On Thursday 12th December, the High Court passed a preliminary ruling on the defamation action brought by Arron Banks against the investigative journalist, Carole Cadwalladr. Here is a statement we co-signed calling for the action to be dropped.

On Thursday 12th December, EU Heads of State will come together for the meeting of the European Council. Scottish PEN joins 11 rights and journalist organisations calling for the European community to hold Maltese Prime Minister, Joseph Muscat to account for political interference in the investigation into the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia.

Read the opening statement by Matthew Caruana Galizia read out in the first day of the public inquiry into the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia

Scottish PEN joined press freedom organisations calling for protections against the abuse of defamation law to silence journalism and public scrutiny.

On Monday 2nd December, the Defamation and Malicious Publication (Scotland) Bill was introduced to Scottish Parliament. Here is Scottish PEN’s statement on this development

We join seven organisations condemning the erosion of press freedom in Malta and the continued intimidation of journalists

Scottish PEN joins nine organisations calling on the Maltese authorities to ensure the investigation into the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia remains free from political influence

For the Day of the Imprisoned Writer 2019, Ricky Monahan Brown has written a letter of solidarity to at-risk Mexican journalist, Lydia Cacho

For the Day of the Imprisoned Writer 2019, James Robertson has written a letter of solidarity to imprisoned Turkish novelist and journalist, Ahmet Altan

For the Day of the Imprisoned Writer 2019, Chitra Ramaswamy has written a letter of solidarity to imprisoned Indian poet and activist, Varavara Rao

For the Day of the Imprisoned Writer 2019, Zoë Wicomb has written a letter of solidarity to imprisoned Sri Lankan writer, Shakthika Sathkumara

For the Day of the Imprisoned Writer 2019, Chris McQueer has written a letter of solidarity to imprisoned Egyptian poet, Galal el-Behairy