Day for Imprisoned Writers
Added: November 2007 to Events, Festivals and Opportunities
Every year, for the past 85 years, Català PEN marks the15th of November: the Day for Imprisoned Writers. This year the occasion was brought to the public's attention under the umbrella title: Writing Without Fear: Freedom of Expression.
This year Catalá PEN also hosted a literary event, Writers in Danger which featured writers from Iran, Nagaland, Algeria, Syria, Iraq and Uganda. The opening speech was given by John Ralston Saul, and the keynote address, "The Image and the Word" was by Nadine Gordimer.
Following the readings and lectures, a dinner was held at the National Library of Catalonia.
ICORN Guest Writers taking part in the literary events:
Easterine Kire Iralu from Nagaland
Salem Zenia from Algeria
Faraj Bayrakdar from Syria
Nada * from Iraq
The moving speeches and poems were simultaneously translated into Catalan and English. Several of the writers had their work published in a beautiful, multilingual book.
For 85 years Catala, one of the oldest PEN Centers in the world, has marked their support for writers in prison. We all hope one day that won't be necessary.