Global Surge in Arrests of Writers and Cultural Figures; Iran Ranks Second After China in Number of Imprisoned Writers
Global Surge in Arrests of Writers and Cultural Figures; Iran Ranks Second After China in Number of Imprisoned Writers
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A new 2025 Freedom to Write Index report by PEN America reveals a historic increase in the number of writers detained worldwide, highlighting a growing global crackdown on freedom of expression and cultural dissent.
According to the report, 401 writers were imprisoned across 44 countries in 2025, marking the highest total since the index began in 2019 and an increase from 375 in 2024.
The index, published on May 12, shows that China remains the world’s largest jailer of writers with 119 imprisoned, followed by Iran with 53 detained writers, placing Tehran in second place globally. This figure also represents the largest single‑country increase in new cases, with Iran’s number of imprisoned writers rising from 43 in 2024 to 53 last year.
PEN America’s findings indicate that the rise in detentions has been driven by heightened political pressures, intensifying internal crackdowns and broader geopolitical tensions.
The report also highlights that a significant portion of jailed writers — including those in Iran — are women, scholars, poets, translators and commentators who have faced judicial harassment, surveillance and prolonged detention without fair trial. Iran reportedly holds the highest number of female writers in prison worldwide among the countries with large jailed populations.
Beyond Iran and China, the index identifies other nations high on the list of writers held behind bars, including Saudi Arabia (27), Vietnam (24), Türkiye (22), Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory (21), Russia (18), Belarus (17), Egypt (13), and Myanmar (10), underscoring that the suppression of literary voices is a global phenomenon.
Several human rights groups, including PEN America and international advocacy networks, have emphasized the urgent need for global action to protect writers at risk, advocating for legal reforms, international pressure and increased support for persecuted cultural figures.
In related developments, broader free‑expression watchdogs report that journalist imprisonment remains high worldwide, with more than 300 journalists detained in 2025 according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), highlighting a parallel trend in repression affecting both writers and media professionals.
