Iran: Writers on minority issues under attack

Iran: Writers on minority issues under attack

Published: May 18, 2009

IRAN FOCUS: 15 May - 15 June 2009

Since President Ahmadinejad came to power in August 2005, there has been a widespread crackdown on peaceful political dissent across many aspects of civil society in Iran. Those to have been targeted include writers and journalists, academics, women's rights activists and human rights defenders. Separatist struggle has placed writers and journalists particularly at risk in Iran's ethnic regions, and International PEN is alarmed at the number of Kurdish, Azeri and Arab journalists targeted for their critical reporting, peaceful activism and writings in support of minority cultural and political rights. In the run-up to the next Presidential election which is due to be held in June this year, International PEN has launched a month-long campaign to highlight these cases, and to call for greater freedom of expression in Iran.

English PEN is currently campaigning on behalf of six writers, journalists and cultural activists from Iran's ethnic regions who are all sentenced for their critical reporting and peaceful activism on minority rights. They are:

• Adnan Hassanpour, Iranian-Kurdish journalist, detained in January 2007 and charged with espionage and Moharehbeh (fighting God) for expressing his views on the Kurdish issue. He is awaiting a re-trial after his death penalty was overturned.
• Kaveh Javanmard, Iranian Kurdish journalist, arrested in December 2006 and serving a three-year sentence for his reporting on the Kurdish issue.
• Mohammad Sadiq Kabudvand, Iranian Kurdish journalist, arrested on 1 July 2007 and sentenced to eleven years in prison for his Kurdish rights activism.
• Mohammad Hassan Fallahiya, Iranian Arab journalist, arrested in November 2006 and sentenced to three years in prison for his reporting on the repression of the Arab minority in Khuzestan.
• Yousef Azizi Banitorof, Ahwazi writer, translator and human rights defender, sentenced on 20 August 2008 to five years in prison for his reporting on protests by the Arab community in the southwestern region of Khuzestan (known locally as Al-Ahwaz). Left Iran in November 2008.
• Said Matinpour, Azeri journalist, sentenced to eight years in jail, suspended, on 11 June 2008 for 'publicity against the Islamic regime'. He was detained incommunicado for nine months in jail before being released on bail.

In addition to those listed above, PEN is aware of the cases of at least ten other journalists and writers from Iran's ethnic regions who are currently facing charges for their critical writings and political and cultural activism. Most are charged under national security legislation or Iran's Press Law, which is also widely used to ban publications perceived as critical by the authorities, and to prevent writers from publishing their work.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

During the Focus period 15 May - 15 June 2009
• Write a letter to the Iranian government.
• Lobby your own government
• Publicise the issue of freedom of expression in Iran in your local press

PLEASE SEND APPEALS:

- Expressing serious concern about the large numbers of writers, journalists and publishers to be arbitrarily detained in Iran, many serving lengthy sentences, and the widespread practice of ill-treatment of dissidents in detention;.
- Expressing alarm at the widespread crackdown on peaceful dissent since President Ahmadinejad came to power in 2005, in which a large number Kurdish, Azeri and Arab journalists have been targeted for their legitimate critical reporting, peaceful activism and writings in support of minority cultural and political rights.
- Reminding the Iranian authorities of their obligations to Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Iran is a signatory.

APPEALS TO:

Head of the Judiciary
Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi
Howzeh Riyasat-e Qoveh Qazaiyeh (Office of the Head of the Judiciary)
Pasteur St., Vali Asr Ave., south of Serah-e Jomhouri, Tehran 1316814737, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: shahroudi@dadgostary-tehran.ir (In the subject line write: FAO Ayatollah Shahroudi)
Salutation: Your Excellency

Minister of Intelligence
Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejeie
Ministry of Intelligence, Second Negarestan Street, Pasdaran Avenue,
Tehran,
Islamic Republic of Iran
Salutation: Your Excellency

COPIES TO:

Leader of the Islamic Republic
His Excellency Ayatollah Sayed 'Ali Khamenei
The Office of the Supreme Leader,
Islamic Republic Street - End of Shahid Keshvar Doust Street
Tehran,
Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: info@leader.ir
via website: http://www.leader.ir/langs/en/index.php?p=letter (English)
http://www.leader.ir/langs/fa/index.php?p=letter (Persian)
Salutation: Your Excellency

President
His Excellency Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
The Presidency, Palestine Avenue, Azerbaijan Intersection,
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Fax: 98 21 6 649 5880
Email: dr-ahmadinejad@president.ir
Salutation: Your Excellency

