our democratic right to protest even further: www.libertyhumanrights.org.uk/issue/govern...

We're in London to hear from a panel of speakers on the 80th anniversary of the UN Security Council. Hosted by @biicl.bsky.social, panellists will discuss the current challenges and future opportunities. I think the challenges may outweigh the opportunities. #UN #UNSecurityCouncil

🔴 On the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, we asked families of killed journalists what #impunity means to them and why it is crucial to prosecute the perpetrators. Fighting impunity is a universal responsibility. #IDEI2025 youtube.com/shorts/vEuU9...

Day of the Dead 2025

Rest in power, dearest Judith. 😥🖤💔🙇‍♂️🕊💐🙏 She was our editor, our role model, and our fountain of inspiration. May her legacy continue to enlighten our hearts and illuminate our paths. When my heart stops bleeding with this sad news, I will also write a tribute for our beloved Judith. ❤️🕊

Join us today at 3 pm in front of the Mexican Embassy in London to honour journalists in Mexico who’ve been killed or disappeared for their work. Can’t join in person? Create an altar wherever you are and share a photo with #NoOneIsGuaranteedSafety to stand in solidarity.

You can still visit my #BlackHistoryMonth exhibition until 31st October if you haven't had the chance to see it yet. Love, peace, and solidarity. ❤️🕊✊️ #BHM #BHM2025

Awful news, indeed. 😢🖤 Our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of Miguel Ángel Beltrán. 🙏 Love, peace, and solidarity with colleagues in Mexico. ❤️🕊✊️ #JournalismIsNotACrime

This week, we continue our theme for PEN recommends reading list: Banned Books, spotlighting writers whose works have been silenced. Today, we feature The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende, banned in several schools in the United States.

En route to Rome for a conference, my bag was put aside for inspection at Gatwick Airport tonight. Cat calendars were taken out for a brush & scan. I said to the inspecting officer that it would figuratively be a "CAT Scan". We both laughed. His colleagues saw cute cats and cheered: awww! 😻🥰🐈🐾

To mark the end of UK HateCrime Awareness Week, #EuroMernet Film Club hosts a 2006 drama. The film shows how history repeats itself: in times of hardship and social injustice, hate preachers of far-right groups incite the masses to wave flags and blame the migrants. Love, peace, and solidarity ❤️🕊✊️

Poland generously gave me my first covid (2022). Now, I got my third covid upon my return from two conferences in Warsaw. So, whenever I crave covid, I'll just visit Poland! 😆 With the power of the divine spirit of cats, I should be on my feet in a couple of days. 😻 Love, peace, and solidarity. ❤️🕊✊️

Today is #WorldMentalHealthDay. We're at the final session of the Mental Health in Journalism Summit. My feeling: "It's OK to be a journalist without being an invincible super(wo)man with nerves of steel. It's OK to seek help." Love, peace, and solidarity. ❤️🕊✊️ #MHJS25 #mentalhealth #journalism

We're in Warsaw (again) for the annual #NewsImpactSummit by #EuropeanJournalismCentre The first panel of the day, "The ethics of AI: How newsrooms are adjusting," looks at the impact of Artificial Intelligence I on journalistic standards. Love, peace, and solidarity ❤️🕊✊️ #NISWAW #AI #EJC

Publication launch this morning at the #OSCE #HumanDimensionConference: "Think Again: Freedom of Thought in the Age of Artificial Intelligence." Another good guide in learning how to swim well in the unpredictable depth of AI. Love, peace, and solidarity ❤️🕊✊️#WHDC2025 #AI

We are in #Warsaw for the #OSCE Human Dimension Conference. Today's plenary speeches and discussions have a larger focus on press and media freedom. It's good to see the continued diverse inclusion of civil society organisations. Love, peace, and solidarity ❤️🕊✊️ #JournalismIsNotACrime #OSCE #WHDC2025

Journalists now have a dedicated safety officer in every UK police force, providing direct access to support when faced with abuse and threats of violence. www.nuj.org.uk/resource/nuj...

📢 On World Day For Decent Work we demand… 💰 Fair wages 🦺 Safety at work 👀 End of surveillance 🤝 Freedom of association 📰 Press freedom #WorldDayForDecentWork #WDDW

🔴 In two years of war, over 223 Palestinian journalists have been killed in #Gaza in the deadliest period in the history of journalism. As journalists, unionists and, ultimately, humans, we cannot accept that reporters are killed amid indifference, be that in Gaza or elsewhere.

Successive #UK laws have restricted protest and now the UK government wants to ban repeat protests in the same area. While we recognise that some safety concerns exist, the police already have powers to handle serious disruptions. Any added restrictions come at too high a cost to our freedom.

Dear friends, we have the pleasure of inviting you to the online exhibition, "Unchain Our Books," which I curated for #BannedBooksWeek. It features examples of the banned books through history. It's on display at @EuroMernet FB page: www.fb.me/euromernet Love, peace, and solidarity. ❤️🕊✊

I didn't have the chance to write a new poem for the #PoetryDay. In consolation, here's a photo showing me reading my poem "Exile as a toxic marmalade" on #WorldRefugeeDay last year. Time flies. But poetry stays forever: beautifully incurable, eternally inseparable. Love, peace, and solidarity ❤️🕊✊️