PEN Melbourne
@penmelbourne.bsky.social
PEN Melbourne is an affiliate of PEN International, bringing writers together to share experiences and ideas about how literature transforms, influences and fosters cross-cultural exchange. Join us as we advocate for the writer's freedom of speech.
SIGN OUR PETITION: Uyghur writer #YalqunRozi has spent 9 years behind bars in China for
expressing his cultural identity. Sentenced to 15 years, his only “crime” was helping preserve the
Uyghur language. You can set him free. #DayoftheImprisonedWriter
expressing his cultural identity. Sentenced to 15 years, his only “crime” was helping preserve the
Uyghur language. You can set him free. #DayoftheImprisonedWriter
November 25, 2025 at 12:11 AM
SIGN OUR PETITION: Uyghur writer #YalqunRozi has spent 9 years behind bars in China for
expressing his cultural identity. Sentenced to 15 years, his only “crime” was helping preserve the
Uyghur language. You can set him free. #DayoftheImprisonedWriter
expressing his cultural identity. Sentenced to 15 years, his only “crime” was helping preserve the
Uyghur language. You can set him free. #DayoftheImprisonedWriter
TAKE ACTION: Venezuelan journalist #RoryBranker has been arbitrarily detained— silenced for
seeking truth. His voice must be heard again.
This #DayoftheImprisonedWriter, join us in calling for
his immediate release.
Sign our petition: www.pen-international.org/rory-branker...
seeking truth. His voice must be heard again.
This #DayoftheImprisonedWriter, join us in calling for
his immediate release.
Sign our petition: www.pen-international.org/rory-branker...
November 21, 2025 at 8:49 PM
TAKE ACTION: Venezuelan journalist #RoryBranker has been arbitrarily detained— silenced for
seeking truth. His voice must be heard again.
This #DayoftheImprisonedWriter, join us in calling for
his immediate release.
Sign our petition: www.pen-international.org/rory-branker...
seeking truth. His voice must be heard again.
This #DayoftheImprisonedWriter, join us in calling for
his immediate release.
Sign our petition: www.pen-international.org/rory-branker...
Writers around the world are raising their voices for Day of the Imprisoned Writer.
Together, we defend the right to write freely through amplifying the voices of those silenced.
#DayoftheImprisonedWriter #RoryBranker
#YalqunRozi #MohamedTadjadit #MziaAmaglobeli
Together, we defend the right to write freely through amplifying the voices of those silenced.
#DayoftheImprisonedWriter #RoryBranker
#YalqunRozi #MohamedTadjadit #MziaAmaglobeli
November 21, 2025 at 10:25 AM
Writers around the world are raising their voices for Day of the Imprisoned Writer.
Together, we defend the right to write freely through amplifying the voices of those silenced.
#DayoftheImprisonedWriter #RoryBranker
#YalqunRozi #MohamedTadjadit #MziaAmaglobeli
Together, we defend the right to write freely through amplifying the voices of those silenced.
#DayoftheImprisonedWriter #RoryBranker
#YalqunRozi #MohamedTadjadit #MziaAmaglobeli
Join us at The Wheeler Centre for this panel featuring Mary Kostakidis, Micaela Sahhar and Sarah Schwartz where they’ll highlight the imperative need to protect writers and journalists’ freedom of speech, dissent and open political discourse.
🔗 Tickets are available now via the link below.
🔗 Tickets are available now via the link below.
September 28, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Join us at The Wheeler Centre for this panel featuring Mary Kostakidis, Micaela Sahhar and Sarah Schwartz where they’ll highlight the imperative need to protect writers and journalists’ freedom of speech, dissent and open political discourse.
🔗 Tickets are available now via the link below.
🔗 Tickets are available now via the link below.
