The joint statement of Iranian Writers Association (IWA) “in exile” and Iranian Pen Centre” in Exile”
Free the imprisoned Iranian writers unconditionally now!
Dear compatriots, freedom -loving people of the world
The Islamic Republic of Iran, in its continuous and relentless campaign of repression, censorship, arrests, terror, assassinations and mass executions, has yet again arrested and imprisoned another group of Iranian writers, poets and journalists in Iran. On Saturday 05 Mehr 1399-Sep.26.2020, two of the current board members of the IWA, namely Mr. Reza Khandanhe (Mahabadi) and Mr. Bektash Abtin and a former board member of IWA, Mr. Kayvan Bazhen were arrested and imprisoned by the Islamic Republic. These writers were apprehended due to their beliefs and relentless efforts in defence of unreserved freedom of speech, expression and thought (freedom without any restrictions, barriers and exceptions). All three were falsely charged with “anti- government propaganda” and “conspiracy and association to plot against the national security of the country”; the charges also included ” publication of internal bulletin of IWA, cooperation in writing the history and statements of IWA and participation in gatherings for anniversaries of Mohamad Jafar Pouyandeh, Mohamad Mokhtari and Ahmed Shamloo”. More writers, poets and journalists have been arrested or imprisoned or summoned to Islamic courts in the past few weeks; these include Mr. Aresh Ganji, Ms Geeti Pour Fazel, Mr Reza Esmaeili, Ms Shabnam Aashouri, Mr Anlovaar Gholi Vand, Ms. Neda Pir Khezrian, Mr. Aresh Johari, Mr. Andisheh Sadri, Ms. Mina Rad, Mr. Khosro Sadeghi Broojeni etc etc.
Freedom-loving people of the World
The Islamic Republic regime soon revealed its censoring and repressive nature in early stage of its formation when its founder, Ayatollah Khomeini, ordered “break these pens” and issued an edict for assassination of Salmaan Roshdi few years later. This regime has brutally and barbarically violated the human rights of Iranian people for more than four decades. This regime has ruled in violation of all international norms and accords on human rights charter and murdered many writers, poets and journalists; and has tortured, insulted, humiliated, socially deprived, imprisoned and sent into exile many more.
We the under-signed of this statement condemn the anti- human rights activities of this regime and hold responsible the leader of the Islamic Republic, Judiciary and the Ministry of Intelligence and other officials in charge, for the safety and well-being of the detained writers.
We the under-signed of this statement call upon the freedom-loving people of the world, writers and free press associations (Pen) and all human rights institutions throughout the world to raise their objections against the repressive policies of the Islamic Republic and condemn oppressive and unjust prison sentences in Iran.
Let’s get together and stand up against continuous repression imposed by the Islamic Republic regime. Let’s stop the endless and insatiable appetite of this regime for blood, execution, torture and imprisoning.
Let us enhance our beliefs on freedom of thought, speech, expression and on the integrity and dignity of human beings, by supporting the imprisoned writers in Iran and demanding their immediate and unconditional release.
We the under-signed of this statement demand the immediate waiver of the prison sentences of the detained writers and unconditional release of all prisoners of conscience, civil and trade union movement activists in Iran.
Board of the IWA in exile
Hossein Afsahi (writer and stage director), Ehsan Haghighi Nezhad (poet and writer), Manoocher Doosti (poet), Ali Asghar Fardad (poet and translator), Massoud Noghrehkar (writer and researcher),
Board of Iranian Pen Centre in Exile
Ziba Karbassi (poet), Ali Kamrani (stage actor and poet) Siavash Mirzadeh (poet and writer)
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Dr Jennifer Langer, writer, director of Exiled Writer’s ink
Jennifer Clement, poet, writer president of Pen International
Sharon Dunn, Writer, Editor Emerita AGNI.
Margaret Morganroth Gullette, author of Ending Ageism, or How Not to Shoot Old People, Resident Scholar, Women’s Studies Research Center, Brandeis.
Jane Hirshfield, poet; chancellor emerita Academy of American Poets; elected member American Academy of Arts & Sciences
Nii Ayikwei parkes, poet, writer, publisher and sociocultural.
Michael Ansara, Board Member, Mass Poetry
Lloyd Schwartz, Frederick S. Troy Professor of English Emeritus, University of Massachusetts Boston.
