21 September 2005

EXILED WRITERS FIND NEW HOMES


For many writers who have been forced to leave their home countries because of political persecution, life in a new, albeit safe, country, can be difficult. The rupture and separation that comes with exile can often mean that individuals forfeit their careers as writers in order to make a living in their adopted land.

Thanks to PEN Canada, however, a growing number of exiled writers are now finding temporary "homes" in universities and other institutions across Canada where they are given the space and resources to develop their writing talents and share their knowledge with Canadians.

Beginning in September 2005, exiled journalists and writers from Albania, Chad, Iran and Nigeria will begin residencies at five institutions across the country. They include Genc Tirana (Albania), Hassan Chérif Kala (Chad), Saghi and Sasan Ghahraman (Iran) and Amatoritsero Ede (Nigeria).

Saghi Ghahraman thanks PEN Canada for providing a home for him in a new country. "I was deeply traumatised when I crossed mountains to flee my invaded home. When I got here, the immigration officer labelled me as 'general labour'. I am nothing less than 'highly-skilled labour' - in the field of poetry."

The placements are part of PEN Canada's Writers in Exile Network programme, which was established in 2002 to help exiled writers find opportunities to show their work and improve their access to Canada's writing and publishing community.

The placements may take the form of teaching or writing residencies, translation and publication projects, cultural and community outreach programs, creative writing seminars, reading and lecture series, bursaries and scholarships, and journalism or publishing internships.

In the last two years, PEN Canada has secured nearly 20 placements for exiled writers at various institutions in Canada.

Visit these links:
- PEN Canada: http://www.pencanada.ca/programs/exile/index.php
- Handbook for International PEN's Writers in Exile Network:
http://www.pencanada.ca/media/ExilesHandbook.pdf
- Cities of Asylum: http://www.cityofasylum.org/


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Also from the Communiqué, 21 September 2005

UZBEKISTAN: "MASSIVE" CRACKDOWN UNDERWAY TO COVER UP MASSACRE 21 September 2005 IRAQ: TWO JOURNALISTS KILLED 21 September 2005 ERITREA: 15 JOURNALISTS STILL BEHIND BARS 21 September 2005 NIGER: MEDIA PRESSURED OVER FOOD CRISIS 21 September 2005 INTERNATIONAL: COUNCIL OF EUROPE EXAMINES FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IN TIMES OF CRISIS 21 September 2005 INTERNATIONAL: ARAB AND WORLD MEDIA CONFERENCE 21 September 2005 INTERNATIONAL: POETRY ANTHOLOGY CELEBRATES LIFE OF NIGERIAN WRITER 21 September 2005 TAJIKISTAN: INDEPENDENT MEDIA DISAPPEARING 21 September 2005

Canada

Supreme Court's hyperlink decision a victory for freedom of expression on the Internet 20 October 2011 CJFE calls for public inquiry into free expression violations at G20 summit 2 March 2011 CJFE disappointed by Supreme Court ruling on electronic access to courts 31 January 2011 CJFE concerned that Vancouver journalist may be forced to reveal her source 18 January 2011 See all alerts: Canada


North America

UNITED STATES: Accreditation disputes at center of journalists' arrests in U.S. 9 February 2012 UNITED STATES: SOPA poses threat to free expression, says CJFE 18 January 2012 MEXICO: Murdered journalist may have been mistaken for someone else 12 January 2012


 
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