Scottish PEN has always opposed the proscription of #PalestineAction and welcomes the attempt by Craig Murray to overturn this ban in Scotland.

Writer, activist and Vice-President of Scottish PEN, Lizzie Eldridge, appeared on the Palestine International Broadcast again, last week. Lizzie writes, “Every time I meet the presenter, Osama, my heart breaks for his strength, dignity, brilliance and humanity.” youtu.be/AdcwT6BpJuo?...

As an organisation pledged to oppose suppression of freedom of expression, Scottish PEN is also committed to advocating for personal privacy. Therefore, we will not be providing details required for age verification on this site at this time, not least due to the nature of the data requested. 1/2

At the raw end of winter the mountain is half snow, half dun grass. Only when snow moves does it become a hare… —Anna Crowe, “A Calendar of Hares” published in A SECRET HISTORY OF RHUBARB (Mariscat, 2004) #poem #poetry annacrowepoet.com/2021/04/21/a...

99 months ago today #DaphneCaruanaGalizia was assassinated in #Malta. The person who ordered and organised her brutal murder & put it into action has still not been convicted. Scottish PEN continues to fight for #JusticeForDaphne and always will until justice is done. @peninternational.bsky.social

The ability to generate sexually explicit, non-consensual images using AI isn't just a matter of online safety - it strikes at the core of the right to dignity, privacy & equality. These technologies are fuelling misogyny & harassment when young people are already overwhelmed by women-hating content

The Grok bot exemplifies this danger, making it alarmingly easy to produce abusive material, while X’s weakened safeguards since Elon Musk’s takeover in late 2022 have left users exposed.

We welcome the Government’s commitment to act swiftly to stop the creation and sharing of these exploitative images by AI bots. Protecting human rights online must be a priority.

#USA: RSF joins a coalition of 20+ organizations in calling on Congress to rescind the subpoena for investigative journalist Seth Harp. Harp's social media post on the US military operation in #Venezuela didn't reveal any classified information and his actions were protected by the First Amendment.

Plans to limit jury trials in England and Wales may be watered down after backlash www.theguardian.com/law/2026/jan...

#Iran: 26-year-old protester #ErfanSoltani reportedly faces execution tomorrow, without formal charges or a lawyer. The authorities in #Iran continue to brutally crackdown on protestors. We must all raise our voice for Soltani and call for the sentence to be overturned.

#UK 🇬🇧 @hrw.org has just launched a new report, 'Silencing the Streets’, which takes a detailed look at the draconian restrictions imposed by successive governments on the right to protest. 🔗 buff.ly/VpDQ4Px

🚨A majority of voters, including a majority of independents, do not agree with the Trump administration or with ICE that the ICE officer in Minneapolis was justified in shooting and killing Renee Good. Exclusive Zeteo/Data for Progress poll: zeteo.com/p/ice-renee-...

For centuries, people facing injustice have gone on hunger strike, putting their lives at risk to draw attention to their case, this is no different. Tell the government to take action now👇 https://goodlaw.social/3e3320

Scottish PEN gives its full support to @craigmurrayorg.bsky.social in his bid to launch a judicial review of the proscription of #PalestineAction in Scotland. We renew our ongoing support for pro-Palestine activists imprisoned, arrested & criminalised by repressive & absurd 'laws'.

#Türkiye: The hearing of @pensweden.bsky.social member Joakim Medin has been postponed to 7 May 2026. We reiterate calls for an end to his judicial harassment and for bogus terror-related charges to be dropped at once. Read more on the case ⬇️ www.pen-international.org/news/trkiye-...

Nobel Peace Prize laureate #NargesMohammadi with other women human rights defenders has been REARRESTED. @peninternational.bsky.social calls for their immediate and unconditional release & access to medical care! pen.org/press-releas... www.frontlinedefenders.org/en/statement...

We, the women of @peninternational.bsky.social join all who treasure justice & decry the fatal shooting of 37-year-old poet, mother, daughter, wife, Renée Nicole Good, on 1/7/26 by a United States Immigration Officer during ICE’s (Immigration & Customs Enforcement) invasion of Minneapolis, Minn.

Kenya 🇰🇪 @globalvoices.org highlights how sidelining African climate stories silences continental voices. Filmmaker Emily Wanja is pushing back and reclaiming narrative, space and power.

Scottish PEN applauds all writers boycotting the Adelaide Writers Festival on its shameful decision to cancel Palestinian-Australian writer, Randa Abdel-Fattah. The Zionist lobby is the voice of genocidal Israel. We condemn all attempts to repress Palestinian voices. www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...

Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah is our client and we are proud to represent her. This cancellation is unjustifiable, morally and legally.

Statement: Jewish Council Condemns Adelaide Festival Removal of Dr. Randa Abdel-Fattah

Greg Barns: “In other parts of the world the Adelaide Festival would face legal action for its decision.” www.theage.com.au/culture/book...

With Maduro's abduction, the 'rules-based world order' is officially dead - https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/maduros-abduction-rules-based-world-order-officially-dead

❗️📽️ NEW VIDEO "WHO'S PAYING FOR YOUR LUNCH?" We asked UK politicians why they went to a Labour Friends of Israel lunch www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TgN...

So a CBS Evening News reporter actually did a pretty solid breakdown of the ICE murder video, talking to a former agent who details all the ways Ross messed up. And yet: It didn’t air on the actual show tonight. CBS did post it to YouTube—and it has nearly 800k views already youtu.be/6ywLEESFDu0?...

