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An evening of solidarity with imprisoned writers in Iran

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/evening-of-solidarity-with-imprisoned-writers-in-iran-tickets- 322956219747

An evening of solidarity with imprisoned writers in Iran

Wednesday 22 June, 2022, 6.30 to 9.30 pm
Banquet Dinner
(Vegetarian and meat dishes. BYO)
Shamiat Syrian Restaurant
64 Victoria Road, Northcote
$60 per person, bookings only
Book by 15 June 2022

Book Here:

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/evening-of-solidarity-with-imprisoned-writers-in-iran-tickets-322956219747
For information, contact Mammad or Jackie wip@penmelbourne.org

Readings from Iranian writers in prison by writers in exile
• Narges Mohammadi
• Sedigeh Vasmaghi
• Golrokh Ebrahimi Iraee
• Reza Khandan Mahabadi
• Keyvan Bajan
• Arash Ganji

Baktash Abtim
Iranian writer, poet, and filmmaker
Freedom has never been gifted to anyone on a goldwrapped
plate. We ought to pay a heavy price for it . . .
In a country like Iran, death is very cheap for intellectuals,
freedom loving people and those who fight for freedom of
expression . . .
We, with complete knowledge of the risks, will emphasise
our defined obligation, which is to fight for freedom of
expression and against censorship. But we expect all our
friends, writers, intellectuals and those who fight for freedom
of expression around the world to support us.

Interview with PEN Sydney, June 2020.
Abtim died on 8 January 2022 after contracting COVID-19
for the second time in Evin Prison. PEN International holds
the Iranian authorities fully responsible for his death.

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People say that (writers) are pretty powerless: we don’t have an army, we don’t have a bureaucracy. But if that were true, then why would writers be arrested?... Because the spoken word is powerful.

— John Ralston Saul on the work of PEN International