News and Events | Newyddion a Digwyddiadau

Llythyr gan Dr Rowan Williams i nodi 50 mlynedd ers chwyldro militaraidd Chile | A letter from Dr Rowan Williams noting 50 years since the military coup in Chile

Ddydd Gwener 8 Medi, bydd Theatr Volcano yn Abertawe yn cynnal noson i nodi 50 mlynedd ers y digwyddiadau a ddaeth i gael eu hadnabod fel 9/11 Chile, pan gafodd miloedd eu carcharu, eu harteithio, eu lladd neu ddiflannu yn y chwyldro militaraidd a ysgogwyd ac a ariannwyd gan yr Unol Daleithiau. Trefnir y noson gan aelod Wales PEN Cymru, José Cifuentes, a ddaeth i Gymru o Chile fel ffoadur gwleidyddol yn dilyn y coup, a bydd y digwyddiad yn cynnwys cerddoriaeth fyw a barddoniaeth, gan gynnwys perfformiadau gan Dafydd Iwan, cyfansoddwr “Cân i Victor Jara” a Patrick Jones, y bardd a ysgrifennodd y geiriau i ‘Even in Exile’, teyrnged bwerus James Dean Bradfield i’r canwr-gyfansoddwr a’r actifydd o Chile, Victor Jara, a lofruddiwyd yn Chile. Mae Dr Rowan Williams wedi mynegi ei dristwch o beidio â gallu mynychu’r coffâd pwysig hwn oherwydd ymrwymiadau hirsefydlog mewn mannau eraill, ond mae Wales PEN Cymru yn falch o allu cyhoeddi llythyr byr o solidariaeth a anfonwyd gan y bardd, diwinydd a chyn Archesgob Caergaint i gefnogi’r digwyddiad.

On Friday 8th September, Volcano Theatre in Swansea will host an evening marking 50 years since events that have come to be known as the Chilean 9/11, when thousands were imprisoned, tortured, killed or disappeared in a military coup prompted and financed by the USA. Organised by Wales PEN Cymru member José Cifuentes, who came to Wales from Chile as a political refugee in the aftermath of the coup, the event will include live music and poetry, including performances by Dafydd Iwan, composer of the song “Cân i Victor Jara” and Patrick Jones, the poet behind ‘Even in Exile’, James Dean Bradfield’s powerful tribute to the murdered Chilean singer-songwriter and activist Victor Jara.   Dr Rowan Williams has expressed his sadness at not being able to attend this significant commemoration because of longstanding commitments elsewhere, but Wales PEN Cymru is pleased to be able to publish a short letter of solidarity sent by the poet, theologian and former Archbishop of Canterbury in support of the event.

“I lawer o bobl fy nghenhedlaeth, roedd hanes Chile yn y 1970au yn ysgytwad i gydnabod effeithiau llofruddiol a llygredig y Rhyfel Oer a chost ddynol enfawr geowleidyddiaeth lle gellid aberthu cyfreithlondeb democrataidd, diogelwch poblogaethau sifil, a rheolaeth y gyfraith i bawb ym mrwydr fyd-eang ideolegau. Ymladdodd yr Unol Daleithiau a’r hen Undeb Sofietaidd ill dau lawer o ryfeloedd dirprwyol gyda chyrff eraill. Ond mae cywilydd arbennig wrth i ni weld gwladwriaeth ddemocrataidd proffesedig yn mynd ati i gefnogi dymchwel llywodraeth etholedig, a chefnogi rhaglen o anghyfiawnder economaidd diegwyddor a gormes sadistaidd. Mae’n dal yn amhosibl gwybod gwir niferoedd y dioddefwyr yn Chile dan Pinochet. Ond roedd, ac mae pob dioddefwr unigol yn unigryw i’r rhai oedd yn eu hadnabod a’u caru, ac rydym yn cofio heddiw nid yn unig am y dioddefwyr hynny, yn hysbys ac yn anhysbys, ond am bawb sy’n dal i gael eu creithio gan garchariad ac artaith, am bawb nad yw eu tynged yn cael ei chofnodi, a phawb sy’n dal i ddioddef heddiw oherwydd y golled a’r trawma a ddioddefwyd ganddynt trwy dynged teuluoedd a ffrindiau. Ac mae’n rhaid i ni fod yn ymwybodol heddiw bod y grymoedd sy’n gyrru cenhedloedd tuag at dra-arglwyddiaeth ac erchyllter yn fyw ac yn iach ledled ein byd ac yn ein cymdeithas ein hunain. Rhaid i bob gweithred o gofio hefyd fod yn alwad i wyliadwriaeth ac yn wrthwynebiad o’r newydd at gamwedd. Bu llawer o feddylwyr Cristnogol yn America Ladin yn y dyddiau tywyll hynny yn siarad am sut y gallai’r cof gonest am ddioddefaint ddod yn bŵer ar gyfer trawsnewid – fel y mae yng ngweithredoedd canolog a syniadau’r ffydd Gristnogol. Ond gall credinwyr a’r rhai nad ydynt yn credu uno wrth ddal y cof hwn, a dal gafael ar yr argyhoeddiad bod trawsnewidiad yn bosibl. Dyna a wnaiff y digwyddiad hwn, ac rwy’n anfon fy nymuniadau a’m bendithion cynhesaf at bawb sy’n cymryd rhan.” Yr Esgob Rowan Williams   Mae’r holl docynnau ar gyfer y digwyddiad coffau yn Theatr Volcano wedi gwerthu. Fodd bynnag, ar ben-blwydd y coup – dydd Llun Medi 11 – bydd yr un lleoliad yn dangos  ffilm ‘Missing’ gyda Jack Lemon a Sissy Spacek, sy’n rhoi cipolwg ar y coup a’r unbennaethdod. Mae tocynnau ar gyfer y ffilm ar gael yma.

“For many people of my generation, the history of Chile in the 1970s was a wake-up call to recognize the murderous and corrupting effects of the Cold War and the enormous human cost of a geopolitics in which democratic legitimacy, the security of civilian populations, and the rule of law for all could be sacrificed in the global battle of ideologies. Both the US and the old Soviet Union fought many proxy wars with the bodies of others. But there is a special shamefulness in the spectacle of a professed democratic state actively supporting the overthrow of an elected government, and supporting a programme of unprincipled economic injustice and sadistic repression. It is still impossible to know the real numbers of the victims of Pinochet’s Chile. But each individual victim was and is unique to those who knew and loved them, and we remember today not only those victims, known and unknown, but all who are still scarred by imprisonment and torture, all whose fate is not recorded, and all who are still victims today because of the loss and trauma they endured through the fate of families and friends. And we must be aware today that the forces that drive nations towards tyranny and atrocity are alive and well throughout our world and in our own society. All acts of remembrance must also be calls to vigilance and renewed resistance to evil. Many Christian thinkers in Latin America in those dark days would speak about how the truthful memory of suffering could become a power for transformation – as it does in the central actions and ideas of Christian faith. But believers and non-believers alike can unite in holding up this memory, and holding on to the conviction that transformation is possible. That is what this event will do, and I send my warmest wishes and blessings to all involved.” Bishop Rowan Williams   The commemoration event at Volcano Theatre is sold out. However, on the anniversary of the coup – Monday September 11 – the same venue will be showing ‘Missing’ starring Jack Lemon and Sissy Spacek, a film which gives insight into the coup and dictatorship. Tickets for the film showing are available here.

Digwyddiad: Noson o adloniant rhyngddiwylliannol | Event: An evening of inter-cultural entertainment

26/02/2023

 

Croesawu’r Byd gydag Awduron o Gymru

Welsh Writers Welcome the World

 

Mae Write4Word a Wales PEN Cymru yn cyhoeddi noson o adloniant rhyngddiwylliannol, cerddi, cerddoriaeth a monolog.

Write4Word and Wales PEN Cymru present an evening of intercultural entertainment, poetry, music and monologue.

 

🗓️ Dydd Iau 23ain o Fawrth, 2023 / Thursday, 23rd of March 2023

⏰ 7o’r gloch yr hwyr / 7pm

📍 Amgueddfa Arberth / Narberth Museum
The Bonded Stores, Stryd yr Eglwys, Narberth SA67 7BH // The Bonded Stores, Church Street, Narberth SA67 7BH

Gan gynnwys / featuring:
✨ Larysa Martseva

Awdur o Wcrain sydd mewn lloches yng Nghymru a sgriptwraig nodedig

Ukrainian writer in refuge in Wales and acclaimed scriptwriter

Gyda / supported by:
✨Taz Rahman
✨Angharad Jenkins
✨Emma Baines

 

Am fwy o fanylion, gweler yma.

For more details, click here.

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Annual General Meeting 2023 | Cyfarfod Cyffredinol Blynyddol 2023

17/02/2023

 

On the 16th of February, we held our Annual General Meeting.

Ar y 16eg o Chwefror, wnaethom ni gynnal ein Cyfarfod Cyffredinol Blynyddol.

 

From this meeting, we welcome three new members to the Board and one Cennad. Congratulations and welcome to WPC!

O’r cyfarfod hwn, rydym ni yn roi croeso i tri aelod newydd i’r Bwrdd a un Cennad. Llongyfarchiadau a croeso i WPC!