Scottish PEN abhors the silence of the government as young political prisoners are left to die. We support the demands of the hunger strikers in their right to bail, to a fair trial, end censorship, deproscribe Palestine Action, & shut Elbit down. www.thenational.scot/news/2574440...

We welcome Dinaw Mengestu’s presidency at @penamerica.bsky.social and value his deep commitment to the rights and freedom of writers everywhere. We look forward to working together on our shared mission.” — Romana Cacchioli, Executive Director of PEN International pen.org/press-releas...

It may be cold as f*ck in Edinburgh, but the sun is OUT, and we are OPEN! Doggo’s had a bed upgrade to her usual welcome spot, so she can be cosy while delivering serious Monday morning vibes….

CFP: 18th International Conference on Medieval & Renaissance Scottish Language, Literature, & Culture 1–4 July, @bristoluni.bsky.social Deadline (extended): 15 January 2026. See link for details 👇 #medievalsky #callforpapers icmrsllc2026.blogs.bristol.ac.uk/call-for-pap...

CFP: “Our three-voiced country”: 20th-century cross-currents in Gaelic & other Scottish writing 26–28 Jun 2026 @sabhalmorostaig.bsky.social, Skye Proposals invited exploring #C20th literary interactions between #Gaelic, Scots & English. Deadline 2 Feb #litstudies www.smo.uhi.ac.uk/co-labhairt-...

#Iran: We've seen disturbing videos of forces entering hospitals to attack protesters. To now be silencing free speech through fear and violence in places of healing is an extreme escalation. It must be condemned loudly and immediately.

I’m watching myself on YouTube saying things I would never say. This is the deepfake menace we must confront | Yanis Varoufakis

Jailed Palestine Action activists completes 60 days on hunger strike, loved ones fear the worst Hinda and Heba Muraisi have been best friends since they were 10 years old. Twenty years later, they are separated by 178miles and indefinite imprisonment without trial. maktoobmedia.com/world/jailed...

#Bulgaria 🇧🇬 “Taking a leading independent journalist off air amid widespread social unrest raises serious concerns about political interference in Bulgarian media” - @europeanjournalists.org raises the alarm after political talk show host Maria Tsantsarova is fired. buff.ly/8FvXTIV

Aljaž Koprivnikar, speaking for @pen-tlrc.bsky.social highlights the importance of respecting diverse languages and how translation can be used as a tool to build bridges between cultures. Join our Indigenous and Minoritised languages Videopoems Marathon: www.pen-international.org/committee-ne...

98 months today #DaphneCaruanaGalizia was assassinated in #Malta for exposing corruption. The corruption continues as does the fight for #JusticeForDaphne Scottish PEN stands with Daphne's family and all those ensuring justice will be done @peninternational.bsky.social

#HongKong: Together with @englishpen.bsky.social, we condemn the conviction of writer and media publisher #JimmyLai. We continue to stand with him and urge the Hong Kong and Chinese authorities to release him immediately and unconditionally. www.pen-international.org/news/china-h...

Thanks to all the lovely people who came to my @scottishpen.bsky.social Naomi Mitchison lecture on a dark December night, in dark times, after another dark year in intimate, resistant relationship to genocide, to be ‘menaced by hope’ as the late Peter Matheson put it. 1/

Special thanks to Lynda Wardle and Lizzie Eldridge for organising and Colin Herd for techand Colin Herd for tech Oh - and massively overdue but I’m now joining @scottishpen.bsky.social - I mean, what an oversight! You can too: scottishpen.org/join-us/

Scottish PEN condemns the use of violence against our Vice President @lizzie4.bsky.social and her fellow protesters. We are appalled that this government is clamping down on the #RightToProtest & #FreedomofExpression, & using brute force to do so. www.thenational.scot/news/2569150...

Scottish PEN gives a big thank you to @alisonphipps.bsky.social for her inspirational talk about #Gaza #Palestine, about her phenomenal work, & the 'menace of hope' which fuelled the evening. A night to remember. Thanks,too, to @ruthaylett.bsky.social & @lynndaw.bsky.social for organising this event

"You cannot protect the majority’s rights by attacking the rights of minorities. That is the opposite of universal human rights." @amnestyuk.bsky.social Scottish PEN supports Amnesty in its condemnation of this latest attempt to undermine human rights. www.thenational.scot/news/2568613...

This Human Rights Day, we share a new statement from the Writers for Peace Committee. Together, they reaffirm that words still matter and that peace depends on how we speak and listen. Read the full statement: www.pen-international.org/news/human-r...

Meanwhile, a new report by Reporters Without Borders finds Israel has killed more journalists in 2025 than any other country — for the third year running. The report found Israel’s military liable for the deaths of 29 Palestinian journalists, among 67 journalists killed around the world this year.

How many times do we need to point this out? By appeasing the far right, you do not weaken it. You strengthen it. While weakening your own position. There's a vast amount of academic research showing this. But Labour will not listen. www.theguardian.com/law/2025/dec...

PEN America and @bardcollege.bsky.social announce the launch of Kronika, a new digital platform designed to safeguard journalism globally and ensure that the historical record cannot be obliterated by censorship. More: pen.org/press-releas...

Seeking asylum is not illegal. People entering the country by irregular means without any other option are not breaking the law. The Govenrment should be showing humanity not further brutality

A poem by Edwin Morgan inscribed into a flagstone on Candleriggs in Glasgow, just outside the City Halls. Born in 1920, Morgan became the city's first poet laureate in 1999. Cont./ #glasgow #streetart #poetry #edwinmorgan #glasgowcoatofarms #streetpoetry