We stand with @peninternational and their resolutions to defend free expression, gender diversity, human rights, and climate justice. Full statement available via the link in their bio 🔗
September 12, 2025 at 12:34 PM
We stand with @peninternational and their resolutions to defend free expression, gender diversity, human rights, and climate justice. Full statement available via the link in their bio 🔗
🚨 An Open Letter in Defence of Free Expression and the Right to Share Information 🚨
Join us as we stand with Mary Kostakidis to fight these allegations which our democracy depends on for free and open discussions.
🔗 Follow the link below to show your support 🔗
Join us as we stand with Mary Kostakidis to fight these allegations which our democracy depends on for free and open discussions.
🔗 Follow the link below to show your support 🔗
August 21, 2025 at 9:47 AM
🚨 An Open Letter in Defence of Free Expression and the Right to Share Information 🚨
Join us as we stand with Mary Kostakidis to fight these allegations which our democracy depends on for free and open discussions.
🔗 Follow the link below to show your support 🔗
Join us as we stand with Mary Kostakidis to fight these allegations which our democracy depends on for free and open discussions.
🔗 Follow the link below to show your support 🔗
Writing Against Silencing: PEN Melbourne Workshop
Explore the tensions between creative expression and censorship in the Asia-Pacific region during this online event with author Sreedhevi Iyer on 17/08/25 between 4-7pm.
Explore the tensions between creative expression and censorship in the Asia-Pacific region during this online event with author Sreedhevi Iyer on 17/08/25 between 4-7pm.
August 18, 2025 at 7:10 AM
Writing Against Silencing: PEN Melbourne Workshop
Explore the tensions between creative expression and censorship in the Asia-Pacific region during this online event with author Sreedhevi Iyer on 17/08/25 between 4-7pm.
Explore the tensions between creative expression and censorship in the Asia-Pacific region during this online event with author Sreedhevi Iyer on 17/08/25 between 4-7pm.
🤍 Free Alaa 🤍
Members of PEN Melbourne gathered outside the street level of the British Consulate in Melbourne on Monday to hold our second Vigil For Alaa.
Join us on 18th of August, between 3pm and 5pm in the same place.
We will be there on the third Monday of every month.
#freealaa
Members of PEN Melbourne gathered outside the street level of the British Consulate in Melbourne on Monday to hold our second Vigil For Alaa.
Join us on 18th of August, between 3pm and 5pm in the same place.
We will be there on the third Monday of every month.
#freealaa
July 22, 2025 at 4:49 AM
🤍 Free Alaa 🤍
Members of PEN Melbourne gathered outside the street level of the British Consulate in Melbourne on Monday to hold our second Vigil For Alaa.
Join us on 18th of August, between 3pm and 5pm in the same place.
We will be there on the third Monday of every month.
#freealaa
Members of PEN Melbourne gathered outside the street level of the British Consulate in Melbourne on Monday to hold our second Vigil For Alaa.
Join us on 18th of August, between 3pm and 5pm in the same place.
We will be there on the third Monday of every month.
#freealaa
🖤❤️💛 Join us in partnership with The Wheeler Centre on Thursday 17th July, 630pm, for this live conversation at The Wheeler Centre 💛❤️🖤
Hosted by Bridget Brennan with Ngarra Murray, this event will explore Treaty in Victoria, while asking where we stand following the outcome of The Voice Referendum.
Hosted by Bridget Brennan with Ngarra Murray, this event will explore Treaty in Victoria, while asking where we stand following the outcome of The Voice Referendum.
July 9, 2025 at 6:35 AM
🖤❤️💛 Join us in partnership with The Wheeler Centre on Thursday 17th July, 630pm, for this live conversation at The Wheeler Centre 💛❤️🖤
Hosted by Bridget Brennan with Ngarra Murray, this event will explore Treaty in Victoria, while asking where we stand following the outcome of The Voice Referendum.
Hosted by Bridget Brennan with Ngarra Murray, this event will explore Treaty in Victoria, while asking where we stand following the outcome of The Voice Referendum.
