Izak de Vries
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izakdevries.bsky.social
Izak de Vries
@izakdevries.bsky.social
71 followers 37 following 270 posts
Lover of words and pictures.
Woordmens en fotograaf.
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Reposted by Izak de Vries
peninternational.bsky.social
#Algeria: We've joined 19 organisations in calling for the release of Algerian poet and upcoming Day of the Imprisoned Writer case #MohamedTadjadit ahead of upcoming court dates. All charges must be dropped, and he must be released.

Learn more ⬇️

www.pen-international.org/news/joint-s...
Joint statement demands immediate release of Algerian Hirak poet Mohamed Tadjadit risking a death penalty sentence ahead of November 11 hearing — PEN International | Promoting Literature & Defending ...
10 November 2025: PEN International joins 19 Algerian, regional, and international organisations in calling for the immediate release of Algerian Hirak poet and activist Mohamed Tadjadit, who faces ba...
www.pen-international.org
November 11, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Reposted by Izak de Vries
peninternational.bsky.social
From the frontlines of war to the tightening grip of authoritarianism, this panel will examine how conflict and repression collide to threaten freedom of expression worldwide.

As part of the “International Imprisonment and War” conference, join us this Friday: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/chinese-pr...
November 12, 2025 at 1:15 PM
izakdevries.bsky.social
Stefaans Coetzee: "Die skaam IT-tegnikus word selfs in spesmag te se operasies ingespan om oorwinning te verseker en lewensverlies te beperk. Hoekom nie dieselfde beginsels in die boekwêreld toepas nie?"
www.litnet.co.za/dinge-wat-on...
Dinge wat ons kan doen om boeke te bemark - LitNet
"Moderne oorlogvoering span tegnologie in om met die druk van ’n knoppie grootskaalse verwoesting te saai. Die skaam IT-tegnikus word selfs in spesmag te se operasies ingespan om oorwinning te verseke...
www.litnet.co.za
November 12, 2025 at 1:26 PM
izakdevries.bsky.social
Jannie Pretorius: "Ek wil fokus op die dagboek wat Sol Plaatje, ’n intellektueel, joernalis, taalkundige, politikus en skrywer, tydens die beleg van Mafeking in die Anglo-Boereoorlog bygehou het."
www.litnet.co.za/die-lasarus-...
Die Lasarus-effek: Solomon Tshekisho (Sol) Plaatje (1876–1932) - LitNet
"Ek wil fokus op die dagboek wat Sol Plaatje, ’n intellektueel, joernalis, taalkundige, politikus en skrywer, tydens die beleg van Mafeking in die Anglo-Boereoorlog bygehou het."
www.litnet.co.za
November 12, 2025 at 9:19 AM
izakdevries.bsky.social
"Zeer betrokken mix van persoonlijke ervaringen en historische beschouwingen waarbij niets heel blijft van het Rusland van Poetin." ~ Erik van den Bergh
voertaal.nu/leesimpressi...
Leesimpressie: Mijn langste boektournee door Oksana Zaboezjko - Voertaal
"Zeer betrokken mix van persoonlijke ervaringen en historische beschouwingen waarbij niets heel blijft van het Rusland van Poetin."
voertaal.nu
November 12, 2025 at 7:56 AM
Reposted by Izak de Vries
maddow.msnbc.com
"Pope Leo said Scripture emphasizes the question that will be posed at the end of the world:

'How did you receive the foreigner, did you receive him and welcome him, or not? I think there is a deep reflection that needs to be made about what is happening'..."

chicago.suntimes.com/pope-leo-xiv...
Pope Leo calls for ‘deep reflection’ about treatment of detained migrants in U.S.
“Many people who have lived for years and years and years, never causing problems, have been deeply affected by what is going on right now,” Chicago-born pope says.
chicago.suntimes.com
November 6, 2025 at 5:02 AM
izakdevries.bsky.social
Jannie Pretorius: "Daar is weldeeglik oor Jan FE Celliers geskryf. Ek wil daarom kortliks op sy omvangryke oorlogsdagboek fokus. Hierdie dagboek, in Nederlands geskryf, het my oor die jare groot plesier verskaf."
www.litnet.co.za/so-het-hulle...
So het hulle gelyk: Jan FE Celliers (1865–1940) - LitNet
"Daar is weldeeglik oor Jan FE Celliers geskryf. Ek wil daarom kortliks op sy omvangryke oorlogsdagboek fokus. Hierdie dagboek, in Nederlands geskryf, het my oor die jare groot plesier verskaf."
www.litnet.co.za
November 6, 2025 at 9:26 AM
Reposted by Izak de Vries
peninternational.bsky.social
#Türkiye: We urge authorities to release PEN member Merdan Yanardağ, held on ludicrous espionage charges, and to halt their pervasive assault on press freedom.

