Norwegian filmmaker Erling Borgen harassed at Baku airport
On May 6th Borgen and his cameraman Dag Inge Dahl were searched at the Baku airport and theier documentary footage was illegally confiscated.  Read statement.


Former Norwegian PEN-president Kjell Olaf Jensen receives Royal Order
  Read press release

Praise to Norwegian PEN for helping solve the Kambakhshs-case
In a three-page interview in the Norwegian daily Dagbladet on December 16., the United Nation´s special representative in Afghanistan, Mr. Kai Eide, discloses some of the secrecy that has characterized the Kambakhsh-case and, in particular, Kambakhsh´s release and travel to Scandinavia.  Credit is also given to Norwegian PEN and its Vice President Elisabeth Eide for contributing positively to solving this case. Read more.

Day of the imprisoned writer - the Ozzietzky-prize
Norwegian PENs "Ossietzky-prize" for "outstanding achievements within the field of free expression" was awarded Palestinian journalist Mohammed Omer during the commemoration of the Day of the Imprisoned Writer.  The prize was awarded during an evening event at the House of Literature in Oslo on 16. November 2009.   Read more.

8 March 2009: Women writers under attack in Latin Americ
As part of its Freedom to write in the Americas campaign launched in February 2009, the Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN (WiPC) is marking International Women’s Day (8 March) by celebrating the work of four women writers under threat in the region. These are: Colombian playwright and activist Patricia Ariza, Peruvian student poet Melissa Patiño, and Mexican authors and journalists Lydia Cacho and Sanjuana Martínez Montemayor.  Read more.

Norwegian scholar Harald Bøckman refused visa to China
Norwegian PEN is both shocked and provoked to learn that the Embassy of the People´s Republic of China has refused to issue a visa to reknowned China-scholar and translator Harald Bøckman, consequently denying him entry to China during the Beijing Olympics.  Read more.

Failing to deliver: An Olympic-Year Report Card on Free Expression in China
In order to win the privilege of hosting the 2008 Summer Olympics, the People’s Republic of China pledged to improve its human rights record.  In December 2007, PEN American Center, PEN Canada and the Independent Chinese PEN Center launched “We Are Ready for Freedom of Expression,” a campaign aimed at holding China’s leadership to these commitments.  Seven months later, they are unable to report significant improvements.  Read more.

Norwegian PEN and other HR-organiztion protest police brutality
In a joint letter, several Norwegian HR-organizations protest the police brutality against peaceful demonstrators in Minsk, Belarus.  Read more.

Democratic Voice of Burma awarded the 2007 Ossietzky Prize
The board of Norwegian PEN has unanimously decided to award the 2007 Ossietzky prize to the Oslo-based radio station The Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB).  The prize will be awarded at a ceremony at the Nobel Peace Center on Thursday 15. November, which is also the international Day of the Imprisoned Writer.  More information.

Anna Politkovskaya - One Year ON 
On Sunday 7. October at 3 p.m., Norwegian PEN and other NGOs will commemorate murdered Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya at the Nobel Peace Centre in Oslo.  More.
 
Norwegian NGOs launch China-campaign
A comprehensive campaign focusing on human rights and freedom of expression in China in connection with the 2008 Olympics was launched by Norwegian PEN, Amnesty International Norway and the Norwegian Journalists Association at the Human rights House in Oslo on 7. August, one year and one day prior to the games.  See press release.

Freedom of expression in Tunisia: "The Siege Holds"
In its fourth report on freedom of expression conditions in Tunisia, the International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX) Tunisian Monitoring Group (TMG) concludes that it is still increasingly important that free expression and human rights groups, as well as the international community at large, still keep monitoring developments in Tunisia.  Read the press release and the full report.

Protests harassment by Russian authorities
In a joint statement with the Norwegian Helsinki Federation and Human rights House Foundation, Norwegian PEN protests the harassment of media, organizations and peaceful demonstrators in Nizhny Novgorod - read more.

Mohammed Abbou Day: TMG delegation blocked and intimidated at prison gates
On 1. March members of the Tunisia Monitoring Group delegation visiting Tunisia (27 February – 4 March) were physically prevented from accessing the street of the prison of the town of Le Kef (170 km south-west of Tunis) where Human Rights lawyer and writer Mohammed Abbou is jailed, by plain clothes men who refused to identify themselves.  See press release.

Chinese writers denied entry to Hong Kong
Empty chairs on stage at the recent International PEN Asia-Pacific conference in Hong Kong symbolized absent, Chinese writers - more than 20 were denied entry to Hong Kong by Chinese authorities.  Read press release from International PEN.

Norwegian- and International PEN plan China campaigns
Both Norwegian PEN and International PEN are now planning comprehensive campaigns focusing on freedom of expression- and human rights infringements in connection with the 2008 Beijing Olympics.  Read more.

New York Times publish articles by Iraqi Cities of Asylum-writers living in Norway
These contributors are Iraqi writers and English translators, two of whom worked for the American military. Because of their work, they were hunted by death squads and only escaped Iraq with assistance from PEN and the Norwegian government. Larry Siems, director of the Freedom to Write Program at PEN American Center, interviewed them in Norway, where they have political asylum. These essays are adapted from his interviews. 

Fear of Freedom by WADDAH ALI
Lost After Translation by BASIM MARDAN
Republic of Dreams by OMAR GHANIM FATHI


Writer Ebba Haslund awarded the 2006 Ossietzky prize
Norwegian PENs prize for outstanding contribution to free expression, the Ossietzky-prize, awarded noted writer Ebba Haslund.  Read more.

International PEN congratulates Orhan Pamuk on being awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. 
Jirí Grušá, President of International PEN said today, ‘we congratulate Orhan Pamuk as an author who combines great writing with courage and humanistic wisdom. To PEN, he represents an opening of global perspectives towards the creation of a peaceful world of creative differences.’
Full story.

Norwegian PEN and other NGOs condemn journalist killing

Focus on free expression and censorship in China
"Silenced", a book in English on censorship and FOE in China by Øystein Alme, was launched  at a mini-seminar at the Human Rights House in Oslo, Wednesday 23. August.  The book is available through Norwegian PEN.  Read the report  from the seminar.

Report from Afghan PEN: Impressive high level of activity
A recent report from Afghan PEN demonstrates the importance of PEN in areas of conflict. Norwegian PEN helped launch the Afghan PEN Center and is still a support center for our colleagues in Kabul.  Read the full report.