 

• Dylan Moore (Chair / Cadeirydd)
• Dominic Williams
• Nici Beech (Secretary / Ysgrifennydd)
• Ifor ap Glyn (Cennad)

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Dangos cefnogaeth at Alaa Abd el-Fattah | Showing support of Alaa Abd el-Fattah

18/10/2022

Rydym ni yn sefyll mewn undod efo Alaa Abd el-Fattah. Ymunwch a’r brotest heddiw neu rhannwch amdano trwy’r linc isod. Cofiwch i ailbostio efo’r #SaveAlaa ac am fwy o wybodaeth, gweler @freedomforalaa ar Trydar.

We stand in solidarity with Alaa Abd el-Fattah. Join the protest today or share about it through the link below. Remember to repost with the #SaveAlaa and for more information, see @freedomforalaa on Twitter.

Please share widely & join @alaa's incredible sisters @sana2 & @monasosh who have been fighting for his freedom nearly 10 years. Every single person makes a difference at this crucial moment: you have no idea how much your solidarity means ❤️‍🔥#SaveAlaa #FreeThemAll #Cop27 https://t.co/K7WZnqr9EU

— Free Alaa (@FreedomForAlaa) October 14, 2022

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Cymryd rhan #StandWithSalman | Take part in #StandWithSalman: 

Darlleniadau i Salman Rushdie | Readings for Salman Rushdie

26/08/2022

Yn dilyn yr ymosodiad arno ar Awst 12fed, rydym yn gofyn i aelodau o PEN Cymru i  gefnogi  Salman Rushdie ac awduron eraill ar draws y byd  i amddiffyn rhyddid mynegiant drwy ddarlleniadau o’i waith.

Following his stabbing on August 12th, we are asking all members of WPC to stand in solidarity with Salmon Rushdie and other writers around the world in their defence of freedom of speech with readings of his work. 

Mewn partneriaeth gyda Wales Arts Review. In partnership with Wales Arts Review.

#StandWithSalman

Darllen rhagor / Read more

 

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Cerddi i gofio Daphne Caruana Galizia | Poems in remembrance of Daphne Caruana Galizia

 

25/08/2022

Rydym yn gwahodd aelodau o PEN Cymru i gyfrannu cerdd i ‘Gofio Daphne’ ar gyfer digwyddiad i ddathlu ei bywyd yn Llundain ar Hydref 9fed.

We are inviting Wales PEN Cymru members to contribute a poem to “A Poem for Daphne” for an event celebrating her life in London on October 9th.

Mewn partneriaeth efo PEN yr Alban, Iwerddon a Lloegr.

In partnership with Scottish PEN, Irish PEN and English PEN.

Darllen rhagor / Read more

 

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Ymgyrch lythyru | Letter writing campaign

16/11/2020

Gweithredwch i gefnogi ysgrifenwyr sydd wedi eu carcharu yn Nhwrci, yn cynnwys Ahmet Altan, Ilhan Sami Çomak, Osman Kavala a Nedim Türfent.

Take action to support the cases of writers imprisoned in Turkey, including Ahmet Altan, Ilhan Sami Çomak, Osman Kavala and Nedim Türfent.

Darllen rhagor / Read more

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Diwrnod Awduron dan Glo: Awduron dan glo yn Nhwrci

Day of the Imprisoned Writer: Writers behind bars in Turkey

15/11/2020

Mewn blwyddyn lle rydyn ni wedi gweld erydu pellach ar ryddid mynegiant ledled y byd ac arestiadau digynsail o awduron, newyddiadurwyr ac academyddion yn Nhwrci, ymunwch â PEN yr Alban a Wales PEN Cymru wrth i ni nodi Diwrnod yr Awduron Dan Glo 2020. Gan ganolbwyntio ar erledigaeth a charcharu awduron yn Nhwrci, bydd ein digwyddiad digidol am ddim yn cynnwys darlleniadau barddoniaeth, trafodaeth, a diweddariadau ar achosion: Ahmet Altan Ilhan Sami Çomak Osman Kavala Nedim Türfent Bydd y panelwyr yn cynnwys: Barış Altıntaş (‘Media Law Studies Association Turkey’) Ipek Özel (cyfaill i Ilhan Çomak) Gürkan Özturan (‘Dokuz8 News’) Caroline Stockford (WPC/ PEN Norwy) Bydd y digwyddiad hefyd yn cynnwys darlleniadau o farddoniaeth a chyfieithiadau gan Alan Riach, Menna Elfyn a James Robertson. Cofrestrwch am ddim yma Diwrnod Awduron dan Glo 2019 – Menna Elfyn

In a year where we have seen further erosion of free expression across the globe and unprecedented arrests of writers, journalists and academics in Turkey, join Scottish PEN and Wales PEN Cymru as we mark the Day of the Imprisoned Writer 2020. Focusing on the persecution and imprisonment of writers in Turkey, our free online event will feature poetry readings, discussion and updates on the cases of: Ahmet Altan Ilhan Sami Çomak Osman Kavala Nedim Türfent Panellists include: Barış Altıntaş (Media Law Studies Association Turkey) Ipek Özel (friend of Ilhan Çomak) Gürkan Özturan (Dokuz8 News) Caroline Stockford (WPC/ PEN Norway) The event will also feature readings of new poetry and translations from Alan Riach, Menna Elfyn and James Robertson. Book a free place here Day of the Imprisoned Writer 2019 – Menna Elfyn

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9/11/2020

Datganiad ar y cyd gan ganolfannau PEN ar aflonyddu ar-lein Mae aflonyddu ar-lein ar gynnydd ledled y byd1, wedi ei waethygu gan ein hamgylchedd hyper-digidol a’i gyflymu gan bandemig byd-eang. Fel corff sydd wedi ymrwymo i weithio tuag at y ‘ddelfryd o un ddynoliaeth yn byw mewn heddwch a chydraddoldeb mewn un byd’, mae PEN yn sefyll yn gadarn yn erbyn aflonyddu ar-lein ac oddi ar-lein. Gan fod y cyfryngau cymdeithasol yn gweithredu fwyfwy fel fforwm i gyfnewid ac i drafod syniadau, mae diwylliant lle mae aflonyddu wedi dod yn norm ar draws y sbectrwm ideolegol yn ddiwylliant sydd nid yn unig yn niweidio’r rhai yr effeithir arnynt yn uniongyrchol, ond yn un sydd hefyd yn niweidio’r drafodaeth gyhoeddus drwy atal a thawelu lleisiau – gan gynnwys y sawl sydd eisoes wedi eu tangynrychioli mewn bywyd cyhoeddus – ac yn israddio’r drafodaeth ehangach. Cefnogwn yr hawl i gael ac i fynegi safbwyntiau cryfion, ar yr amod nad yw mynegiant o’r fath yn tanseilio hawliau dynol pobl eraill a gydnabyddir yn rhyngwladol, yn annog casineb, nac yn peri’r bygythiad na’r defnydd o drais. Mae’n iawn ac yn briodol bod craffu trwyadl ar safbwyntiau – mae rhyddid mynegiant yn sicrhau bod pob un ohonom yn medru herio syniadau rydym ni’n eu cwestiynu neu’n anghytuno â nhw. Mae anghytundeb cryf a llafar yn ffordd hanfodol i herio datganiadau sy’n tanseilio hawliau dynol pobl eraill. Nid yw rhyddid mynegiant yn gyfystyr â rhyddid rhag y cyfrifoldeb o fynegi barn. O ganlyniad, galwn ar ein holl aelodau i gofio un o sylfeini Siarter PEN ac i ‘ddefnyddio pa ddylanwad bynnag sydd ganddynt o blaid dealltwriaeth dda a pharchu ei gilydd.’4 Darllen rhagor

Joint PEN statement on online harassment Across the world online harassment is on the rise1, exacerbated by our hyper-digital environment and accelerated by a global pandemic. As an organisation committed to working towards the ‘ideal of one humanity living in peace and equality in one world’, PEN stands firmly against both offline and online harassment. As social media increasingly serves as a forum to exchange and debate ideas, a culture in which harassment has become the norm across the ideological spectrum is a culture that not only harms those directly affected, but damages public debate by suppressing and silencing voices – including those already underrepresented in public life – and degrades our wider discourse. We support the right to hold and express strong views, provided that such expression does not undermine the internationally recognised human rights of others, incite hatred, nor engender the threat or use of violence. It is right and proper that viewpoints are held up to rigorous scrutiny – free expression ensures that each of us is able to challenge ideas we question or disagree with. Strong and vocal disagreement is an essential way to challenge statements which undermine the human rights of others. Freedom of speech is not freedom from the responsibilities of speech. As such, we call on all our members to recall one of the foundations of the PEN Charter and ‘use what influence they have in favour of good understanding and mutual respect’4. Read more

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Digwyddiad digidol arbennig i ddathlu llwyddiant enillwyr yr Her Gyfieithu a Translation Challenge 2020

A special digital event to celebrate the Her Gyfieithu and Translation Challenge 2020 winners

30/09/2020

Yn siarad yn y fideo o’r digwyddiad mae / Speaking in the video of the event are:

• Grug Muse a Dr Eleoma Bodammer (yr enillwyr / winners)
• Yr Athro Mererid Hopwood a’r Athro Karen Leeder (beirniaid / adjudicators)
• Zafer Şenocak (bardd / poet)
• Eluned Morgan AS/MS (Gweinidog y Gymraeg a Chysylltiadau Rhyngwladol / Minister for International Relations and Welsh Language)
• Elin Jones AS/MS (Llywydd y Senedd ac AS Ceredigion / Senedd President and MS for Ceredigion)
• Yr Athro Medwin Hughes (Is-Ganghellor PCYDDS / UWTSD Vice-Chancellor)
• Menna Elfyn (Llywydd Wales PEN Cymru President)
• Yr Athro Tom Cheesman
• Gosia Cabaj (Goethe-Institut)
• Alexandra Büchler (Cyfarwyddwr Llenyddiaeth ar draws Ffiniau / Literature Across Frontiers Director)
• Yr Athro Elin Haf Gruffydd Jones (PCYDDS ar ran Cyfnewidfa Lên Cymru / UWTSD on behalf of Wales Literature Exchange)

Darllen rhagor am y gystadleuaeth flynyddol / Read more about the annual competition

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Emyr Humphreys

30/09/2020

Gyda thristwch mawr y clywsom am farwolaeth Emyr Humphreys, un o awduron mwyaf Cymru. Mae’n anodd meddwl am awdur arall yng Nghymru sydd wedi gwneud mwy o gyfraniad i ddwy lenyddiaeth ein gwlad. Cydymdeimlwn â’i deulu a’i anwyliaid. Gallwch ddarllen erthygl amdano ef a’i waith ar wefan Cyfnewidfa Lên Cymru.