#JournalismIsNotACrime

Read our statement ⬇️

www.pen-international.org/news/trkiye-...
Türkiye: PEN member Merdan Yanardağ held on espionage charges — PEN International | Promoting Literature & Defending Freedom of Expression Worldwide
‘By arresting PEN member Merdan Yanardağ on ludicrous espionage charges and appointing a trustee to TELE 1, the authorities clearly intend to wipe out what is left of critical journalism in Türkiye. W...
www.pen-international.org
November 5, 2025 at 10:51 AM
Reposted by Izak de Vries
peninternational.bsky.social
#Mexico: PEN International condemns the killing of journalist Miguel Ángel Beltrán Martínez, found dead in Durango after going missing on 23 Oct.

We urge the Mexican authorities to conduct an immediate investigation. (@penamericas.bsky.social)

www.cbsnews.com/news/journal...
Journalist who covered drug cartels murdered in Mexico; message left next to body, reports say
Miguel Angel Beltran's body was found along a stretch of highway that connects the state of Durango with Mazatlan, a resort hub in the neighboring state of Sinaloa​.
www.cbsnews.com
November 4, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Reposted by Izak de Vries
peninternational.bsky.social
#Georgia: We urge the immediate release of acclaimed poet and former president of PEN Georgia Paata Shamugia, who faces up to 15 days in prison for taking part in peaceful protests.

Read more ⬇️

georgiatoday.ge/police-arres...
Police arrest poet Paata Shamugia
Police have arrested Georgian poet Paata Shamugia during last night’s protest in Tbilisi. Reportedly, criminal police officers detained him near
georgiatoday.ge
November 5, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Reposted by Izak de Vries
peninternational.bsky.social
PEN International is increasingly concerned by efforts to silence diverse voices and restrict access to literature.

Read more from Hola Cultura (@holaculturadc.bsky.social) on the growing wave of book bans affecting Latine authors ⬇️

holacultura.com/as-book-bans...
As Book Bans Proliferate, Latine Authors Are Increasingly Caught In The Cultural Crossfire | Hola Cultura
What happens when a community’s stories are stripped from the shelves? What does it mean when young Latine readers can’t find books that reflect their own
holacultura.com
November 5, 2025 at 1:13 PM
izakdevries.bsky.social
"Prachtige bewogen familiekroniek. Scherp beeld van leven in Marokko en leven als jonge emigrant." ~ Erik van den Bergh
voertaal.nu/leesimpressi...
Leesimpressie: Neem het vuur mee door Leïla Slimani - Voertaal
"Prachtige bewogen familiekroniek. Scherp beeld van leven in Marokko en leven als jonge emigrant."
voertaal.nu
November 5, 2025 at 6:42 PM
izakdevries.bsky.social
"'Rietfontein' van ID du Plessis was die eerste gedig wat jare gelede aan my begin kleef het. Dit is volledig opgeneem in ons Afrikaanse handboek in matriek – in 1981. Daar was vir my iets magies, dramaties en boeiend aan dié ballade."
www.litnet.co.za/so-het-hulle...
So het hulle gelyk: ID du Plessis (1900-1981) - LitNet
"'Rietfontein' van ID du Plessis was die eerste gedig wat jare gelede aan my begin kleef het. Dit is volledig opgeneem in ons Afrikaanse handboek in matriek – in 1981. Daar was vir my iets magies, dra...
www.litnet.co.za
November 5, 2025 at 9:28 AM
izakdevries.bsky.social
"Persoonlijke beschrijving van de wrange ervaringen van de vluchteling Elijah uit Burundi in Amsterdam, die opgepakt wordt als hij zijn brievenbus leegt." ~ Erik van den Bergh
voertaal.nu/leesimpressi...
Leesimpressie: Geen weg terug door Maartje Terpstra - Voertaal
"Persoonlijke beschrijving van de wrange ervaringen van de vluchteling Elijah uit Burundi in Amsterdam, die opgepakt wordt als hij zijn brievenbus leegt."
voertaal.nu
November 4, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Reposted by Izak de Vries
peninternational.bsky.social
Join the Independent Chinese PEN Centre with PEN International for “Chinese Prisons and International War: The 2025 ICPC Awards and Panel Discussions” on 14 November 2025, 1–5 PM.

Tickets available now ⬇️ www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/chinese-pr...