Speaker of Parliament
His Excellency Ali Larijani
Majles-e Shoura-ye Eslami,
Baharestan Square,
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.
Fax: 98 21 3355 6408
Email: larijani@majlis.ir (Ask for your message to be passed to the Article 90 Commission)

You may also wish to write to the Iranian ambassador in the UK asking for his comments on your appeal:

His Excellency Rasoul Movahedian
Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran
16 Prince's Gate
London
SW7 1PT

Visit these links for more information:

Human Rights Watch, Iran: Freedom of Expression and Association in the Kurdish Regions

BBC Country profile on Iran:

CRS Report for Congress, Iran: Ethnic and Religious Minorities

Writers in Translation call for submissions

http://www.englishpen.org/news/_1659/
Writers in Translation call for submissions January 15, 2009
English PEN, Writers in Translation Programme, is pleased to announce the next call for submissions for the promotion and marketing of translated titles that adhere to the PEN charter. Books scheduled to be published in the second half of 2009 are eligible for this round. The deadline is Thursday 12 March 2009.

To apply to the programme, please, visit: www.englishpen.org/writersintranslation/aboutwritersintranslation/howtoapplytotheprogramme/

You can download the application form as a Word file. E-mail your application form to andrea@englishpen.org and post the supporting documents (outlined in the application form) to:
Andrea Pisac
Writers in Translation
English PEN
6-8 Amwell Street
London WC1R 1UQ

Please make sure your application reaches us before the official deadline. Late submissions WILL NOT be considered, as adequate time needs to be allowed for the WiT Committee to evaluate applications.

Writers in Translation is looking forward to your submissions!

If you have any doubts about the eligibility of the book you would like to put forward or any other questions, please contact me by e-mail or phone me on 020 7713 0023.
Andrea Pisac, director
Writers in Translation

How to apply to the programme
There are two rounds of submissions per year. The deadline for the next call for submissions has now been set for Thursday 12th March 2009. Books scheduled for publication in the second half of 2009 are eligible to apply in this round. Please fill in the application form (link below), and email it to us. Please post the supporting documents which cannot be emailed.

WiT Application Form


Conditions: Please read carefully
Only titles which adhere to the PEN spirit of defending freedom of expression or promoting inter-cultural understanding will be considered. NB: Applicants will be asked to justify how the title adheres to PEN's aims, as set out in the PEN charter

Titles should be published preferably within 18 months from receipt of application

Samples sent to the programme MUST NOT exceed 6,000 words

Responsibility for commissioning a sample translation for consideration by the programme lies with the publisher

The translator of the sample MUST be the translator the publisher is going to use for the final published book

The sample sent for consideration MUST be an edited version, even it is a work-in-progress

The acknowledgement 'Recommended by English PEN' must be printed on the jacket of the work

The acknowledgement 'This book has been selected to receive financial assistance from English PEN Writers in Translation programme supported by Bloomberg' must be printed on the introductory pages of every print run

A short statement about the aims of English PEN must also be published on the prelims pages

The name of the translator must be printed either on the front or back cover of the book

Any press coverage/reviews of the book MUST mention the fact that the book is supported by English PEN's Writers in Translation programme

12 complimentary copies of the book must be sent to English PEN

English PEN reserves the right to ask for additional information about the project.

Please read carefully the submission criteria outlined in the application form.

Contact
For all queries, please contact andrea@englishpen.org

India : An expression of Our Anger and An Appeal from Writers Community

It is an expression of our anger and an appeal for maintaining peace, harmony and Indian integrity in face of terrorists' attack in Indian soil on 26 th Nov.08.
http://penwestbengal.blogspot.com/2008/12/all-india-pen-center-west-bengal-appeal.html
Read West Bengal Pen Blog
" We condemn the indiscriminate violence that hit Mumbai, India, through a series of ugly and odious terrorists act.We stand in solidarity with the families of unsung heroes, brave soldiers and security forces of India, who were courageously heading to protect Indians and foreign hostages in recent terrorists attack, in Mumbai.

We appeal to all INDIANS to stay calm,united and foil the evil designs of the terrorists whose main objectives are to spread violence, disintegration and hatred.

We urge the political parties not to exploit these terrorist acts for political purposes.We are alarmed over the sophistication and military level planning seen in these coordinated attacks and on the failure of the intelligence agencies in preventing such a huge and widespread attack.

We demand that the federal and state governments bring the perpetrators of these actions to justice swiftly."