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Rhyddhewch y bardd İlhan Çomak / Free the Poet İlhan Çomak

23/09/2020

İlhan Sami Çomak yw’r carcharor o fyfyriwr yn Nhwrci sydd wedi treulio’r mwyaf o amser dan glo. Parhaodd ei achos llys am 22 mlynedd, a chafodd ddedfryd oes am drosedd y mae’n ei gwadu. Yn ystod ei 26 mlynedd yn y carchar, mae İlhan wedi ysgrifennu a chyhoeddi 8 lyfr o farddoniaeth. Gallwch ddarllen ei farddoniaeth yn Saesneg yma. Gallwch hefyd ddarllen cerddi a ysgrifennwyd iddo ef gan feirdd eraill, yn cynnwys dwy gerdd gan Lywydd PEN Cymru, Menna Elfyn, yma. Darllen rhagor

İlhan Sami Çomak is Turkey’s longest-serving student prisoner. His trial lasted 22 years and he was given a life sentence for a crime he denies. During his 26 years in prison, İlhan has written and published 8 books of poetry. Read his poems in English here. You can also read poems written to him by other poets, including two poems by Wales PEN Cymru president, Menna Elfyn, here.   Read more

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Cyhoeddi enillwyr Her Gyfieithu a Translation Challenge 2020 winners announced!

16/09/2020

Mae’n bleser gennym gyhoeddi mai enillwyr yr Her Gyfieithu a Translation Challenge eleni yw Eleoma Bodammer a Grug Muse!

We are delighted to announce that the winners of our Her Gyfieithu and Translation Challenge this year are Eleoma Bodammer and Grug Muse!

Ymunwch â ni mewn digwyddiad digidol ar y 30ain o Fedi, ar Ddiwrnod Rhyngwladol Cyfieithu, i ddathlu eu llwyddiant. Cliciwch yma i gofrestru.

Join us in a digital event on the 30th of September, on International Translation Day, to celebrate their success. Click here to register.

• Darllen beirniadaeth a chyfieithiad buddugol yr Her Gyfieithu ar wefan O’r Pedwar Gwynt
• Read the Translation Challenge adjudication and winning translation on Poetry Wales website
• NEWYDDION: Cyhoeddi enillwyr Her Gyfieithu a Translation Challenge 2020
• NEWS: Winners of Her Gyfieithu and Translation Challenge 2020 announced

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Canolfannau PEN Rhyngwladol yn condemnio arestio aelodau a gweithwyr PEN Belarws

PEN International Centres condemn arrest of Belarus PEN members and employees

10/09/20

Mae Canolfannau PEN Rhyngwladol ar draws y byd yn condemnio arestio aelodau Canolfan PEN Belorws ddoe (8 Medi). Mae hyn yn amlygu ein pryderon am yr ymosodiadau parhaus ar ryddid mynegiant a’r hawl i brotest heddychlon yn sgil yr etholiadau a gynhaliwyd yn Belorws ar 9 Awst 2020, ymosodiadau sydd wedi cynyddu yn y dyddiau diwethaf. Ddydd Mawrth 8 Medi, aethpwyd ag aelodau a gweithwyr PEN Belorws i’r ddalfa tra roeddent yn protestio’n heddychlon ym Minsk. Mae’r rhai sydd yn y ddalfa yn cynnwys y bardd, cyfieithydd ac Ysgrifennydd PEN Hanna Komar, y bardd, cyfieithydd a’r rheolwr prosiect, Uladzimir Liankievic; a’r cyfieithydd Siarzh Miadzvedzeu. Mae arestio’r unigolion hyn, ynghyd â’r cannoedd sydd yn protestio’n heddychlon, yn ymosodiad ar hawliau mynegiant a hawliau ymgynnull. Rhaid eu rhyddhau ar unwaith. Darllen rhagor

Member Centres of PEN International around the world condemn the arrest yesterday (8 September) of members of the Belarus PEN Centre. This heightens our concerns about the ongoing attacks on freedom of expression and the right to peaceful protest in the wake of the elections in Belarus on 9 August 2020 which have escalated in recent days. On Tuesday 8 September, Belarus PEN members and employees were detained while engaging in a peaceful protest in Minsk. Those detained include secretary, poet, and translator Hanna Komar; project manager, poet, and translator Uladzimir Liankievic; and translator Siarzh Miadzvedzeu. Their arrest, and that of hundreds of others involved in peaceful protests, are a violation of their rights to freedom of expression and association. They must be freed immediately. Read more

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Twrci: apêl ar y cyd i nodi 1,500 yn y carchar i Nedim Türfent

Turkey: joint appeal marks 1,500 days in jail for Nedim Türfent

15/06/2020

Mae PEN Cymru yn ymuno â chanolfannau PEN a mudiadau perthnasol eraill i barhau â’n galwadau i ryddhau Nedim Türfent wrth nodi ei 1,500fed diwrnod dan glo ar 21 Mehefin 2020. Gweler ein datganiad isod.   GWEITHREDWCH Dangoswch eich cefnogaeth: Mae’r datganiad hwn yn agored i unigolion ei lofnodi. Anfonwch neges o gefnogaeth at Nedim. Rhannwch: Rhannwch y darn hwn ar y cyfryngau cymdeithasol gyda’r hashnodau #FreeNedim a #1500DaysBehindBars Darllenwch a rhannwch ei waith: Mae MLSA wedi cyhoeddi casgliad o farddoniaeth Nedim, sydd ar gael i’w ddarllen ar-lein am ddim. Darllen rhagor

Wales PEN Cymru joins sister PEN centres and other concerned organisations in continuing our calls for the release of Nedim Türfent ahead of his 1500th day in detention on 21 June 2020. See our statement below.   TAKE ACTION Show your support: The statement is now open for individuals to sign on. Send a message of solidarity: take a few moments to send a message of support to Nedim. Spread the word: Share this piece on social media with the hashtags #FreeNedim and #1500DaysBehindBars. Read and share his work: MLSA has published a collection of Nedim’s poetry, now available for free online. Read more

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PEN yn annog llys apêl Eglwys Loegr i wyrdroi dyfarniad diweddar ynghylch beddargraff Gwyddeleg.

PEN urges Church of England appeals court to overturn judgment concerning Irish-language epitaph.

11/06/2020

Rydym yn pryderu’n fawr am y dyfarniad diweddar gan Lys Consistori Eglwys Loegr yn Esgobaeth Coventry bod rhaid darparu cyfieithiad ar gyfer beddargraff Gwyddeleg yn un o’i mynwentydd. Mae gan PEN hanes hir a balch ym maes Cyfieithu a Hawliau Ieithyddol. Mae’n bryder gennym fod y dyfarniad hwn yn adlewyrchu teimlad gwrth-Wyddeleg ac yn amharu ar amrywiaeth ieithyddol yn y DU. Galwn ar lys apêl Eglwys Loegr (Llys y Bwâu) i glywed yr apêl hon cyn gynted â phosib ac i wyrdroi’r penderfyniad gwallus hwn gan y Llys Consistori. Darllen rhagor

We are deeply concerned by the recent judgment from the Church of England’s Consistory Court in the Diocese of Coventry that a translation must be provided for an Irish-language inscription on a gravestone within one of its graveyards. PEN has a long and proud history in the field of Translation and Linguistic Rights. We are concerned that this judgment reflects anti-Irish sentiment and negates linguistic diversity in UK. We call on the Church of England’s appeal court (the Court of the Arches) to hear this appeal as quickly as possible and to overturn this erroneous decision of the Consistory Court. Read more

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04/06/2020

Wales PEN Cymru stand in solidarity with the protesters who are peacefully protesting in America

Here is a translation by Menna Elfyn of Langston Hughes’ poem, ‘I look at the world’, which he wrote about the situation of Black people in America decades ago.

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Mae Wales PEN Cymru yn sefyll gyda’r protestwyr sy’n gwrthdystio yn heddychlon yn America

Dyma gyfieithiad Menna Elfyn o’r hyn a ysgrifennodd Langston Hughes (1902—1967) am sefyllfa’r bobl Ddu yn America ddegawdau yn ôl.