#Türkiye: We join PEN International and others in expressing deep concern over the arrest warrant issued against journalist, poet, and Honorary PEN member, Nedim Türfent.
We call for the warrant to be retracted without delay.
🔗 Follow the link in the comments to read the joint statement
We call for the warrant to be retracted without delay.
🔗 Follow the link in the comments to read the joint statement
July 7, 2025 at 2:26 AM
#Türkiye: We join PEN International and others in expressing deep concern over the arrest warrant issued against journalist, poet, and Honorary PEN member, Nedim Türfent.
We call for the warrant to be retracted without delay.
🔗 Follow the link in the comments to read the joint statement
We call for the warrant to be retracted without delay.
🔗 Follow the link in the comments to read the joint statement
Reporters Without Borders and 33 global organisations (including several PEN Centres, and Amnesty International) have written to the UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer asking him to meet with the son of British publisher Jimmy Lai who has been arbitrarily jailed in Hong Kong since December 2020.
July 2, 2025 at 10:24 AM
Reporters Without Borders and 33 global organisations (including several PEN Centres, and Amnesty International) have written to the UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer asking him to meet with the son of British publisher Jimmy Lai who has been arbitrarily jailed in Hong Kong since December 2020.
📢 We stand with PEN International and support their latest joint statement with the Montenegrin PEN Centre, where both centres have urged the Montenegro authorities to uphold academic freedom 📢
#peninternational #penmontenegro #academicfreedom
#peninternational #penmontenegro #academicfreedom
June 30, 2025 at 10:50 PM
📢 We stand with PEN International and support their latest joint statement with the Montenegrin PEN Centre, where both centres have urged the Montenegro authorities to uphold academic freedom 📢
#peninternational #penmontenegro #academicfreedom
#peninternational #penmontenegro #academicfreedom
Monday's June 16th Melbourne Action was aimed at building awareness of Alaa Abd el-Fattah’s case, who holds joint British and Egyptian citizenship. PEN Melbourne members took up a position outside the British consulate's office building to raise awareness of his case.
#freealaa
#freealaa
June 17, 2025 at 3:29 AM
Monday's June 16th Melbourne Action was aimed at building awareness of Alaa Abd el-Fattah’s case, who holds joint British and Egyptian citizenship. PEN Melbourne members took up a position outside the British consulate's office building to raise awareness of his case.
#freealaa
#freealaa
🕊️ FREE ALAA 🕊️
PEN Melbourne invites you to join a Vigil For Alaa
📍 Monday June 16, 3.30 - 5.30pm
@ The British Consulate, 90 Collins Street Melbourne/ Naarm
PEN Melbourne invites you to join a Vigil For Alaa
📍 Monday June 16, 3.30 - 5.30pm
@ The British Consulate, 90 Collins Street Melbourne/ Naarm
June 9, 2025 at 11:33 AM
🕊️ FREE ALAA 🕊️
PEN Melbourne invites you to join a Vigil For Alaa
📍 Monday June 16, 3.30 - 5.30pm
@ The British Consulate, 90 Collins Street Melbourne/ Naarm
PEN Melbourne invites you to join a Vigil For Alaa
📍 Monday June 16, 3.30 - 5.30pm
@ The British Consulate, 90 Collins Street Melbourne/ Naarm
PEN Melbourne condemns the killing and silencing of writers, poets, journalists, for simply going about their work peacefully and with courage reporting the war. At least 176 journalists, 120 academics, and 23 writers have been killed in the war, many directly targeted along with their families.
June 3, 2025 at 5:16 AM
PEN Melbourne condemns the killing and silencing of writers, poets, journalists, for simply going about their work peacefully and with courage reporting the war. At least 176 journalists, 120 academics, and 23 writers have been killed in the war, many directly targeted along with their families.
Türkiye: Authorities should immediately and unconditionally release journalist and author Furkan Karabay and stop their judicial harassment.
Journalists should be allowed to do their work without risk of persecution.
