In a New Report by the American PEN Association, Iran Maintains Its Rank as the Largest Prison for Female Writers in the World

On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, the 'Writing Freedom Index' unveiled on Friday by the American PEN Association identifies the Islamic Republic of Iran in 2023 as the second largest prison for writers in the world, after China. According to the report, the Islamic Republic of Iran is also recognized as the largest jailer of 'female writers' globally; many of these female prisoners are incarcerated solely for opposing mandatory hijab laws. The 'Writing Freedom Index' states that while the number of imprisoned writers decreased from 57 in 2022 to 49 in 2023, the ongoing and widespread arrests of writers—most of whom supported the 'Women, Life, Freedom' movement—further highlight the continuous suppression of freedom of expression in the Islamic Republic. Although many imprisoned writers who were arrested for joining the 'Women, Life, Freedom' movement were released in 2023, the 'Writing Freedom Index' notes that nearly seventy percent of these releases were 'conditional on bail,' resulting in writers facing a wide range of restrictions, including the risk of re-arrest and professional limitations. Given the history of severe and ongoing repression of writers in the Islamic Republic, which intensified in response to the 'Women, Life, Freedom' movement, it is not surprising that the Islamic Republic was again identified as the second largest prison for writers in the world in 2023. The report indicates that the Islamic Republic uses imprisonment merely as one of its strategies, continuing widespread repression through a diverse array of oppressive measures, including 'short-term detentions,' 'false and fabricated charges,' 'release in exchange for job loss,' and 'restrictions on social media use.' Karin Deutsch Karlekar, director of the 'Writers at Risk' program at the American PEN Association, states, 'These repressions have led to increased self-censorship among Iranian writers; a significant number of them have fled the country for this reason.' The cultural, literary, and creative community in Iran has also experienced several recent arrests in 2023; Mehdi Yarahee, a singer and songwriter, Vafa Ahmadpour, a rapper, Peyman Khoramian, a writer, Keyvan Mohtadi, a writer and translator, Anisha Asadollahi, a translator and civil activist, Golrokh Ebrahimi Iraei, a writer and human rights defender, and Sattar Rezaei Mirghaed, a poet and artist, have all been sentenced to long-term imprisonment. According to the American PEN Association report, Tomaj Salehi, a rapper, was also re-arrested in late 2023 after revealing the abuse and torture he suffered in prison. Following this arrest, he was sentenced to death in April 2024, a ruling that sparked 'global protests.' Karin Deutsch Karlekar added that writers and members of the creative community play an effective role in holding Iranian authorities accountable; they use their words, songs, music, and art to highlight their country's problems, including injustices and abuses, and envision a different future for all people in Iran—one based on human rights and respect for all Iranians regardless of gender, ethnicity, and religion. The director of the 'Writers at Risk' program urged the leaders of the Islamic Republic to respect this social base and free writers who have been 'unjustly imprisoned.' She also called for an end to the prosecution and harassment of writers and artists, stating that the Islamic Republic should not 'suppress dissenting voices for expressing their demands.' According to the 'Writing Freedom Index,' in 2023, the Islamic Republic targeted 15 women, remaining at the top of the list of countries imprisoning female writers; most of these women are still imprisoned for writing and opposing 'mandatory hijab' and other discriminatory laws against women. Sepideh Rashno, a poet and civil activist, was sentenced to six months in prison in October 2023 and four more months in December. Nasrin Sotoudeh, a human rights lawyer and writer, was also arrested in October for participating in the funeral of a young woman who was beaten to death for 'improper hijab.' Narges Mohammadi, an honorary winner of the 'Freedom of Expression' award from the American PEN Association in 2023, remains behind bars despite numerous high-level requests and global efforts for her release. The director of the 'Writers at Risk' program also reminded that Narges Mohammadi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate—solely due to her writings and activities—has been sentenced to over 35 years in prison by the Islamic regime in Iran. The 'Writing Freedom Index' estimates that in 2023, at least 339 people worldwide were arrested for expressing their opinions. This number in China is 107, the highest of any country in the world. U.S. President Joe Biden emphasized the necessity of freeing all imprisoned journalists worldwide on Friday, May 14, coinciding with World Press Freedom Day. In a statement, he said, 'Journalism should not be a crime anywhere on Earth. On World Press Freedom Day, the United States calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all journalists who are imprisoned solely for doing their jobs.' Biden defended the right to freedom of expression: America is a country of the rule of law, not tyranny. The 'Censorship Index' called for immediate action from the United Nations to stop the death sentence of Tomaj Salehi. The Censorship Index stated that no one in the Islamic Republic is safe from the repression of protests. Hamid Ismailioun stated that Iranian journalists are fighting against medieval laws. A Midpoint report indicated an increase in the repression of journalists in Iran: pressure on rural areas has intensified. World Press Freedom Day in Iran is overshadowed by monopoly and threats; from the 'kidnapping' of a newsroom to increased pressure on reporters. The Independent Filmmakers Association of Iran stated that the Islamic Republic fears 'freedom of art and expression.'