{"id":4282,"count":25,"description":"Imprisoned writers \u2013 Belarusian writers, translators, and literary researchers, publicists, intellectuals, and those who create and expand culture, protect the word and its masters.\r\n\r\nPEN Belarus sees its mission as creating a space for the development of culture, dialogue, and the realization of creator\u2019s potential, protecting the civil and cultural rights and freedoms of the People of Word.\r\n\r\nPEN Belarus continues to fight against hate speech and draws international attention to human rights violations in Belarus, including cultural rights. In times of crisis and uncertainty, PEN Belarus responds to the regime\u2019s attempts to divide society by calling for unity and dialogue among the People of Word. Through their activities, they contribute to the realization of the goals of PEN Belarus and share the principles and values of PEN Belarus and the core documents of PEN Belarus and PEN International.\r\n\r\nSince 1996, PEN Belarus has been a member of the \u2033Writers in Prison Committee\u2033 founded in 1960 by the Assembly of Delegates of the PEN International. The necessity of such a committee is explained by the increasing attempts by authorities worldwide to silence writers and journalists by restricting their freedom.\r\n\r\nAs of 31 March 2026, at least 127 cultural figures, including not less than 26 People of Word, were not free \u2013 behind bars or in home confinement. Cultural figures make up about 10% of the total number of political prisoners.\r\n\r\nCultural figures persecuted for political reasons experience harsh and inhumane treatment, are in a state of constant restrictions, pressure, without contact with family and lawyers. Often, relatives have no information for months.\r\n\r\n25 biographies out of 26 have been presented. One story have not been published due to the relatives of the imprisoned people requesting non-disclosure for security reasons.","link":"https:\/\/penbelarus.org\/en\/tag\/people-of-word","name":"Imprisoned writers (26)","slug":"people-of-word","taxonomy":"post_tag","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/penbelarus.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags\/4282","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/penbelarus.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/penbelarus.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/taxonomies\/post_tag"}],"wp:post_type":[{"href":"https:\/\/penbelarus.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts?tags=4282"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}