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PEN International at the Edinburgh International Book Festival
EVENT: Join PEN International at the Edinburgh International Book Festival for First Edition: PEN International. Chaired by Viv Groskop, this timely conversation with Lemn Sissay, Sabrin Hasbun, and Tahmima Anam explores the vital role of writers in defending truth, fostering empathy, and holding power to account in an age of authoritarianism, disinformation, and inequality.
Imagine
PEN International has launched its Imagine Appeal, calling on people around the world to support its work defending writers, journalists and others persecuted for their words.
Donations will fund PEN International's global programmes and campaigns — helping ensure every person's right to be heard.
25 Years Disappeared:
Proof of Life Now
18 September 2026 will mark 25 years since 12 Eritrean writers and journalists were arrested for peacefully expressing their views and calling for reform. They have not been seen since. For a quarter of a century, the Eritrean authorities have held them incommunicado—without charge, trial, or contact with their families.
Join PEN International and PEN Centres in demanding proof of life—now.
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Photo Credit: Roberk Brooks
Become a friend of PEN International
Freedom of expression is deteriorating worldwide giving way to a rise in hate speech and oppressive legislation which threatens the lives and wellbeing of all kinds of writers, inc. poets, novelists, and journalists, as well as publishers. Meanwhile, writers, particularly women and those from marginalised communities, still need equal access and representation within the literary and civic spaces.
Become a Friend of PEN International today and help us continue our vital work to defend free expression and promote literature worldwide.
About us
We believe in everyone’s freedom to write and read, wherever they are in the world. Founded in 1921, today PEN International is recognised as the world’s foremost association of writers, as well as a leading international charity and expert on freedom of expression.