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5/05/2020 Dathlu partneriaeth ryngwladol ar Ddiwrnod Ewrop Ar Ddiwrnod Ewrop, mae Cyfnewidfa Lên Cymru, Wales PEN Cymru a Llenyddiaeth ar draws Ffiniau yn dathlu cydweithrediad newydd â Goethe-Institut. Mae’r Goethe-Institut, sefydliad sy’n hyrwyddo gwybodaeth o’r Almaeneg dramorl ac yn meithrin cysylltiadau diwylliannol yn rhyngwladol, yn un o’r sefydliadau sy’n cefnogi cystadlaeth flynyddol yr Her Gyfieithu. Dywedodd llefarydd ar ran Goethe-Institut Llundain: “Rydyn ni yn Goethe-Institut Llundain wrth ein boddau yn cefnogi Her Gyfieithu 2020. Mae’r wobr eleni nid yn unig yn rhoi cydnabyddiaeth haeddiannol i gyfieithwyr llenyddol, ond hefyd yn cydnabod diwylliant llenyddol amrywiol yr Almaen. Yn benodol, rydyn ni’n falch o gydweithio gyda’r bartneriaeth hon yn ei hymdrechion i ddod â llenyddiaeth wedi ei chyfieithu i gynulleidfaoedd newydd o siaradwyr Cymraeg.” Darllen rhagor

Celebrating an international partnership on Europe Day On Europe Day, Wales Literature Exchange, Wales PEN Cymru and Literature Across Frontiers are celebrating a new collaboration with Goethe-Institut. The Goethe-Institut, which fosters cultural cooperation internationally and promotes knowledge of the German language are one of the organisations supporting Wales PEN Cymru’s annual translation competition, Her Gyfieithu (Translation Challenge). A spokesperson for Goethe-Institut London said:  “The Goethe-Institut London is thrilled to be supporting the Welsh Translation Challenge 2020. This year’s award not only provides well-deserved recognition for literary translators, but acknowledges Germany’s diverse literary culture. We are particularly proud of this partnership with organisations that bring translated literature to new audiences of Welsh language speakers.” Read more

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30/04/2020 – Noson Gwobr Emyr Humphreys Award Evening – recording

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15/04/2020 – Cyhoeddi enillwyr Gwobr Emyr Humphreys / Emyr Humphreys Award Winners Announced

Mae’n bleser gan Wales PEN Cymru gyhoeddi mai enillwyr cyntaf Gwobr Emyr Humphreys yw Mererid Hopwood a Mark S Redfern. Daw’r cyhoeddiad ar ddiwrnod pen-blwydd yr awdur yn 101 mlwydd oed.   Enwebwyd y darnau gan aelodau PEN Cymru, a dewiswyd yr enillwyr o blith y rhestr hir gan y beirniaid Siân Northey, Eluned Gramich a’r Athro Daniel Williams.    Gwobrwyir Mererid Hopwood am ei herthygl ‘Doethineb Iaith’, a gyhoeddwyd yn O’r Pedwar Gwynt fis Awst 2019, a gwobrwyir Mark S Redfern am ei ysgrif ‘When Vice came to Swansea’, a gyhoeddwyd yn Planet, Gaeaf 2019.  Cyflwynir gwobr o £500 yr un i’r ddau enillydd a chynhelir digwyddiad ar-lein ddiwedd y mis, yng nghwmni’r enillwyr a’r beirniaid, lle bydd cyfle i glywed darlleniad o’r darnau buddugol.  Trefnwyd y gystadleuaeth gan Wales PEN Cymru, drwy nawdd y Gymdeithas Ddysgedig yng Nghymru, Cronfa Goffa Saunders Lewis, HMM Foundation, a nifer o gyfranwyr unigol. Darllen rhagor Beirniadaethau: Siân Northey Eluned Gramich Daniel G. Williams

Wales PEN Cymru are pleased to announce that the inaugural prize winners of the Emyr Humphreys Award are Mererid Hopwood and Mark S Redfern. The announcement comes on the author’s 101st birthday. The pieces were nominated by PEN Cymru members, and the winners was selected from the long list by the adjudicators Siân Northey, Eluned Gramich and Professor Daniel Williams.Mererid Hopwood is awarded for her essay ‘Doethineb Iaith’ (‘Wisdom of Language’), published in the Summer 2019 issue of O’r Pedwar Gwynt, and Mark S Redfern is awarded for his essay ‘When Vice came to Swansea’, published in Planet, Winter 2019. Both winners are awarded £500 each, and an online event will be held at the end of the month, with the winners and adjudicators, where there will be an opportunity to hear a reading of the winning pieces. The prize is organised by Wales PEN Cymru, with support from the Learned Society of Wales, Saunders Lewis Memorial Fund, HMM Foundation, and a number of individuals. Read more Adjudications: Siân Northey Eluned Gramich Daniel G. Williams

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21/02/2020 – Diwrnod Rhyngwladol Mamiaith / International Mother Language Day

Mae Diwrnod Rhyngwladol Mamiaith yn ddathliad blynyddol i hybu ymwybyddiaeth o amrywiaeth ieithyddol a diwylliannolYn 1999, cyhoeddodd UNESCO fod 21 Chwefror yn Ddiwrnod Rhyngwladol Mamiaith, ac fe’i nodir yn flynyddol yn rhyngwladol ers 21 Chwefror 2000. Mae’r Diwrnod yn gyfle i hyrwyddo amlieithrwydd, ac i gydnabod ac amddiffyn yr hawliau dynol sydd gan leiafrifoedd a phobl frodorol yng nghyd-destun iaith. Mae PEN Rhyngwladol wedi bod ar flaen y gad yn yr ymgyrch i sicrhau bod amrywiaeth ieithyddol yn cael ei amddiffyn a’i hyrwyddo. Darllen rhagor

International Mother Language Day (IMLD) is a worldwide annual observance to promote awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity and promote multilingualism.21st February was declared to be the International Mother Language Day by UNESCO in 1999. It has been observed annually throughout the world since February 21st, 2000. The purpose of International Mother Language Day is to promote and celebrate linguistic and cultural diversity – and to recognize and protect the human rights that minority and indigenous people have in the context of language. PEN International has been at the forefront of the campaign to ensure the protection and promotion of linguistic diversity. Read more

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30/01/2020

İlkyaz – hyrwyddo ysgrifenwyr ifanc yn Nhwrci Mae İlkyaz yn blatfform llenyddol misol sy’n cynnwys gwaith gan ysgrifenwyr yn Nhwrci sydd o dan 35 mlwydd oed ac nad yw eu lleisiau yn cael eu clywed yn aml. Rydym ni yn Wales PEN Cymru yn hynod o falch i gydweithio a chefnogi gwaith clodwiw İlkyaz y mis hwn. Er mwyn helpu hyrwyddo eu lleisiau, byddwn yn rhannu gwaith y tri ysgrifennwr a ddewiswyd y mis hwn ar ein gwefan. Serdar Topaloğlu: Şairin Sustuğu Yerden / From Where the Poet Is Sushed Seda Karıncaoğlu: Rengi Küllere / Colour to Ashes Bilgehan Aydın: Ressam / Painter Darllen rhagor

İlkyaz – amplifying the voice of young writers in Turkey İlkyaz is a monthly, literary platform, which features works from writers in Turkey who are under the age of 35 and whose voices are rarely heard. We at Wales PEN Cymru are very proud to partner with and support the worthy cause of İlkyaz this month. To help amplify their voices, we will be sharing the work of this month’s three selected writers here on our website. Serdar Topaloğlu: Şairin Sustuğu Yerden / From Where the Poet Is Sushed Seda Karıncaoğlu: Rengi Küllere / Colour to Ashes Bilgehan Aydın: Ressam / Painter Read more

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Gwobr Emyr Humphreys Award

21/11/19

A ddarllenoch chi ddarn ysbrydoledig am Gymru yn ystod y flwyddyn hon – boed yn ysgrif, blog neu erthygl, yn Gymraeg neu’n Saesneg? Dyma gyfle i enwebu darn am Gymru yr ystyriwch chi sy’n haeddu ei ledaenu ymhellach ar gyfer Gwobr Emyr Humphreys Wales PEN Cymru. Bydd y darn arobryn, boed yn Gymraeg neu yn Saesneg, yn derbyn gwobr o £1,000. Anfonwch eich enwebiadau at walespencymru@gmail.com erbyn 5 Ionawr 2020. [rhagor o wybodaeth]

Have you read an inspiring piece of writing about Wales this year — an essay, article or blog, in Welsh or English? Here is an opportunity to nominate an inspiring piece of writing about Wales that deserves to be read widely for the Wales PEN Cymru Emyr Humphreys Award. The winning piece, in Welsh or English, will receive the prize of £1,000. Please send nominations to walespencymru@gmail.com before 5 January 2020. [further information]

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Diwrnod Awduron dan Glo / Day of the Imprisoned Writer

15/11/19

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Dathlu cyfieithiad Catalaneg o ‘Murmur’, Menna Elfyn

Medi / September 2019

Cafwyd noson arbennig yn y Senedd yng Nghaerdydd ddiwedd Medi i ddathlu cyfieithiad Murmur, gan lywydd PEN Cymru, Menna Elfyn, i’r Gatalaneg. I agor y noson, cafwyd darlleniadau o gerddi’r gyfrol ‘Murmur / Murmuri’ gan Menna Elfyn a’i chyfieithydd, Silvia Aymerich. [darllen rhagor]

Celebrating Catalan translation of Menna Elfyn’s ‘Murmur’

A special evening was held in the Senedd in Cardiff at the end of September to celebrate Catalan translation of Wales PEN Cymru president, Menna Elfyn’s Murmur. To open the evening, Menna Elfyn and her translator, the poet Silvia Aymerich, read the poems in Welsh and in Catalan. [read more]

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Cyhoeddi enillydd Her Gyfieithu 2019

Cyhoeddir gwybodaeth am enillydd Her Gyfieithu 2019 ar y dolenni isod ar ddydd Iau, 4 Awst 2019.