The signatories include: ( writers, artists and prominent personalities)
Signs are collected from all over West Bengal.
Co ordinators : Sahitya Setu and Rainbow Artists and Writers Foundation


About 500 Intellectuals from different communities like religious, social and political: Writer ( mostly Editor, Poets , Novelists and Essayist) Film Maker, Singer, University Professors , Stage Actor have signed on this appeal of/to solidarity . Its a great bond of Brotherhood in face of abominable, heinous terrorists conspiracy and attacks from foreign and neighbouring soil. We are ready to weed out any fanaticism, communalism and conspiracy to save the lives of Indian and integrity of Indian Soil.
A few names signed mentioned below:

■■ Sunil Gangopadhya, President PEN West Bengal, Poet, Novelist ■■ Dr. Jagannath Ghosh, Secretary PEN West Bengal,Essayist■■ Ranjan Gupta, Jt. Secretary PEN West Bengal, Poet ■■ Shayamal Mukhupadhya, Poet■■Nisith Kr. Roychoudhury,Writer■■ Albert Ashok, Poet and Painter■■ Jayati Gangopadhya■■ Shyamal Roy Choudhury, Poet■■ Pabitra gangopadhya, film maker/Writer■■ barun chakraborty, Writer■■ Abdus Shukur khan, Writer/poet■■ Manish maulik, writer■■ nilima sarkar, Writer■■ Preeti Basu ,Writer/Social worker■■Keshab Ranjan,Editor■■ Dipshikha Poddar, bangle kabita Academy■■ prasanta Ghosh, Editor■■ Krishna basu, College Teacher/ writer■■ Gaur sankar bandhopadhya, poet and writer■■ dhirendranath modak Dy.commissioner.Commercial tax,writer■■Pradip saha, Asst.president,Jila parishad■■Biswajit Panda,Writer■■ Bhupati Ghosh,Editor,Kristi■■Jibanmoy Datta, President ,Nikhil Bharat Banga Sahitya Sammelan. Chandannagar■■asim tribedi, Author■■ Chaitali data , Singer■■ sukanto gangopadhya, Writer■■kinnar Roy,Writer■■ Nabakumar sil, Editor■■soumyadeb Basu, Stage actor■■debashish Mukhupadhya, rteporter■■ gautam Bandhupadhya, reporter■■tapas Ghosh, photojornalists■■ prasanta Majhi,Writer■■ Meghanath Das,Editor,Chikan■■ KashinathGhosh, Editor■■ S. Choudhury, Writer■■ D N Lahiri, Writer■■ Mrs. Minati Datta mishra, writer■■ rasbehari chakraborty, Poet■■ Dipendra bhaduri,Writer■■sashankha sekhar Paul,poet■■Biren Chattopadhya, Writer■■ Benoy Kr Mahato,University professor, writer■■ prafulla Ch. Acharya, Writer■■ Bishnupada das Writer■■Ashok lakhdar, Writer■■ rathin kar, Poet■■ nandita guha, poet■■ Rabin Mukhupadhya, editor/ Poet■■ Vivek Moitra, Story writer■■tapan Kr. roy■■■■ Samarendra Dasgupta, Poet■■ Anirban roychoudhury, Editor- Lokmanas■■ Sankar Saha , Artist and Poet■■ Neel Kashyap,Poet■■ Apurba Barman, Poet■■ Dr.Jagabandhu Kundu, Editor- Sahitya Setu■■ Sri Manimoy Sengupta, Writer ■■ Partha Chattopadhya, Writer ■■ Shaubhik Mondal, Poet ■■ B. Banerjee, Secretary Little Magazine ■■ Nikhil Kar, Working President, Kalyani Book Fair ■■ Samar Kr. Mitra, Asst. Secretary K B F ■■ Dr. Samir Mukherjee, Writer, University Prof. ■■ Kumarsankar Raysarma, Poet■■ Sukhendu Bikash Maitra, Poet■■ Tamal Saha, Writer ■■ Kanai Chakraborty, Poet ■■ Bhavatosh Roy, writer ■■ Sunanda Maitra, Poet ■■ Pandu Biswas, Poet ■■ Sarit Kr Misra, Poet, ■■ Pranesh Sarkar writer/teacher ■■ Narayan Bairagya, Poet ■■ Yadab Das, poet ■■ samit Mandol, Poet ■■Pijush Bagchi, Poet ■■ Ranjoy malakar, writer ■■ Santosh Mukhupadhya, Poet ■■ Anindita Goswami, poet/Teacher■■ Gautam Guha Roy, poet■■ Pijush Kanti Saha, Librarian■■ Mrinal Kanti Datta, Writer■■ Tarapada Santra, Teacher,Poet ■■
( double click The document photos below to see enlarged form)

posted by Albert Ashok on behalf of PEN all-India center, West Bengal