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Theme: #5 2012

Editorial

The evil paradox of the media society

No one can remain untouched by the current assaults against civilians in Syria. Most people, too, I believe, when...

Text: Ola Larsmo July 02 2012
Poetry

The ICORN-relay—Mazen Maarouf

The guest writer-relay has reached Iceland. The poet Mazen Maarouf—who has lived all his life as a Palestinian refugee in Lebanon—was during 2011 granted sanctuary in Reykjavík through the...

Text: Mazen Maarouf July 02 2012
Article

Hear the voices from Belarus

All over the world, the “social networks” continue to play an important role in the struggle for democracy. This is happening right now in Belarus, known as the last dictatorship of Europe, where KGB...

Text: Natallia Radzina July 02 2012
Fiction

Each cry from Syria is for you

The whole world can follow the atrocities in Syria. We have been able to do that for more than a year. The only thing that seems impossible is to find political means to put an end the killings. The...

Text: Manhal al-Sarraj July 02 2012
Article

Welcome to Zone 9: Ethiopia

It has been exactly a year ago since Ethiopian forces in the Ogaden Province arrested the two Swedish journalists Martin Schibbye and Johan Persson. They have been sentenced for “terrorism” and remain...

Text: Mesfin Negash July 02 2012
Fiction

The princess and the slave—how love kills in Afghanistan

In Afghanistan, where four-fifths of the population is illiterate, poetry has always had a strong position—especially among women. The Afghan writer and journalist Nushin Arbabzadah writes here a...

Text: Nushin Arbabzadah July 02 2012

Theme: #4 2012

Fiction

Turkey's freedom of speech is crumbling

The writer and publisher Ragip Zarkolu is an honorary member of Swedish PEN. He has over the years published numerous books on subjects that are sensitive in the modern Turkey. Until last week, he was...

Text: Raqip Zarakolu April 17 2012
Article

How’s Your Slavery Goin’?

Secularism and the role of religion have always been charged subjects in Turkey—perhaps more today than ever before. Tarik Günersel, playwright and President of Turkish PEN gives us his views on...

Text: Tarik Günersel April 17 2012
Article

Free Speech in Burma: How long will it last?

“The basis of democratic freedom is freedom of speech”, said Aung San Suu Kyi in 2010, right after she was released from nearly 20 years of house arrest. In Burma neither freedom of speech or the...

Text: Aung Zaw April 17 2012
Fiction

The sunset exile

Exile and deportation are not fixed concepts. They have always shifted over time, and been filled with different content. But the idea of returning home is at the center of all hope for freedom. The...

Text: Bertrand Teyou April 17 2012
Fiction

Nirvana

Reza Najafi is an Iranian writer, literary critic and editor, who lives in exile in Germany. He has so far published more than 350 short stories and literary essays. In Nirvana, he is presenting a...

Text: Reza Najafi April 17 2012
Article

Self-censorship—the main danger

Mexico is one of the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists. The main reason is the drug wars between criminal organisations. “Some people say that being a journalist in this country is...

Text: Gabriella Isabel April 17 2012
Fiction

A brief report on a country at war

Attempted assassinations, forced disappearances and death threats are a part of everyday life in Colombia. The country is known for its political trials. At the moment there are 7,000 political...

Text: Angye Gaona April 17 2012
Article

Secrecy and Torture

The fundamental human rights are not open for negotiation. But what do we do when a democracy starts to legalize torture? Larry Siems, writer and the Director of Freedom to Write and International...

Text: Larry Siems April 17 2012

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