• NEWYDDION: Cyhoeddi enillydd Her Gyfieithu 2019
• Beirniadaeth Dr Aled Llion Jones
• Y cyfieithiad buddugol
• Darn gan yr enillydd am y broses gyfieithu
• Winner of Her Gyfieithu 2019 announced!
• ‘Her Gyfieithu 2019’ – Elin Haf Gruffydd Jones, ar wefan O’r Pedwar Gwynt
• Gwybodaeth ar wefan O’r Pedwar Gwynt

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1/8/19

Gezi Park’s second hearing confirms lack of rule of law in Turkey

We, the undersigned human rights and freedom of expression organisations, condemn the interim judicial decision taken in the second hearing of the Gezi Park trial. The indictment accuses 16 civil society figures and arts practitioners in Turkey of having planned to “attempt to overthrow the government” and of having financed the peaceful Gezi Park protests. If found guilty, they face a sentence of life imprisonment without parole. Read more.

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Paul Kaye announced the winner of Translation Challenge 2019!

The winner was announced at the Wales Pen Cymru event in Hay Festival on 25 May. Read more

Cyhoeddwyd mai Paul Kaye yw enillydd Translation Challenge 2019 yn nigwyddiad Wales PEN Cymru yng Ngŵyl y Gelli ar y 25ain o Fai. Darllen rhagor

• Adjudication – Antonia Lloyd Jones
• The winning translation by Paul Kaye
• Photos from the Translation Challenge event at Hay (25 May 2019)
• Gwybodaeth am Her Gyfieithu 2019 (dyddiad cau: 10 Mehefin 2019)

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3/5/19

BELONGING TO WALES / PERTHYN I GYMRU – an e-book of multilingual stories about arriving in Wales by Meltem Arikan and others, with English and Welsh translations.

BELONGING TO WALES / PERTHYN I GYMRU – e-lyfr o straeon amlieithog am gyrraedd yng Nghymru gan Meltem Arikan ac eraill, gyda chyfieithiadau Saesneg a Chymraeg.

Read more / Darllen rhagor

The e-book can be read here / Gellir darllen yr e-lyfr yma (pdf)

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3/5/19

Gwobr Emyr Humphreys Wales PEN Cymru 2019 Emyr Humphreys – yn gant oed yn 2019 Pa ffordd well felly wrth iddo ddathlu ei ben-blwydd yn gant oed na’i gydnabod drwy sefydlu gwobr arbennig yn enw PEN Cymru, sefydliad sydd fel Emyr ei hun wedi gweithio’n ddygn dros ryddid mynegiant yn ogystal â hyrwyddo llenyddiaeth ymhob gwlad. Gyda hyn mewn golwg, bydd angen chwilio am nawdd fel y gellir cyflwyno rhodd o £1000 yr un i’r ddau enillydd. Darllen rhagor, a gweld gwybodaeth am noddi’r fenter hon

Emyr Humphreys Wales PEN Cymru Award 2019 Emyr Humphreys – 100 in 2019 To mark the centenary of his birth in 2019, Wales PEN Cymru wish to establish an award in his name, by celebrating his achievement with a Wales PEN Cymru award for writing  in both English and Welsh. Wales PEN Cymru are therefore seeking sponsorship for these awards. Read more, and see information about sponsoring this venture.

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A special evening of International talk, poetry and food was held in Lampeter in December to mark International Human Rights Day and to celebrate the 70th anniversary of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948.

The event also included the launch of a special exhibition focussing on International Human Rights Day and featuring relevant items from the University’s Special Collections. [Read more]

An evening of music and poetry to support Kurdish and Turkish writers who have been imprisoned for speaking out has been organised in Caernarfon by the newly formed North Wales group of Wales PEN Cymru.

National Poet for Wales, Ifor ap Glyn, will lead an evening featuring Kurdish singer/ songwriter Ali Sizer, Turkish playwright Meltem Arikan and leading North Wales poets. Both Ali Sizer and Meltem Arikan are exiles now living in Wales and as well as telling their stories the evening will highlight the plight of Kurdish and Turkish writers who are in jail, many of them with no trial date and in solitary confinement, for having the courage to tell the truth. The evening celebrates their bravery and expresses solidarity with all who fight for freedom of speech. Read more

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Myanmar: Pwyllgor Awduron dros Heddwch PEN yn cefnogi galwadau’r Cenhedloedd Unedig am heddwch, parch a chyfiawnder i bawb yn y wlad

Myanmar: PEN’s Writers for Peace Committee supports the calls of the UN for peace, respect and justice for all in the country

5 Medi / September 2018

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Cyhoeddi enillydd Her Gyfieithu 2018

Awst / August 2018

Cyhoeddwyd mai Llywelyn Hopwood yw enillydd yr Her Gyfieithu eleni. Gellid darllen rhagor am yr enillydd, ynghyd â darllen y feirniadaeth a’r cyfieithiad buddugol, ar y dolenni isod.

• Datganiad i’r wasg: Cyhoeddi enw’r enillydd
• Beirniadaeth Ned Thomas
• Y cyfieithiad buddugol

Llewelyn Hopwood has been proclaimed the winner of the 2018 Her Gyfieithu. Further information can be seen on this page.

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From Wales to the World: Dylan Moore & ffrindiau yn Y Lyric

6.30 – 7.30.pm. Friday, August 10th, Y Lyric (next door to Maes B). 

Join Dylan Moore and his friends from Wales PEN Cymru on a journey that begins in Cardiff Bay, Wales’ gateway to the globe, but will end up wherever you want. Come to listen to Dylan’s travel tales and/or to contribute poetry and prose in Cymraeg, English or any language you like. Together we will sing from Wales to the World.

Driving Home Both Ways by Dylan Moore is a journey from Wales to the World. Beginning with essays on Welsh identity and a road trip up the A470, the slim volume of travel pieces spirals outwards into the wider world, charting travels in Catalonia, the Basque Country, Portugal, Italy, Slovenia, Denmark and Poland. Beyond Europe, Dylan campaigns for freedom of speech in Mexico, attends the Hay Festival in India, and rediscovers his faith in Cameroon.

Dylan Moore is a writer, teacher, and editor of the Institute of Welsh Affairs’ magazine, the welsh agenda. He serves on the committee of Wales PEN Cymru and is the Hay Festival Creative Wales International Fellow 2018/19. He lives with his family in Newport.

Y Lyric is a new relaxed Eisteddfod space for performers, friends and family; and a place for everyone to discover more about Wales and the world – with a great café bar, Caffi Lookout. Y Lyric is next door to Maes B (the Dr Who building), and is presented by Coleridge in Wales.

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Help us reform Scottish defamation law by calling on First Minister Nicola Sturgeon this week to include it in the upcoming Programme for Government.

24/07/18

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Statement concerning the take-over of Özgürlükçü Demokrasi, the sole remaining Kurdish daily newspaper in Istanbul

29 March 2018

The undersigned international press freedom groups call on Turkish authorities to immediately release the 12 printworkers and staff arrested on March 28 at the premises and print works of the newspaper Özgürlükçü Demokrasi and the further 10 staff taken into custody after home raids on the morning of March 29, 2018. Authorities must also restore control over the paper and its premises to the rightful owners.

The below-named organizations also denounce the fact that lawyers acting for those arrested have been denied contact with prosecutors or access to any written documentation in relation to the raids.

Two officials purporting to be from the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) are in place at the print works and premises of Özgürlükçü Demokrasi, a pro-Kurdish daily, and claim to be holding the sites until they receive further instructions. For its part, the TMSF, now part of the Ministry of Finance’s Directorate of National Estates and formerly an independent banking watchdog under the auspices of the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey, has denied having received instructions to seize the newspaper’s assets.

According to lawyers acting for the detained printworkers and Özgürlükçü Demokrasi’s principal signatory İhsan Yaşar and Kasım Zengin the owner of Gün Printing Advertising Film and Publishing Inc, where the newspaper is printed, a press crimes investigation into the paper was opened on February 7.  This was followed by a separate counter-terrorism investigation that began on March 23. It is believed that both investigations, of which no written notification has been made to the paper, are in relation to Özgürlükçü Demokrasi’s coverage of Turkey’s incursion into Afrin, northern Syria.

As the sole remaining Kurdish daily newspaper in Istanbul, Özgürlükçü Demokrasi is vital in maintaining the extremely fragile access to information that is not controlled by the state.  Following the closure of other pro-Kurdish newspapers and television stations such as Azadiya Welat, IMC TV and Hayatın Sesi in 2016, Özgürlükçü Demokrasi is one of the last sources of pro-Kurdish daily printed news in Turkey.

