At a time when writers, artists and advocates in Australia and around the world are being silenced for speaking out against oppression, PEN Melbourne is committed to the guiding principle that literature knows no frontiers.

PEN Melbourne stands with PEN America in calling on the Iranian government to immediately release Ali Asadollahi and for an end to state repression, which is inclusive of such against writers, journalists, and human rights defenders.

This year, Travis Lovett will lead a National Walk for Truth from the Victorian Parliament on Wurundjeri Woi-Wurrung Country to Parliament House in Canberra on Ngunnawal and Ngambri Country throughout April and May. To learn more, follow the link below.

Writers and creatives in Australia are experiencing troublesome times. These writers, poets and artists are indispensable to the rich and diverse cultural, civic, and creative fabric of Australia. PEN Melbourne stands with them and supports the freedom of creative expression.

We stand with PEN International in strongly condemning the arbitrary, violent arrest and detention of writer, human rights defender, and Nobel Peace laureate Narges Mohammadi on 12 December and calls for her immediate and unconditional release.

💌 PEN Melbourne invites you to our AGM to write cards to imprisoned writers, sharing messages of support to remind them that they’re not alone. We welcome new members to the Committee and answer questions that may arise during this time. We look forward to seeing you then 💌

SIGN OUR PETITION: Uyghur writer #YalqunRozi has spent 9 years behind bars in China for expressing his cultural identity. Sentenced to 15 years, his only “crime” was helping preserve the Uyghur language. You can set him free. #DayoftheImprisonedWriter

TAKE ACTION: Venezuelan journalist #RoryBranker has been arbitrarily detained— silenced for seeking truth. His voice must be heard again. This #DayoftheImprisonedWriter, join us in calling for his immediate release. Sign our petition: www.pen-international.org/rory-branker...

Writers around the world are raising their voices for Day of the Imprisoned Writer. Together, we defend the right to write freely through amplifying the voices of those silenced. #DayoftheImprisonedWriter #RoryBranker #YalqunRozi #MohamedTadjadit #MziaAmaglobeli

"Ekinci is guilty of nothing but daring to be a writer in today’s #Türkiye.” We welcome the dismissal of the case against @yavuzekinci.bsky.social and urge the authorities to uphold the freedom to create for all. www.pen-international.org/news/trkiye-....

REPORT: PEN International launches Critical Junctures: Safeguarding the Freedom to Create in Poland, revealing how artistic freedoms have been curtailed, and celebrating the courage of those defending independent voices. Read more: www.pen-international.org/news/critica... #CriticalJunctures

A verdict is expected on 6 October in the preposterous case against Yavuz Ekinci. He faces years in prison on terror propaganda grounds for his book Rüyası Bölünenler (Dream Divided). We urge #Türkiye to drop all charges and to uphold the freedom to create. www.pen-international.org/news/trkiye-...

Join us at The Wheeler Centre for this panel featuring Mary Kostakidis, Micaela Sahhar and Sarah Schwartz where they’ll highlight the imperative need to protect writers and journalists’ freedom of speech, dissent and open political discourse. 🔗 Tickets are available now via the link below.

Alaa Abd El Fattah has not been defeated! The British-Egyptian writer and activist has been reunited with family after he was pardoned by Egyptian President, Abdul Fattah Al-Sisi. PEN Melbourne honour the families resistance and tenacity in achieving Alaa's release. www.bbc.com/news/article...

We stand with @peninternational and their resolutions to defend free expression, gender diversity, human rights, and climate justice. Full statement available via the link in their bio 🔗

🚨 An Open Letter in Defence of Free Expression and the Right to Share Information 🚨 Join us as we stand with Mary Kostakidis to fight these allegations which our democracy depends on for free and open discussions. 🔗 Follow the link below to show your support 🔗

Writing Against Silencing: PEN Melbourne Workshop Explore the tensions between creative expression and censorship in the Asia-Pacific region during this online event with author Sreedhevi Iyer on 17/08/25 between 4-7pm.

#Belarus: Five years after the fraudulent 2020 elections, the crackdown on writers and cultural figures continues with impunity. PEN Belarus, PEN International & PEN America call for accountability and unwavering support for Belarusian culture.

🤍 Free Alaa 🤍 Members of PEN Melbourne gathered outside the street level of the British Consulate in Melbourne on Monday to hold our second Vigil For Alaa. Join us on 18th of August, between 3pm and 5pm in the same place. We will be there on the third Monday of every month. #freealaa

🚨 The Free Narges Coalition Steering Committee has published a public statement with information following the reports which have emerged after serious threats were made to the safety and life of Narges Mohammadi 🚨 Follow the link below to learn more. #NargesMohammadi

🖤❤️💛 Join us in partnership with The Wheeler Centre on Thursday 17th July, 630pm, for this live conversation at The Wheeler Centre 💛❤️🖤 Hosted by Bridget Brennan with Ngarra Murray, this event will explore Treaty in Victoria, while asking where we stand following the outcome of The Voice Referendum.

