PEN: 212 attacks against writers and publishers in 2019

According to data from the International Writers Association PEN, last year there were 212 attacks against writers, journalists and publishers. If the court against the 37 writers from 10 in Turkey.

PEN, the International Writers Association, announced last year that 212 attacks against writers, journalists and publishers were recorded worldwide. According to the data of PEN, two writers were victims to murder because of their work: Iraqi writer Alaa Mashthob Abboud was killed in Karbala, and Northern Irish journalist-writer Lyra McKee was killed in Londonderry. McKee was killed in a clash between demonstrators and police while reporting on the anniversary of the Easter Uprising, known as the independence uprising against Britain in Northern Ireland. McKee was known to criticize religious fundamentalism’s pressure on different sexual orientations and struggle for equality. Criticizing the corruption in the state in Iraq and the militant groups in Karbala, the novelist Abboud died as a result of the assassination of an unknown armed group.

Every 10 out of 37 Journalist trialed is in Turkey

According to the data released by the PEN Germany branch in Darmstadt, publishers in many countries face long prison sentences and threats of violence. In 2018, PEN reported 205 pressure and threat cases in this direction.

PEN states that imprisonment and detention methods are used to silence dissident voices, which is sometimes done through rather strange accusations. It was stated that 21 of the 67 authors in question tried to be silenced in this way were in China. Every 10 out of 37 Journalist tried is in Turkey.

More than 100 journalists imprisoned and 4 author in Turkey is drawing attention. It is also stresses that the authors face imprisonment as well. 9 writers in Eritrea were sent to prison without a court order; In Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iran, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, freedom of expression has been shown to be undermined by prison terms.

Bu görsel boş bir alt niteliğe sahip; dosya adı pen-almanya-başkanı.jpg — PEN Germany Vice President Nestmeyer

Ralf Nestmeyer, Vice President of the PEN Germany Branch, linked the situation in countries where the authors’ freedom to oppose was undermined by methods such as torture and prison, with fear and despair over the power of words. “Despite brute violence, fundamentalists, terrorists and criminals should not be given the opportunity to violate freedom of expression,” said Nestmeyer.

The most dangerous countries for journalists

The International Writers Union pointed out the data of the Committee for the Protection of Journalists (CPJ) and stated that 25 journalists were murdered last year. Stating that the journalists reporting the conflicts are particularly targeted, CPJ noted that the most dangerous countries for journalists are Mexico, where 10 journalists were killed, and Syria, where seven journalists were killed. Other countries where journalists were killed were listed as the Philippines, Libya, Haiti, Chad, Nigeria, Dana, Ukraine and the UK.

DW, epd, KNA / SÖ, HT