‘The Turkish authorities must halt their sustained repression of Kurdish culture and language. We are highly alarmed by the onslaught on Kurdish and pro-Kurdish media outlets and journalists that has intensified dramatically since the crackdown on freedom of expression since the attempted coup of July 2016, and now reached a new low point with this takeover of Özgürlükçü Demokrasi’, said Carles Torner, Executive Director of PEN International.

We, the signatories of this statement, strongly condemn the takeover of Özgürlükçü Demokrasi, which has taken place without any legal justification or documentation. We reject the denial of information and prosecutoral access to lawyers acting for Özgürlükçü Demokrasi’s arrested staff members.

“The government’s takeover of Özgürlükçü Demokrasi is extremely concerning” said Joy Hyvarinen, head of advocacy at Index on Censorship, “We urge European and other governments to condemn the obliteration of free media in Turkey.”

We call for the release of the arrested staff members and printworkers and official confirmation from the TMSF of the legal status of the alleged acquisition of Engin Publishing Print Inc. — and the Gün Printing Advertising Film and Publishing Inc.

Katie Morris, Head of Europe and Central Asia Programme at ARTICLE 19 said: “The takeover of Özgürlükçü Demokrasi restricts the space for freedom of expression even further in Turkey and curtails the right of the public to access information on issues of public interest, particularly in relation to the on-going conflict in the South East of the country. We call for the authorities to cease harassing this newspaper and restore much needed media freedom in Turkey.”

The takeover of one of the last remaining opposition newspapers follows the aqcuisition last week of Turkey’s largest media organization and newspaper distributor, Doğan Group, by Turkish conglomerate Demirören, whose media outlets are known for taking a pro-government stance.  In the week prior to the purchase, an internet streaming bill was passed granting the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) sweeping powers to monitor, license and block online streaming channels and news providers.

“This latest act against freedom press confirms that Erdogan wants to repress any free voice in Turkey. A firm position of Europe is needed, which have to make pressure on the Turkish government to restore the rule of law as soon as possible with the cessation of the state of emergency,” said Antonella Napoli member of Articolo 21 and coordinator of Free Turkey Media in Italy.

International Press Institute (IPI)’s Turkey Advocacy Coordinator Caroline Stockford said, “IPI strongly condemns yesterday’s raid and the government’s tactic of shutting down Özgürlükçü Demokrasi in an apparently illegal manner in order to silence dissenting voices in the run-up to the presidential elections.  Despite the opportunity presenting itself at this week’s Varna summit, Europe failed again to strongly condemn Turkey’s repression of free media and free speech.”

The peoples of Turkey have a right to access informative opposition reporting in order to form a balanced opinion especially in the lead up to an election.  We call on Turkey to respect the human right to freedom of expression and to refrain from its practice of stifling all opposition media and to release the Özgürlükçü Demokrasi workers from detention.

We, the undersigned, call on European newspapers and governments to make clear statements to Turkey that access to balanced, critical reporting is essential to democracy and that the freedom of the press must be respected and maintained.

International Press Institute (IPI)

PEN International

European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)

The European Federation of Journalists  (EFJ)

Association of European Journalists (AEJ)

Reporters Sans Frontières (RSF_

Article 19

Articolo 21

Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)

PEN Belgium/Flanders

Wales PEN Cymru

PEN Germany

PEN Club Français

PEN Suisse Romand

English PEN

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JOINT ORAL STATEMENT ON THE DETERIORATION OF FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND MEDIA FREEDOM IN TURKEY

15 March 2017

UN Human Rights Council 34th Special Session 
Item 4: Human rights situations that require the Council’s attention
Delivered by Sarah Clarke, PEN International
15 March 2017

Mr President,

PEN International, ARTICLE 19 and 66 organisations are deeply concerned by the continuous deterioration of freedom of expression and media freedom in Turkey following the violent and contemptible coup attempt on 15 July 2016.

Over 180 news outlets have been shut down under laws passed by presidential decree following the imposition of a state of emergency.  There are now at least 148 writers, journalists and media workers in prison, including Ahmet Şık,1 Kadri Gürsel, Ahmet and Mehmet Altan, Ayşe Nazlı Ilıcak and İnan Kızılkaya, making Turkey the biggest jailer of journalists in the world.  The Turkish authorities are abusing the state of emergency by severely restricting fundamental rights and freedoms, stifling criticism and limiting the diversity of views and opinions available in the public sphere.2

Restrictions have reached new heights in the lead up to a crucial referendum on constitutional reforms, which would significantly increase executive powers, set for 16 April 2017. The Turkish authorities’ campaign has been marred by threats, arrests and prosecutions of those who have voiced criticism of the proposed amendments.  Several members of the opposition have been arrested on terror charges. Thousands of public employees, including hundreds of academics and opponents to the constitutional reforms, were dismissed in February. Outspoken “No” campaigners have been detained, adding to the overall climate of suspicion and fear. The rights to freedom of expression and information, essential to fair and free elections, are in jeopardy.

In the run-up to the referendum, the need for media pluralism is more important than ever.  Voters have the right to be duly informed and to be provided with comprehensive information on all views, including dissenting voices, in sufficient time. The prevailing atmosphere should be one of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. There should be no fear of reprisals.

We urge this Council, its members and observer states, to call on the Turkish authorities to:

• Guarantee equal broadcasting time for all parties and allow for the dissemination of all information to the maximum extent possible in order to ensure that voters are fully informed;

• Put an end to the climate of suspicion and fear by:

• Immediately releasing all those held in prison for exercising their rights to freedom of opinion and expression;
• Ending the prosecutions and detention of journalists simply on the basis of the content of their journalism or alleged affiliations;

• Halting executive interference with independent news organisations including in relation to editorial decisions, dismissals of journalists and editors, pressure and intimidation against critical news outlets and journalists;

• Revoke the excessively broad provisions under the state of emergency, the application of which, in practice, are incompatible with Turkey’s human rights obligations.

Thank you Mr. President

ActiveWatch – Media Monitoring Agency
Adil Soz – International Foundation for Protection of Freedom of Speech
Albanian Media Institute
Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain
ARTICLE 19
Association of European Journalists
Basque PEN
Brazilian Association for Investigative Journalism
Canadian Journalists for Free Expression
Cartoonists Rights Network International
Center for Independent Journalism – Hungary
Croatian PEN centre
Danish PEN
Digital Rights Foundation
English PEN
European Centre for Press and Media Freedom
European Federation of Journalists
Finnish PEN
Foro de Periodismo Argentino
German PEN
Global Editors Network
Gulf Centre for Human Rights
Human Rights Watch
Icelandic PEN
Independent Chinese PEN Center
Independent Journalism Center – Moldova
Index on Censorship
Institute for Media and Society
International Press Institute
International Publishers Association
Journaliste en danger
Media Foundation for West Africa
Media Institute of Southern Africa
Media Watch
MYMEDIA
Nigeria PEN Centre
Norwegian PEN
Pacific Islands News Association
Pakistan Press Foundation
Palestine PEN
PEN American Center
PEN Austria
PEN Canada
PEN Catal
PEN Centre in Bosnia and Herzegovina
PEN Centre of German-Speaking Writers Abroad
PEN Eritrea in exile
PEN Esperanto
PEN Estonia
PEN France
PEN International
PEN Melbourne
PEN Myanmar
PEN Romania
PEN Suisse Romand
PEN Trieste
Portuguese PEN Centre
Punto24
Reporters Without Borders
Russian PEN Centre
San Miguel PEN
Serbian PEN Centre
Social Media Exchange – SMEX
South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO)
South East European Network for Professionalization of Media
Vigilance pour la Démocratie et l’État Civique
Wales PEN Cymru
World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WANIFRA)

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Kurdish writer and translator, Salih Agir Qoseri, at Swansea Bay Asylum Seeker’s drop-in, on March 10th

Date: March 10th, 2017.
Location: Swansea

Salih Agir Qoseri will be in Swansea on 10th of March. He will be speaking at a primary and a secondary school about Kurdish literature and he will also attend and speak at Swansea Bay Asylum Seeker’s drop-in. We are organising an informal evening meal and chat, if you are interested in joining us please call 07787436039 for details.

Salih Agir Qoserî

Kurdish writer and translator. Born in 1969.He studied at Education Faculty of Dicle University in Diyarbakır before moving to Sweden where he studied culture and communication at Gävle University, and worked as an interpreter at Gävle municipality. He moved back to Turkey in 2006 and in 2014 obtained a Master’s Degree in Kurdish language and culture form Artuklu University where he later taught for three years.

He  has translated articles and books from English, Swedish and Turkish into Kurdish.   His   debut   translation   with   Mizgîn   Bîngol   of   Mikael   Niemi’s   PopularMusic From Vittula, published in 2009 was followed by translation form Turkish,of Hasan Bildirici’s novel The Way Without Returning (Dönüşü Olmayan Yol). His Kurdish translations of George Orwell’s 1984 and Animal Farm from English to Kurdish   were   published   by   the   Diyarbakir-based   Lîs   Publishing   in   2015.

His latest translation form Swedish is a novel by Karin Boye, and he is currently working   on   translations   of   Aldous   Huxley’s   Brave   New   World   and   D.   H.Lawrence’s The Man Who Died.

Bydd Salih Agir Qoseri, llenor a chyfieithydd Cwrdeg, yn mynychu sesiwn galw heibio Ceiswyr Lloches Bae Abertawe ar Fawrth 10fed.