Suzanne Mercury, Poet and Artistic Director of The Boston Poetry Marathon
Tara Skurtu, Poet and Writing Coach
Gerald Bergstein; Faculty Emeritus, School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
Martha Collins, Professor Emerita, Oberlin College
George Kalogeris, Associate Professor of English, Suffolk University
Marita Coombs, Library Branch Manager
Alice Mattison, Core Faculty, Bennington Writing Seminars.
Robert Pinsky, Former poet laureate
James Carroll, writer, Boston, MA USA
Dr. Marvin Miller, Research Affiliate Science, Technology, and Society Program
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Gish Jen, novelist
Michael Ansara, Board Member, Mass Poetry
Stephen Tapscott, Professor, Literature, MIT
Marie Howe, professor Sarah Lawrence College, Bronxville, NY
Askold Melnyczuk, Professor, University of Massachusetts, Editor, Arrowsmith Press
Jill Mccorkle, author, writer
Linda.Bamber, fiction writer, poet , Tufts University
Steven Cramer, Poet, Professor of Creative Writing, Lesley University
Siri Hustvedt, Writer
Paul Auster, Writer
Alexandra Marshall, Writer
Kai Maristed, writer
Cintra Wilson, writer, editor cultural critic
Radu Vancu, poet
Romainian, Pen International
Kei Miller, poet, writer
David Garland, Graphic designer Musician
Alex Kovacs, writer, Political activist
Matthew Caley, poet, writer
Lois P. Jones, poet, radio host editor
Wlodeck Fenrych, writer, translator
Handsen chikowore, poet
Choman Hardi, poet
George Szirtes, Poet
David Caddy, poet
Gareeb Iskander, poet
Amanda Joy, poet, and writer
Kathryn Levy, poet
Diana robin, singer
Lello voce, critic writer
Katherine Rosen, ballet dancer in opera
Amanda holiday, poet
Simona Cesana, writer, director
Dome Bulfaro, poet
Amy Small-McKinney, poet
Jack Hirschman, Poet, Laureate
Mark Lamoureux, poet
San Miguel, Pen
Lucina Kathmann, poet
Ian moore, stand-up comedian
Liam Mullone, writer, comedian
Barbara Mary Prescott, poet, editor
Ami Sands Brodoff, writer
Kitty Knight, artist
Michael Taeckens, Publicity Director
Simone Menezes, artist
Judyth Hill, poet
Klaus J. Gerken, poet Scholar
Stephen Watts, poet, translator
Beth Copeland, Poet
Catherine Davidson, poet, writer
Katrina Naomi, poet
Beruriah Wiegand, poet, writer
Marco Cinque, Performer musician
James Haywood, Creativity Educator
Gianluigi Amorese, journalist critic
Oceana Rain Stuart, sculpture artist
Barbara Schacker, artist, and librarian
Cristina Newton, poet writer
scott pfaffman, artist musician
Elizabeth Baines, writer
Robyn Michele Field, social activist
Tawk love group Mewe, singer art performer
Béatrice van den Bossche, artist
Ross Bradshaw (Five Leaves Publications)
manolo L b mantero, poetic photographer
Trevor Joyce, poet, writer
Eric Scott artist, writer, composer, musician
Jeffery Beam, poet, writer
Toby Litt, writer
Jenny Lindsay, writer & events promoter
Bill Herbert. Poet, Professor of Poetry & Creative Writing
John Burroughs Ohio Beat Poet Laureate (2019-2021)
Adi Newton, artist
Lucille Lang Day, Poet, Writer
Linda Hogan Author, Speaker Environmental Writer
Amy King, Poet, Editor
Richard Krawiec, Poet, writer
Annemarie Huber, Federal Chancellor Pressdent Of the Swiss Red Cross
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Bahaddin Robar, Members of Peace committee of Kurdish Pen
Feratê Dengiz, Writer, Members of Peace committee of Kurdish Pen
Eyyup Güven, writer
Maziçinê, Writer
Ahmet Çelik, Writer
Ramazan Kaya, writer
Seyithan Kayaalp, Writer
Cemal Babaoğlu, Writer
Mesut üçkaç, Writer
Ahmet Gegez,Writer
M.Veli Karadeniz, Writer
Nurcan Delil, Writer
Mehmet Yardimci, Writer
Selda Kaya, Writer
Adil Başaran, Writer
Sinan Yılmaz, Writer
Med Reşiyan, Writer
Zozan Gülan, Writer
Halil Doğan, Writer
M Hurşid Mendes, Writer
…………………
PETITION STARTENANMELDEN
An: World PEN Association (PEN International) und World Human Rights Organization
Wir fordern die sofortige Freilassung der Schriftsteller aus dem Gefängnis