#journalismisnotacrime
Journalists should be allowed to do their work without risk of persecution.
#journalismisnotacrime
June 2, 2025 at 5:44 AM
Türkiye: Authorities should immediately and unconditionally release journalist and author Furkan Karabay and stop their judicial harassment.
Journalists should be allowed to do their work without risk of persecution.
#journalismisnotacrime
Journalists should be allowed to do their work without risk of persecution.
#journalismisnotacrime
🚨 PEN Melbourne honorary member Yang Hengjun’s letter written to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in January has now been made public 🚨
Follow the link below to read the full letter, a power testament to Yang and his ongoing belief of goodness in people.
Follow the link below to read the full letter, a power testament to Yang and his ongoing belief of goodness in people.
May 16, 2025 at 8:47 AM
🚨 PEN Melbourne honorary member Yang Hengjun’s letter written to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in January has now been made public 🚨
Follow the link below to read the full letter, a power testament to Yang and his ongoing belief of goodness in people.
Follow the link below to read the full letter, a power testament to Yang and his ongoing belief of goodness in people.
#Vietnam: We’re deeply concerned over reports of the death in custody of Tibetan writer and educator, Humkar Dorje Rinpoche. PEN Melbourne joins @peninternational.bsky.social and PEN #Tibet and #Vietnam in calling for a transparent investigation.
April 21, 2025 at 6:23 AM
#Vietnam: We’re deeply concerned over reports of the death in custody of Tibetan writer and educator, Humkar Dorje Rinpoche. PEN Melbourne joins @peninternational.bsky.social and PEN #Tibet and #Vietnam in calling for a transparent investigation.
Chinese-Australian artist & political cartoonist Badiucao is being harassed & legally threatened after his art protest exhibition in Hong Kong.
PEN International is concerned by attempts to silence Badiucao’s peaceful expression & the chilling effect this may have on artistic freedom globally.
PEN International is concerned by attempts to silence Badiucao’s peaceful expression & the chilling effect this may have on artistic freedom globally.
April 14, 2025 at 1:28 AM
Chinese-Australian artist & political cartoonist Badiucao is being harassed & legally threatened after his art protest exhibition in Hong Kong.
PEN International is concerned by attempts to silence Badiucao’s peaceful expression & the chilling effect this may have on artistic freedom globally.
PEN International is concerned by attempts to silence Badiucao’s peaceful expression & the chilling effect this may have on artistic freedom globally.
✊ We stand with PEN Norway who call for the release of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoğlu and his colleagues from detention. Imamoğlu has been incarcerated since march and will remain in detention until trial. We continue to support PEN Norway alongside our associates in Turkey’s civil society and media.
April 12, 2025 at 11:17 AM
✊ We stand with PEN Norway who call for the release of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoğlu and his colleagues from detention. Imamoğlu has been incarcerated since march and will remain in detention until trial. We continue to support PEN Norway alongside our associates in Turkey’s civil society and media.
🍿PEN Melbourne Fundraiser
Screening of The Correspondent🍿
Australian PEN centres—Melbourne, Sydney and Perth campaigned for Greste's release from prison, and Greste is now the patron of PEN Perth.
17th April, 6:30pm
Cinema Nova, Carlton
$25 tickets with $10 donation to PEN Melbourne
Screening of The Correspondent🍿
Australian PEN centres—Melbourne, Sydney and Perth campaigned for Greste's release from prison, and Greste is now the patron of PEN Perth.
17th April, 6:30pm
Cinema Nova, Carlton
$25 tickets with $10 donation to PEN Melbourne
April 9, 2025 at 8:08 AM
🍿PEN Melbourne Fundraiser
Screening of The Correspondent🍿
Australian PEN centres—Melbourne, Sydney and Perth campaigned for Greste's release from prison, and Greste is now the patron of PEN Perth.