Dyddiad: Mawrth 10fed, 2017.
Lleoliad: Abertawe

Bydd Salih Agir Qoseri yn Abertawe ar 10fed o Fawrth. Bydd e’n siarad mewn ysgol gynradd ac ysgol gyfun am lenyddiaeth Cwrdeg a bydd e’n mynychu sesiwn galw heibio Ceiswyr Lloches Bae Abertawe. Rydym ni’n trefnu pryd o fwyd anffurfiol a sgwrs, os oes diddordeb gennych, ffoniwch 07787436039 am fanylion.

Salih Agir Qoserî

Llenor a chyfieithydd Cwrdeg. Cafodd ei eni yn 1969. Astudiodd yng Nghyfadran Addysg Prifysgol Dicle yn Diyarbakır cyn symud i Sweden lle astudiodd ef diwylliant a chyfathrebu ym Mhrifysgol Gävle, ac roedd e’n gweithio fel cyfieithydd ym mwrdeistref Gävle. Symudodd yn ôl i Dwrci yn 2006 ac yn 2014 enillodd Gradd Meistr yn Niwylliant ac Iaith Dwrceg o Brifysgol Artuklu lle aeth ef ymlaen i ddysgu am dair mlynedd.

Mae ef wedi cyfieithu erthyglau a llyfrau o Saesneg, Swedeg a Thwrced i Gwrdeg. Ei gyfieithiad cyntaf oedd Mizgîn   Bîngol   o Mikael   Niemi’s   Popular Music From Vittula, a gafodd ei gyhoeddi yn 2009 a’i ddilyn gan gyfieithiad o Dwrceg, o nofel Hasan Bildirici, The Way Without Returning (Dönüşü Olmayan Yol). Cafodd ei gyfieithiadau Cwrdeg o 1984 ac Animal Farm gan George Orwell o Saesneg i Gwrdeg eu cyhoeddi gan Lîs   Publishing   yn Diyarbakir yn   2015.

Ei gyfieithiad Swedeg diweddaraf yw nofel gan Karin Boye, ac mae’n gweithio ar gyfieithiadau o Brave New World gan Aldous   Huxley a The Man Who Died gan D. H. Lawrence.

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January 30, 2017

Wales PEN Cymru’s President, Menna Elfyn, joins world writers in solidarity with Turkey’s imprisoned writers Read here.

Mae Llywydd  Wales PEN Cymru yn ymuno gyda ysgrifenwyr y byd i ddangos ein cydgefnogaeth i’r awduron yn Nhwrci sydd wedi eu carcharu Darllenwch yma.

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Leading world writers join PEN in a message of solidarity to fellow writers, protesting the heavy-handed crackdown against free expression in the country.

There are now close to 150 writers and journalist in prison making Turkey the biggest jailer of journalists in the world, surpassing China, Eritrea and Egypt. Nobel laureates Elfriede Jelinek, J.M Coetzee and Mario Vargas Llosa join writers Elif Shafak, Margaret Atwood, Salman Rushdie,  Ian Rankin, Jonathan Franzen, John Ashbery, Elena Poniatowska, Tariq Ali, Yann Martel, poet Adonis, artist Ai Weiwei, investigative journalists Lydia Cacho and Khadija Ismayilova as well as over 20 PEN Centres presidents in solidarity with Turkey’s writers.

Since the failed coup on 15 July 2016, Turkish authorities have cracked down on writers, journalists, media organisations, publishing houses, the judiciary and political opponents, resulting in a near total silencing of critical voices.

In PEN’s message of solidarity, the writers say:

‘We are writing to you to let you know that you are not alone. We are writing to tell you that we will not stand idly by in your time of need. We will not be silent while your human rights are violated. We will raise our global voice against any effort to silence yours.’

The message of solidarity was published today as PEN International’s high-level mission to assess the situation for freedom of expression in Turkey ends. The mission was led by PEN International president Jennifer Clement; Chairman of the Nobel Prize for Literature Per Wästberg, President Emeritus John Ralston Saul; Vice-President Eugene Schoulgin; Turkish writers Burhan Sönmez and Zülfü Livaneli; German writer Peter Schneider; publishers Eva Bonnier and Ronald Bluden; and PEN Centre presidents Iman Humaydun, William Nygaard, Vida Ognjenovic, and Urtzi Urrutikoetxea.

In their week-long visit, the high-level mission met with writers, journalists, human rights defenders, civils society actors, as well as Minister of Culture Nabi Avcı, party leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and MP’s and representatives from across Turkey’s political landscape. The delegation also visited the offices of newspapers currently facing Turkey’s increasing clampdown: Cumhuriyet Daily, BirGün Daily, Agos daily, Evrensel daily and Özgürlükçü Demokrasi daily.

PEN International has been campaigning on free expression issues in Turkey for decades and will continue to campaign for the freedom of those imprisoned solely for exercising their right to free expression.

PEN International president Jennifer Clement said:

‘Freedom of expression is protected both by Turkey’s constitution and by international law. President Erdoğan’s ongoing campaign to muzzle all dissident voices in Turkey must be met with resistance. That is why we are proud to be here today, figures from across PEN’s global community, standing in active and public solidarity with our friends and colleagues in Turkey.’

View this online

For more information contact Campaigns and Communications Manager: Sahar.halaimzai@pen-international.org

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Straeon o Horn Affrica

Ben Rawlence, Dylan Moore a ffrindiau

Dyddiadau digwyddiadau 2017 i’w cadarnhau

Er bod ardal Horn Affrica yn chwarae ran hanfodol mewn digwyddiau cyfoes, ei storm o broblemau berffaith – rhyfel, terfysgaeth, unbennaeth, newyn, gwladwriaethau’n methu – sy’n gyrru cyrfan fawr o lif ffoaduriaid y byd, nid yw eu straen yn aml yn cael eu clywed.

Treuliodd Ben Rawlence saith mlynedd fel ymchwilydd dros Wylfa Hawliau Dynol mewn gwledydd yn Affrica, a saith taith hir dros bedair blynedd yng nghamp ffoaduriaid yn Dadaab yng ngogledd Kenya. Mae ei waith yn ffurfio sail ei lyfr arbennig, City of Thorns: Nine Lives in the World’s Largest Refugee Camp, sy’n croniclo bywydau ei thrigolion.

Bydd Yohannes Obsi a Biniyam Birtukan yn ymuno â Ben. Mae’r ddau ohonynt yn ffoaduriaid o Ethiopia sydd wedi gwneud y daith hir a pheryglus ar draws yr anialwch yn Libya a Môr y Canoldir cyn ddod i’r DU trwy gamp y ‘Jwngl’ yng Nghalais. Mae Yohannes yn actifydd ac yn llenor sy’n chwilio am loches ac mae Biniyam yn fardd a newyddiadurwr a oedd wedi dianc oherwydd cafodd ei erthyglau eu cyhoeddi yn Ethiopia. Mae’r ddau ohonynt yn aelodau o Wales PEN Cymru.

Bydd Yohannes, Biniyam a Ben yn darllen o’u gwaith cyn ymuno â Dylan Moore mewn sgwrs am y profiad ffoadurol, yr heriau y mae pobl yn eu hwynebu ar draws Horn Affrica – a sut y gallwn ni yng Nghymru eu helpu.

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Chair of the Translation, Linguistic Rights and Writers in Prison Committee of Wales PEN Cymru, Turkish translator Caroline Stockford took part in a fact-finding mission to Istanbul from the 31st of August to the 2nd of September to report on the state of freedom of the press and to witness the trial of Tafaf Newspaper Editor Ahmet Altan, reporters Yasemin Çongar, Mehmed Baransu and former Editor Yıldıray Oğur.

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Meetings with newspapers, television stations and the Turkish Union of Journalists

During the week we met with opposition and independent newspapers such as Evrensel, Birgün and Cumhuriyet.

The general opinion is that the situation for journalism and freedom of the press in Turkey is going to get a lot worse.  Press cards are being cancelled and permits to attend Government press briefings are being denied to opposition newspapers.  Kurdish reporters in the South East are being told by police that it is illegal to report under the State of Emergency.  Evrensel newspaper told us that two of their journalists Cemil Ugur and Halil Ibrahim Polat had been arrested on the 23rd of August in the province of Mardin and held in custody for eight days with no access to legal representation.

Under the SOE members of the public suspected of having taken part in the coup, or of having Gülenist sympathies are being arrested and detained for up to 30 days with no legal advice for the first 5 days.  It is widely believed that the SOE is being abused in order to purge society of writers, thinkers and journalists that are critical of the administration.  Forty thousand prisoners in Turkish jails have been scheduled for early parole to make way for those arrested under suspicion of playing a part in the failed coup.  These suspects include writers and journalists, academics and civil servants.

We also visited two television stations, IMC TV and Hayatın Sesi.  The former reported that their cable broadcast licence had been cancelled due to their showing an interview they had conducted with a member of the outlawed PKK.  This is despite state-run stations broadcasting similar interviews.  IMC TV report from a humanitarian, ecological and gender balanced point of view and, like other independent television stations such as Hayatın Sesi, they face constant fines for having potentially ‘insulted the President’ or for broadcasting from the sites of suicide bombings in Turkey seconds after a blanket-broadcast ban had been introduced by the television regulating authority.