#Türkiye: We join PEN International and others in expressing deep concern over the arrest warrant issued against journalist, poet, and Honorary PEN member, Nedim Türfent. We call for the warrant to be retracted without delay. 🔗 Follow the link in the comments to read the joint statement

Reporters Without Borders and 33 global organisations (including several PEN Centres, and Amnesty International) have written to the UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer asking him to meet with the son of British publisher Jimmy Lai who has been arbitrarily jailed in Hong Kong since December 2020.

#Türkiye: PEN International is deeply concerned by reports that an arrest warrant has been issued against journalist, poet, and Honorary PEN member Nedim Türfent on terror-propaganda grounds. Read more ⬇️ www.diken.com.tr/gazeteci-ned...

📢 We stand with PEN International and support their latest joint statement with the Montenegrin PEN Centre, where both centres have urged the Montenegro authorities to uphold academic freedom 📢 #peninternational #penmontenegro #academicfreedom

Monday's June 16th Melbourne Action was aimed at building awareness of Alaa Abd el-Fattah’s case, who holds joint British and Egyptian citizenship. PEN Melbourne members took up a position outside the British consulate's office building to raise awareness of his case. #freealaa

🕊️ FREE ALAA 🕊️ PEN Melbourne invites you to join a Vigil For Alaa 📍 Monday June 16, 3.30 - 5.30pm  @ The British Consulate, 90 Collins Street Melbourne/ Naarm

PEN Melbourne condemns the killing and silencing of writers, poets, journalists, for simply going about their work peacefully and with courage reporting the war. At least 176 journalists, 120 academics, and 23 writers have been killed in the war, many directly targeted along with their families.

Türkiye: Authorities should immediately and unconditionally release journalist and author Furkan Karabay and stop their judicial harassment. Journalists should be allowed to do their work without risk of persecution.   #journalismisnotacrime

Türkiye: journalists Hamza Kaan and Mehmet Üçar face up to 15 years in prison on fabricated terror grounds for their writings. Join us in urging their immediate release. Take action now: www.pen-international.org/news/turkiye...

#Türkiye: Hamza Kaan and Mehmet Üçar face up to 15 years in prison on fabricated terror grounds for their writings. Join us in urging their immediate release. Take action now: www.pen-international.org/news/turkiye...

🚨 PEN Melbourne honorary member Yang Hengjun’s letter written to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in January has now been made public 🚨 Follow the link below to read the full letter, a power testament to Yang and his ongoing belief of goodness in people.

#China: Imprisoned writer #YangHengjun's letter from behind bars is a powerful expression of hope and defiance in the face of crushing repression. We continue to call for his immediate and unconditional release so that he can be reunited with his family ⬇️ www.pen-international.org/news/china-w...

#Vietnam: We’re deeply concerned over reports of the death in custody of Tibetan writer and educator, Humkar Dorje Rinpoche. PEN Melbourne joins @peninternational.bsky.social and PEN #Tibet and #Vietnam in calling for a transparent investigation.

Chinese-Australian artist & political cartoonist Badiucao is being harassed & legally threatened after his art protest exhibition in Hong Kong. PEN International is concerned by attempts to silence Badiucao’s peaceful expression & the chilling effect this may have on artistic freedom globally.

✊ We stand with PEN Norway who call for the release of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoğlu and his colleagues from detention. Imamoğlu has been incarcerated since march and will remain in detention until trial. We continue to support PEN Norway alongside our associates in Turkey’s civil society and media.

🍿PEN Melbourne Fundraiser  Screening of The Correspondent🍿 Australian PEN centres—Melbourne, Sydney and Perth campaigned for Greste's release from prison, and Greste is now the patron of PEN Perth.  17th April, 6:30pm Cinema Nova, Carlton $25 tickets with $10 donation to PEN Melbourne

PEN Melbourne partners with Melbourne Writers Festival 2025 State Library Victoria 11 May, 1030am Unsettling Australian Stories: Kate Grenville and Anita Heiss are award winning authors who will take a personal, political and cultural look at writing frontier histories during this upcoming event.

Alaa attended the first Access Now human rights conference in 2011 and Alaa’s words continue to inspire many of us 💜 His ideas, free thoughts and global movement towards justice are what authorities fear about him. Join us in calling for a Presidential Pardon #PardonForAlaa #AlaaAbdelFattah

Eid’s supposed to be a time for family but for Alaa’s mother, Laila Soueif, has spent too many Eids fighting for her son. For years, she’s stood outside prison gates, demanding to see him and has been ignored. Join us now in calling for a Presidential Pardon! #pardonforalaa #alaaabdelfattah

Alaa Abdel Fattah has been incarcerated in Egyptian prisons for almost a decade for speaking out against oppression; he represents 0000s of Egyptian political prisoners who are journalists, writers and activists jailed for exercising their right to free expression  #PardonForAlaa #AlaaAbdelFattah

Hello Bluesky! PEN Melbourne and @pensydney.bsky.social .bsky.social have arrived! #PEN

Hello Bluesky! PEN Sydney and @penmelbourne.bsky.social have arrived! #PEN