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To: Wednesday, 23. November 2011 Where: worldwide Host: Members of a global network the International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX). More info: www.daytoendimpunity.org/

This week the offices of the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo were firebombed after it named the Prophet Muhammed its “editor-in-chief” for an upcoming issue. Index on Censorship presents three comments on the topic. All of them agree that there is no room for violence against journalists in a free society and ‘fist’ is no argument.

BNP Paribas and Deutsche Bank halt cooperation with Belarus after German Chancellor Angela Merkel tells Index on Censorship and Free Belarus Now that she would intervene to stop Deutsche Bank from selling government bonds to Europe’s last dictatorship. Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) decided in August not to sale any of Belarusian government bonds.

A unique performance evening to mark the 30th annual Day of the Imprisoned Writer, in association with ice&fire theatre company.

The UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression launched on 21 October a key report on internet free speech rights. Frank La Rue made clear that online expression must remain free of censorship and called on all States to ensure universal access to the internet. Article 19 hails the report as a milestone in the development of policy on freedom of expression as it relates to internet and urges all governments to fully implement its recommendations.

Popular comic Zarganar was released from prison in Burma on 12 October as part of a prisoner amnesty. Zarganar (Maung Thura) was handed a 59 year sentence in 2008 after criticising the Burmese junta’s poor aid response to Cyclone Nargis.

A unique performance evening to mark the 30th annual Day of the Imprisoned Writer, in association with ice&fire theatre company.

English PEN and the Free Burma VJ campaign will be holding a Poetry Protest outside the Burmese Embassy in London to call for the immediate and unconditional release of the many Burmese writers currently detained in violation of their right to free expression.

For ninety years, English PEN has been fighting for the freedom to write and the freedom to read at home and abroad.