At least 15 journalists were arrested and detained during the four-day mission of our delegation which was led by Article 19 and representatives from Danish PEN, the European Federation of Journalists, German PEN, Index on Censorship, My Media, the Norwegian Press Association, the Norwegian Union of Journalists, Norwegian PEN, PEN International, Reporters Without Borders, and Caroline Stockford, Chair of the Translation, Linguistic Rights and Writers in Prison Committee of Wales PEN Cymru.

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Arrest and detention of leading female writers, journalists and linguists

When the Kuridsh newspaper Özgür Gündem was under threat in the SE of the country, a group of 68 journalists went to Diyarbakır over a period of 8 weeks to work for the newspaper and show solidarity.

Leading literary figure, Aslı Erdoğan has been in solitary confinement at Bakırköy Women’s Prison since 20th August.

This is taken from Hürriyet Daily News, 25th August:

Aslı Erdoğan was a member of daily Özgür Gündem’s advisory board and columnist, is being held in solitary confinement and says she has been unable to get her necessary medicine for five days. 

“They are treating me in a way that will leave permanent damage on my body,” she told daily Cumhuriyet through her lawyer, Nesrullah Oğuz, adding that she is forced to sleep in a bed that someone previously urinated in.

“I’ve been experiencing problems in my intestines for 10 years. My pancreas and digestive system doesn’t work properly, but my medicine has not been given to me for five days. I am diabetic and I need a special nutrition. But in jail I am only able to eat yoghurt … Also, even though I suffer from asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, I have not been allowed access to open air [since entering prison],” Erdoğan said. 

There appears to be a danger of being accused of ‘affiliation with a terrorist organisation’ in Turkey at present for many who try to assist Kurdish causes or the call for peace talks and cessation of military activity in the SE of Turkey.

Another board member of the newspaper Özgür Gündem, Necmiye Alpay who is a writer and philologist in her seventies was arrested and remanded in custody at Bakırköy prison on 31st August.  She is being charged with spreading propaganda regarding a terrorist organsiation and ‘disrupting the unity of the state’  In their statement on the 9th of September, 2016 PEN International said the following:

PEN International is deeply concerned by the arrest of renowned writer and linguist Necmiye Alpay on 31 August on terror charges as a part of an ongoing investigation into closed daily Özgür Gündem, which has also seen writer Aslı Erdoğan detained.

 On 31 August, Istanbul’s Eighth Criminal Court of Peace ordered the arrest of Alpay on charges of being a member of a terror organization and disrupting the unity of the state; she denies all charges against her. PEN believes that Alpay is being held solely for her peaceful exercise of her right to freedom of expression and is calling for her immediate and unconditional release.  

Wales PEN Cymru joined Danish PEN, German PEN, Norwegian PEN, Turkish PEN and over 200 others, including many Turkish writers and poets to demonstrate against the arrests of Aslı Erdoğan and Necmiye Alpay outside Bakırköy women’s prison on Friday 2nd September.

There were speeches, performances of poetry and theatre and several leading literary figures as well as the members of PEN Turkey expressed their gratitude to Wales PEN Cymru for their presence and solidarity.

Please consider sending postcards containing supportive messages in English to Necmiye Alpay and Aslı Erdoğan at the following address:

Ms. Necmiye Alpay
Bakırköy Kadın Kapalı Tutukevi
C-9 Koğuşu
Bakırköy – İstanbul – Turkey

Members writing in Welsh may send their messages to Wales PEN Cymru directly via Turkishinterpreterwales@gmail.com and have them sent on in Welsh and Turkish to both Necmiye Alpay and Aslı Erdoğan.

Observing the Taraf trial at the High Criminal Court, Istanbul

Wales PEN Cymru was among other PEN Centres, Embassies and Press Organisations in court to witness the Taraf Newspaper trial where Editor Ahmet Altan, reporters Yasemin Çongar, Mehmed Baransu and former Editor Yıldıray Oğur were before the three judges accused of having divulged state secrets in relation to a coup plot six years ago.

The case proceeded despite the fact that a new and unsigned indictment appeared to have been produced overnight and not submitted to defence.  The 246 page indictment the defence had received contained 45 pages copied and pasted from the indictment of Cumhuriyet Editor in Chief Can Dündar whose trial took place in 2015.  The words, ‘the defendant Can Dündar’ appeared on several pages of the indictment against the Taraf journalists.  New charges had been brought against the defendants accusing them of having a role in the most recent failed coup, of spying and of attempting to bring down the state.

At the end of the day’s hearing, a new date was set for the 23rd of November and the defendants (all but Mehmed Baransu who has been in custody for several years) were released.

Following this, on Saturday, September 10th, defendant Ahmet Altan and his brother Dr Mehmet Altan were both arrested and detained on charges of ‘giving subliminal messages to incite a coup’ in a television programme on which they appeared on the 14th of July 2016.

Wales PEN Cymru are deeply concerned that the State of Emergency and anti-terror laws in Turkey are being used indiscriminately to imprison outspoken writers, journalists and academics and to stifle freedom of speech in the country.

Below is a short message from co-defendant and journalist Yasemin Çongar regarding the Altan brothers:

The most critical 24 hours for Ahmet and Mehmet Altan

Dear Friends,

Thank you all for supporting our demand for the release of Ahmet and Mehmet Altan.

After 11 days in police custody where they did not see the sky, had only two small cans of food for the whole day, no tea, no coffee, no cigarettes, limited drinking water, no access to family, no tv, no papers, no lights out –they had to sleep in a brightly-lit room behind bars– they will be questioned by the police for the first time today. Then they will see the prosecutor and in all likelihood will be referred to the court with a demand for pre-trial imprisonment, which might mean months if not years in today’s Turkey.

Anything you can do in the next 24 hours –getting more people to sign the support letter as well as social media messages with hashtags #AhmetAltan #MehmetAltan and #LetAltansGoFree or, more importantly, any public statements you can make or help organise — will mean a lot.

Thank you.

Best,
Yasemin

We would urge you, as our members, to send us your ideas on campaigns of solidarity that we might run to assist Turkish journalists and writers at this difficult period in the history of Turkey.

Thank you for your ongoing support of Wales PEN Cymru.

Letter from Jennifer Clements, President of PEN International. ‘Turkey: The largest prison for journalists in the world 

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WALES PEN CYMRU WRITERS JOIN ENGLISH AND SCOTTISH PEN IN LETTER TO DAVID CAMERON

Writers urge British Government to safeguard freedom of expression in India

11 November 2015

London, UK – More than 200 writers including Nikita Lalwani, Henry Marsh, Ian McEwan, Salman Rushdie, and Val McDermid have written an open letter to David Cameron calling on the British government to take action to safeguard freedom of expression in India.

The letter, signed by members and supporters of PEN International’s UK-based centres – English PEN, Scottish PEN and Wales PEN Cymru – highlights ‘the rising climate of fear, growing intolerance and violence towards critical voices who challenge orthodoxy or fundamentalism in India’ and urges Cameron to ‘engage with Prime Minister Modi both publicly and privately on this crucial issue’. Prime Minister Modi arrives in the UK on Thursday, 12 November.

The writers express grave concern over threats to freedom of expression in the country and highlight the cases of three public intellectuals murdered in the last two years, the murders of at least 37 journalists since 1992, and the threats that writers and others continue to receive, and the protests that are mounting in response to the attacks:

Over the past month, at least 40 Indian novelists, poets and playwrights have returned the prize awarded to them by the Sahitya Akademi, the National Academy of Letters, to protest against these attacks. In their statements, the writers have criticised the Akademi’s silence over the murders, the deteriorating political environment in which those expressing dissent have been attacked by government ministers, and challenged the government to demonstrate tolerance and protect free speech.

After this, and a silent march by protesting writers, the Akademi issued a statement condemning the murder of Kalburgi and a resolution asking ‘governments at the centre and in the states to take immediate action to bring the culprits to book and ensure the security of writers now and in the future.’ It also requested the writers who had returned awards to reconsider their decisions. Dissenting writers responded to the Akademi saying it should have spoken out much earlier, and urged the Akademi to rethink how it can support ‘writers all over India, and by extension, the people of the country.’ They reminded the Akademi of the urgency, calling the present time a ‘moment of spiralling hatred and intolerance.’ Mr Modi’s government has not yet formally responded to the Akademi’s resolution.

They also describe how the ‘protests have grown beyond the community of Indian writers of all languages’ and how ‘scientists, artists, film-makers, academics, scholars, and actors have either complained about the climate of intolerance or returned awards on a scale unprecedented in India.’

The letter concludes by asking the Prime Minister to raise these issues with Prime Minister Modi and to ‘urge him to provide better protection for writers, artists and other critical voices and ensure that freedom of speech is safeguarded. Without these protections a democratic, peaceful society is not possible.’

The full text of the letter and list of signatories is available here.

In May 2015, PEN, in partnership with the International Human rights Program (IHRP) at the University Of Toronto Faculty Of Law, published a report documenting the many violations of the right to free expression in the country since Prime Minister Modi’s inauguration and calling on India to repeal overbroad laws that enable censorship in the world’s largest democracy. The report – Imposing Silence: The Use of India’s Laws to Suppress Free Speech – can be read here.

Contacts:

• Jo Glanville, Director, English PEN: jo@englishpen.org
• Christina Neuwirth, Project Officer, Scottish PEN: christina@scottishpen.org
• Menna Elfyn, President, Wales PEN Cymru: menna@elfyn.fsnet.co.uk
• Sahar Halaimzai, Communications and Campaigns Manager, PEN International halaimzai@pen-international.org