The number of jailed writers in China has surpassed 100 for the first time, making the country the biggest jailer of writers, according to PEN America’s annual Freedom to Write Index released on Wednesday.
PEN America reported that a total of 339 writers were imprisoned in 2023, the highest number in the five years that the index has been produced. The number of jailed writers has been steadily increasing over the past five years, with Karin Karlekar, the director of writers at risk at PEN America, stating that there are worsening threats against writers.
In China alone, there are 107 writers incarcerated, with 50 of them being “online commentators” who write about political and economic issues and express pro-democracy viewpoints. Other writers in China faced trial under the 2020 national security law that suppressed dissent in Hong Kong.
Iran also saw a significant crackdown on writers, with 13 writers arrested in 2023, bringing the total number of imprisoned writers in the country to 49. Iran jails the highest number of female writers worldwide, particularly those who write or advocate against the compulsory hijab.
Saudi Arabia and Vietnam were tied for third place in the index, with 19 writers jailed in each country. Notable increases from 2022 included the number of female journalists jailed and the number of jailed online commentators.
The index also highlighted the increasing danger faced by journalists around the world, with 320 journalists incarcerated as of December 1, 2023. The Committee to Protect Journalists described this high number as a “disturbing barometer of entrenched authoritarianism.”
PEN America emphasized the importance of protecting individual writers, stating that when a single dissenting voice is jailed, it has a broader impact on society as a whole, leading to less discussion, discourse, and self-censorship.
