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For ninety years, English PEN has been fighting for the freedom to write and the freedom to read at home and abroad. In this special birthday performance, devised in partnership with Jonathan Holmes of Jericho House Theatre Company, today’s authors draw on the words of those who have led PEN’s fight over the last century, from HG Wells to Monica Ali.

On 9 May will be shown the first public screening in the UK of ‘I have no enemies’, the Nobel Peace Prize Documentary on Liu Xiaobo, the only Nobel laureate currently in detention.

Free speech is a world issue that forms an integral part of fundamental human rights. In this six-week course led by Amanda Hopkinson, you will examine universal, national and regional declarations of human rights, study the relationship between human justice and legal systems, and focus on individual case studies that showcase the right to liberty, movement and free expression.

50 protesters wearing masks bearing the face of jailed Azerbaijani journalist Eynulla Fatullayev gathered opposite the Azerbaijan embassy in London on 20 April, for a demonstration organised by English PEN, Amnesty International UK, Article 19, Index on Censorship and the Media Diversity Institute to mark four years since the arrest of Fatullayev and to call for his immediate and unconditional release of imprisoned.

Member organisations of the International Partnership Group for Azerbaijan (IPGA) are deeply concerned by the rapidly deteriorating freedom of expression situation in Azerbaijan. In recent weeks there has been a wave of arrests and beatings of activists and journalists in connection with a series of pro-democracy protests in the country as well as an increase in pressure against non-governmental organizations.

There is widespread concern for the safety and well-being of Azerbaijan’s journalist and Honorary Member of English PEN Eynulla Fatullayev. To raise and maintain awareness of Eynulla’s case and of the increasingly poor state of free expression in Azerbaijan, a worldwide ‘Day of Action’ is organised on Wednesday 20 April 2011 – four years since his arrest.

Dozens of opposition supporters have been arrested in the Azerbaijani capital on 2 April as they tried to stage an anti-government rally in downtown Baku. Protesters were beaten and arrested. Four of them have been charged.

An opposition youth activist and columnist Seymur Khaziyev (right) says he was abducted and beaten up over the weekend in an attack he linked to his opposition activities. International freedom of expression and human rights organisations condemn the 26 March 2011 abduction and beating of Khaziyev.

The winners of the 11th annual Index on Censorship Freedom of Expression Awards we announced on 24 March in London. This year much attention was paid to those who struggle against censorship and promote freedom of expression, transparency, human rights and democratic change.