17th April, 6:30pm
Cinema Nova, Carlton
$25 tickets with $10 donation to PEN Melbourne
Screening of The Correspondent🍿
Australian PEN centres—Melbourne, Sydney and Perth campaigned for Greste's release from prison, and Greste is now the patron of PEN Perth.
17th April, 6:30pm
Cinema Nova, Carlton
$25 tickets with $10 donation to PEN Melbourne
PEN Melbourne partners with Melbourne Writers Festival 2025
State Library Victoria
11 May, 1030am
Unsettling Australian Stories:
Kate Grenville and Anita Heiss are award winning authors who will take a personal, political and cultural look at writing frontier histories during this upcoming event.
State Library Victoria
11 May, 1030am
Unsettling Australian Stories:
Kate Grenville and Anita Heiss are award winning authors who will take a personal, political and cultural look at writing frontier histories during this upcoming event.
April 8, 2025 at 1:36 AM
PEN Melbourne partners with Melbourne Writers Festival 2025
State Library Victoria
11 May, 1030am
Unsettling Australian Stories:
Kate Grenville and Anita Heiss are award winning authors who will take a personal, political and cultural look at writing frontier histories during this upcoming event.
State Library Victoria
11 May, 1030am
Unsettling Australian Stories:
Kate Grenville and Anita Heiss are award winning authors who will take a personal, political and cultural look at writing frontier histories during this upcoming event.
Alaa attended the first Access Now human rights conference in 2011 and Alaa’s words continue to inspire many of us 💜
His ideas, free thoughts and global movement towards justice are what authorities fear about him.
Join us in calling for a Presidential Pardon
#PardonForAlaa #AlaaAbdelFattah
His ideas, free thoughts and global movement towards justice are what authorities fear about him.
Join us in calling for a Presidential Pardon
#PardonForAlaa #AlaaAbdelFattah
April 2, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Alaa attended the first Access Now human rights conference in 2011 and Alaa’s words continue to inspire many of us 💜
His ideas, free thoughts and global movement towards justice are what authorities fear about him.
Join us in calling for a Presidential Pardon
#PardonForAlaa #AlaaAbdelFattah
His ideas, free thoughts and global movement towards justice are what authorities fear about him.
Join us in calling for a Presidential Pardon
#PardonForAlaa #AlaaAbdelFattah
Eid’s supposed to be a time for family but for Alaa’s mother, Laila Soueif, has spent too many Eids fighting for her son.
For years, she’s stood outside prison gates, demanding to see him and has been ignored.
Join us now in calling for a Presidential Pardon!
#pardonforalaa #alaaabdelfattah
For years, she’s stood outside prison gates, demanding to see him and has been ignored.
Join us now in calling for a Presidential Pardon!
#pardonforalaa #alaaabdelfattah
April 2, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Eid’s supposed to be a time for family but for Alaa’s mother, Laila Soueif, has spent too many Eids fighting for her son.
For years, she’s stood outside prison gates, demanding to see him and has been ignored.
Join us now in calling for a Presidential Pardon!
#pardonforalaa #alaaabdelfattah
For years, she’s stood outside prison gates, demanding to see him and has been ignored.
Join us now in calling for a Presidential Pardon!
#pardonforalaa #alaaabdelfattah
Alaa Abdel Fattah has been incarcerated in Egyptian prisons for almost a decade for speaking out against oppression; he represents 0000s of Egyptian political prisoners who are journalists, writers and activists jailed for exercising their right to free expression
#PardonForAlaa #AlaaAbdelFattah
#PardonForAlaa #AlaaAbdelFattah
March 27, 2025 at 9:49 AM
Alaa Abdel Fattah has been incarcerated in Egyptian prisons for almost a decade for speaking out against oppression; he represents 0000s of Egyptian political prisoners who are journalists, writers and activists jailed for exercising their right to free expression
#PardonForAlaa #AlaaAbdelFattah
#PardonForAlaa #AlaaAbdelFattah