#DayOfTheImprisonedWriter
November 4, 2025 at 12:35 PM
izakdevries.bsky.social
𝘋𝘢𝘢𝘳 𝘭𝘦𝘦𝘧 𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘢𝘳 deur Athol Fugard word op 6 November om 20:00 op RSG en op rsg.co.za uitgesaai. Dit is ook beskikbaar op rsg.co.za as potgooi en op Spotify na afloop van die uitsending.
www.litnet.co.za/persverklari...
rsg.co.za
November 4, 2025 at 2:29 PM
izakdevries.bsky.social
Oudkorrespondent Johan Allers woon al vir langer as drie dekades in Amsterdam. Nou afgetree, spring hy gereeld op sy fiets op soek na nuwe en ou pareltjes uit Amsterdam. In die volgende video besoek hy die Koninklijk Paleis op de Dam.
www.litnet.co.za/pareltjes-ui...
Pareltjes uit Amsterdam: Koninklijk Paleis op de Dam - LitNet
Oudkorrespondent Johan Allers woon al vir langer as drie dekades in Amsterdam. Nou afgetree, spring hy gereeld op sy fiets op soek na nuwe en ou pareltjes uit Amsterdam. In die volgende video besoek h...
www.litnet.co.za
October 29, 2025 at 7:57 PM
izakdevries.bsky.social
Izak de Vries: "Veral jongmense sal dit interessant vind dat telefone in daardie dae met drade aan mure gekoppel is en dat gewone skoolgaande jongmense in 1996 nie selfone gehad het nie."
www.litnet.co.za/jeugroman-of...
Jeugroman of historiese roman? ’n Lesersindruk van Louis Pretorius se ’n Jaar in my lewe - LitNet
"Veral jongmense sal dit interessant vind dat telefone in daardie dae met drade aan mure gekoppel is en dat gewone skoolgaande jongmense in 1996 nie selfone gehad het nie."
www.litnet.co.za
October 28, 2025 at 9:22 AM
izakdevries.bsky.social
Op Saterdag 25 Oktober 2025 het die organiseerders van die Klerksdorp Boekefees ’n nuwe kortverhaalkompetisie met ’n prysgeld van R2 500 aangekondig.
www.litnet.co.za/persverklari...
Persverklaring: Die Klerksdorp Boekefees kondig die Sandy Schoeman-kortverhaalprys aan - LitNet
Op Saterdag 25 Oktober 2025 het die organiseerders van die Klerksdorp Boekefees ’n nuwe kortverhaalkompetisie met ’n prysgeld van R2 500 aangekondig.
www.litnet.co.za
October 27, 2025 at 2:43 PM
izakdevries.bsky.social
Hermione le Roux-Ellis: "'Gaan jy iets vir LitNet skryf oor die troue?' 'Nee. Waarom?' 'Want jou ouers ondersteun jou onvoorwaardelik?'"
www.litnet.co.za/n-dag-vol-ho...
’n Dag vol hoop en liefde - LitNet
"'Gaan jy iets vir LitNet skryf oor die troue?' 'Nee. Waarom?' 'Want jou ouers ondersteun jou onvoorwaardelik?'"
www.litnet.co.za
October 27, 2025 at 7:40 AM
Reposted by Izak de Vries
peninternational.bsky.social
In this episode of Unbound Voices, Ira Wells, President of PEN Canada, sits with Samira Mohyeddin to reflect on the growing wave of book bans in Canada and the urgent need to safeguard the freedom to read.

🎧 Watch or listen now: www.youtube.com/watch?v=78X7...
October 25, 2025 at 11:07 AM
izakdevries.bsky.social
"The rural Western Cape town of Porterville came alive on 23 and 24 September with the second iteration of the Purple Mountain Heritage Day Festival, a free, 36-hour celebration of heritage through art, poetry, storytelling, traditional food, and astronomy."
www.litnet.co.za/press-releas...
Press release: Purple Mountain Heritage Festival 2025 - LitNet
The second installment of last year’s hugely popular Purple Mountain Heritage Festival (PMHF), which seeks to "open hearts, minds, and the doors to the humanity in each of us", takes place in the rura...
www.litnet.co.za
October 25, 2025 at 12:11 PM
izakdevries.bsky.social
Jannie Pretorius: "Die bygaande foto, waarvan die swart-en-wit weergawe in haar Boer War Letters gepubliseer is, is só fantasties deur Gemini getransformeer dat dit byna sonder enige bykomende inligting geplaas kon word."
www.litnet.co.za/so-het-hulle...
So het hulle gelyk: Emily Hobhouse - LitNet
"’n Mens hoef min oor Emily Hobhouse te sê, want sy is bekend genoeg. Die bygaande foto, waarvan die swart-en-wit weergawe in haar Boer War Letters gepubliseer is, is só fantasties deur Gemini getrans...
www.litnet.co.za
October 23, 2025 at 8:34 AM
Reposted by Izak de Vries
peninternational.bsky.social
Our youngest board member, Turkish-born Ege Dündar, is an author-activist leading a new context for young citizens’ place in a troubled world.

Read his latest article with Publishing Perspectives ⬇️

publishingperspectives.com/2025/10/pen-...

@youngwriterspen.bsky.social
PEN International's Ege Dündar at Frankfurt: 'Look to the Youth'  - Publishing Perspectives
The youngest PEN International board member, Turkish-born Ege Dündar is an author-activist leading a new context for young citizens’ place in a troubled world. By Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief | @P...
publishingperspectives.com
October 22, 2025 at 9:26 AM
Reposted by Izak de Vries
peninternational.bsky.social
What would a world with true freedom of expression look like? 💡

At this year’s Frankfurt Book Fair with @youngwriterspen.bsky.social, leading voices reminded us that freedom of expression isn’t easy... It’s dialogue, discomfort, and the courage to speak and listen so every voice can be heard.
October 22, 2025 at 10:22 AM