PEN: Mightier Than the Sword

by Victoria Ashdown

‘Justice’ is defined in the English dictionary as ‘fairness or rightness in the treatment of other people.’ This is what we expect as part of our rights as a citizen: as a human being. However, there are many people to whom this definition of justice does not apply.

In many places around the world, people are being imprisoned simply for speaking their minds. Writers who express their opinion on politics or religion, and question the convictions of a higher authority are being abused and confined. What kind of person do you picture as a long-term convict? Someone who is a danger to others, to themselves? As you read this, somewhere in the world an innocent writer is being imprisoned, whose only crime was putting pen to paper.

The University of Surrey has recently created a society that supports PEN, an organisation that acts to help the wrongly imprisoned. As a society, we aim to raise awareness of the cause, promote freedom of speech and help those in less fortunate situations. In the 50 years English PEN has been established, it has provided invaluable support and given the gift of hope to the desperate. English PEN’s Writers in Prison Committee raises awareness through demonstrations, sends letters of appeal to authorities, aids the family of the imprisoned and helps in any way to improve the situation of the convict. Prisoners receive books and letters from PEN members, reminding them that they are not alone in their struggle.

Ai Weiwei, 53, is just one person who PEN is currently concerned with. He is an internationally acclaimed artist and was imprisoned in China in April 2011 due to unspecified ‘economic crimes’. It is widely believed that it came as a result to Ai’s complaints about the government. After his release in June, Ai was fined the extortionate sum of 12m Yuan (€1.3m). PEN is working to demolish this fine and free Ai from persecution.

English PEN also acts to give a voice to the oppressed through their Writers in Translation Programme. Their aim is to improve understanding between cultures and share the experience of people from contrasting backgrounds. This is achieved through translating and publishing texts from writers around the globe into English, so that their messages reach further. The organisation also works in schools and prisons to improve literacy, promote the positive influence of literature and encourage writers from disadvantaged backgrounds. They work with refugees, offenders and young people in the UK and offer them freedom of expression in the form of writing.

Freedom of speech is a gift that should not be abused: use yours.

Join English PEN at Surrey at: http://www.facebook.com/SurreyEnglishPEN.