Writers sign open letter calling on the British government to take action to safeguard freedom of expression in India ahead of Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the UK later this week.

Can a piece of text ever be accurately translated? And what are the socio-political implications of this?

‘At Charlie Hebdo we knew we were targeted. All my colleagues knew they were risking their lives. Before the massacre I never took events seriously, but after what happened to my colleagues I do. I must be careful – all those who defend freedom of speech have to be careful now.’

The work of Scottish PEN’s Writers in Prison Committee (WIPC) is often more frustrating than satisfying. We campaign on behalf of imprisoned and persecuted writers, many of whom have been jailed for talking about their governments in much the same way that many of us rage about David Cameron’s old Etonian Cabinet or the bedroom tax or Tony Blair’s promotion of war. […]

This is an edited extract from two essays by James Kelman relating to Turkey and Kurdistan, contained in his collection, And the Judges Said… and other essays [Polygon Books 2008] and is being reprinted here with the writer’s permission. The first “Freedom for Freedom of Expression Rally”, organised by a 200-strong group of artists and activists took place in Istanbul […]

“The Book of Whispers” by Varujan Vosganian, translated by Alistair Ian Blyth, who kindly made this text available to us and gave us permission to share it on our website  Chapter Seven ‘Do not harm their women,’ said Armen Garo. ‘And nor the children.’ One by one, all the members of the Special Mission gathered at […]

by Jean Rafferty It was a senseless death, senseless in the way all sudden deaths are to those left behind, but senseless beyond that for the irony, the waste, the sheer stupidity of it. On 19 th January 2007 in Istanbul, Hrant Dink, editor of Turkish-Armenian newspaper Agos, was gunned down by a young Turkish nationalist […]

“Armenian Whispers” – Worldwide reading to commemorate the centenary of the Armenian Genocide Led by the International Literature Festival Berlin and the Lepsiushaus Potsdam, there will be a worldwide reading on 21st of April from “The Book of Whispers” by Varujan Vosganian to commemorate the centenary of the Armenian Genocide. In addition to remembering the victims of this horrible event, […]