Day of the Imprisoned Writer – Nov. 15, 2026

Expected Day of the Imprisoned Writer Deals

For Day of the Imprisoned Writer, the focus shifts from commercial deals to crucial advocacy and fundraising efforts. Organizations like PEN International lead the charge, often partnering with publishers and human rights groups to host events, panel discussions, and donation drives. Look for calls to action from Amnesty International and Reporters Without Borders, who highlight individual cases and solicit support for legal aid and humanitarian assistance. Independent bookstores, such as Powell’s Books, may feature banned books sections or donate a portion of sales to free speech initiatives. We encourage you to visit the official websites of these organizations to find out how you can contribute to protecting writers and journalists worldwide.

History of Day of the Imprisoned Writer

Day of the Imprisoned Writer started in 1981 and was the product of PEN International’s Writers in Prison Committee. Since its introduction, PEN has used the holiday to call for the release of imprisoned writers, advocate for better protection for journalists and activists, and fight for justice for those writers who gave up their lives in the ultimate sacrifice to preserve the truth. Despite enduring the same threats, intimidation, and intrusive surveillance from state authorities, poets, translators, publishers, and novelists are honored for their contributions to the cause. PEN coordinates activities through more than its 100 centers worldwide.

Each year, PEN lists five writers persecuted or imprisoned by their governments. These writers come from different parts of the world but are constantly engaged in reporting or investigating stories involving corruption, violent crimes, illegal spying, police cover-ups, and state-sponsored violence. In 2009, PEN named Liu Xiaobo and Natalia Estemirova on their list of writers. Xiaobo, a dissident writer, later died in detention in 2017. Estemirova was abducted and murdered by unknown persons in 2009 while she was investigating war crimes in Chechnya.

In 2018, PEN joined the rest of the human rights and free speech-oriented organizations in condemning the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul. Through the “America Senior Director of Free Expression,” PEN called for the Saudi authorities to produce Khashoggi and hold the persons responsible for his murder accountable. On Day of the Imprisoned Writer in 2021, PEN named Chinese scholar Rahile Dawut, U.A.E. human rights lawyer Mohamed Al-Roken, Turkish politician Selahattin Demirtaş, Cuban musician Maykel Osorbo, and a collective case of 12 Eritrean writers imprisoned for 20 years incommunicado. PEN International remains dedicated to supporting poets, playwrights, editors, essayists, and novelists worldwide.

How Businesses Can Celebrate Day of the Imprisoned Writer