CUBA, AMERICAS PEN International CUBA, AMERICAS PEN International

Maykel CASTILLO PÉREZ

Cuban musician and rapper Maykel Castillo Pérez, widely known by the name ‘Maykel Osorbo’, continued serving a nine-year prison term in the high security 5 y Medio prison in Pinar del Río after his conviction on 24 June 2022 of charges including ‘contempt, attack, public disorder and defamation of institutions and organisations’…

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CUBA, AMERICAS PEN International CUBA, AMERICAS PEN International

Randy ARTEAGA RIVERA

Musician and rapper Randy Arteaga Rivera continued serving a five-year prison sentence in prison camp ‘La Guanajera’ at the end of the year. He was arrested on 11 July 2021 in Santa Clara province while participating in peaceful protests against restrictions…

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CANADA, AMERICAS PEN International CANADA, AMERICAS PEN International

Brandi MORIN

On 10 January 2024, police officers arrested Cree/Iroquois/French freelance journalist Brandi Morin while she was reporting on an Indigenous encampment, in Edmonton, Alberta. When police raided the encampment, Morin said she identified herself…

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BRAZIL, AMERICAS PEN International BRAZIL, AMERICAS PEN International

Dom PHILLIPS 

At the end of the year, trials continued of several men for the 2022 murder of British journalist and author Dom Phillips and Indigenous issues expert Bruno Pereira during a fact-finding trip…

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ARGENTINA, AMERICAS PEN International ARGENTINA, AMERICAS PEN International

Alejandro ALFIE

Journalist and writer Alejandro Alfie was judicially harassed in 2024. On 7 November 2024, he announced on social media that Esteban Glavinich (owner of the X account @TraductorTeAma and supporter of President Javier Milei) had filed a lawsuit…

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ARGENTINA, AMERICAS PEN International ARGENTINA, AMERICAS PEN International

Dolores REYES

Author Dolores Reyes faced stigmatisation by officials during the year. On 7 November 2024, Vice-President Victoria Villarruel labelled Reyes’ novel Cometierra (Sigilo, 2019), about a young woman who experiences visions when she eats soil, as immoral and degrading, showing excerpts on her…

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ARGENTINA, AMERICAS PEN International ARGENTINA, AMERICAS PEN International

Joaquín MORALES SOLÁ 

Writer and journalist Joaquín Morales Solá was a victim of stigmatisation in 2024. On 6 April 2024, while at a conference, President Milei criticised Morales Solá after the writer published opinion pieces criticising the president…

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ARGENTINA, AMERICAS PEN International ARGENTINA, AMERICAS PEN International

María Sol FANTIN

Writer and teacher María Sol Fantin faced attempts in 2024 to censor her book Si no fueras tan niña. Memorias de la violencia (*If you weren't such a child: Memories of violence*, Paidós, 2022), an autobiographical work that recounts the sexual abuse she suffered as a teenager at the hands of a teacher. On 17 November 2024, Vice-President…

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ARGENTINA, AMERICAS PEN International ARGENTINA, AMERICAS PEN International

Jorge FERNÁNDEZ DÍAZ

On 13 April 2024, President Javier Milei publicly insulted the novelist and journalist Jorge Fernández Díaz and discredited his work as a columnist. The author and journalist had published several opinion pieces criticising…

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ARGENTINA, AMERICAS PEN International ARGENTINA, AMERICAS PEN International

Gabriela CABEZÓN CÁMARA

In 2024, authorities attempted to censor the book Las aventuras de la China Iron (The Adventures of China Iron), written by writer and journalist Gabriela Cabezón Cámara, on the grounds that it contained sexually explicit content…

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PERU, AMERICAS PEN International PERU, AMERICAS PEN International

Gustavo Andrés GORRITI ELLENBOGEN

On 27 March 2024, Lima prosecutor Alcides Chinchay opened an investigation against prominent journalist and writer Gustavo Gorriti, founder and editor-in-chief of IDL-Reporteros, for alleged bribery and requested that he reveal…

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PERU, AMERICAS PEN International PERU, AMERICAS PEN International

Paola Margot UGAZ CRUZ

Investigative journalist, editor and writer Paola Ugaz continued to face judicial harassment in 2024, with an ongoing investigation for alleged ‘illicit enrichment’ begun in 2023. On 4 September 2024, Ugaz testified at trial hearing…

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MEXICO, AMERICAS PEN International MEXICO, AMERICAS PEN International

Maria Amparo CASAR

The Mexican sociologist, columnist, activist and writer faced a smear campaign from then President Andrés Manuel López Obrador in 2024. The attacks began with the publication of her book, Los puntos sobre las íes: El legado de un…

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MEXICO, AMERICAS PEN International MEXICO, AMERICAS PEN International

Anabel HERNÁNDEZ GARCÍA

On 17 May 2024, Mexican journalist and author Anabel Hernández García and Penguin Random House made public the attempts at censorship made against the book La historia secreta: AMLO y el Cartel de…

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PEN International PEN International

Beatriz Maricela GUTIERREZ DE VELASCO VERDUZCO 

Mexican cartoonist, publisher and author Beatriz Maricela Gutiérrez de Velasco Verduzco (Mexico City, 1976), also known as Beatrix, received a series of intimidating messages on 29 January 2024 from public official Sandra Cuevas…

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MEXICO, AMERICAS PEN International MEXICO, AMERICAS PEN International

Denise DRESSER GUERRA

In 2024, political scientist, journalist and author Denise Dresser Guerra challenged ongoing harassment and threats posted on Dresser's personal social media that had begun in April 2023 in connection…

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