Ross Holder
@h0ro.bsky.social
Head of Asia/ Pacific at PEN International | Views own
Reposted by Ross Holder
DHS decision to end Temporary Protected Status for Burmese nationals in the US is “the worst of the worst foreign policy ever seen from the Trump administration in Southeast Asia”, & will mean that deported Myanmar nationals face “prisons, brutal torture and death.” www.irrawaddy.com/news/myanmar...
November 28, 2025 at 5:12 AM
DHS decision to end Temporary Protected Status for Burmese nationals in the US is “the worst of the worst foreign policy ever seen from the Trump administration in Southeast Asia”, & will mean that deported Myanmar nationals face “prisons, brutal torture and death.” www.irrawaddy.com/news/myanmar...
Reposted by Ross Holder
#Australia #Thailand #Malaysia: We join PEN Centres in condemning Malaysia’s attempt to silence writer Murray Hunter through transnational criminal defamation, and urge Foreign Minister Penny Wong to intervene.
Read our joint letter ⬇️ www.pen-international.org/news/austral...
Read our joint letter ⬇️ www.pen-international.org/news/austral...
Australia–Malaysia–Thailand: PEN Centres urge action as writer Murray Hunter faces transnational repression — PEN International | Promoting Literature & Defending Freedom of Expression Worldwide
27 November 2025: PEN International, PEN Melbourne, PEN Perth and PEN Sydney called on Australian Foreign Minister Senator Penny Wong to urgently intervene in the case of writer Murray Hunter. In a jo...
www.pen-international.org
November 27, 2025 at 3:31 PM
#Australia #Thailand #Malaysia: We join PEN Centres in condemning Malaysia’s attempt to silence writer Murray Hunter through transnational criminal defamation, and urge Foreign Minister Penny Wong to intervene.
Read our joint letter ⬇️ www.pen-international.org/news/austral...
Read our joint letter ⬇️ www.pen-international.org/news/austral...
Reposted by Ross Holder
WRITE A MESSAGE OF HOPE: Today, show solidarity with Uyghur writer #YalqunRozi, imprisoned in Xinjiang since 2016 for his cultural and literary work. Write to him, every message helps writers know they’re not forgotten. www.pen-international.org/yalqun-rozi-... #DayoftheImprisonedWriter
November 26, 2025 at 7:08 PM
WRITE A MESSAGE OF HOPE: Today, show solidarity with Uyghur writer #YalqunRozi, imprisoned in Xinjiang since 2016 for his cultural and literary work. Write to him, every message helps writers know they’re not forgotten. www.pen-international.org/yalqun-rozi-... #DayoftheImprisonedWriter
Reposted by Ross Holder
#India: We join partner PEN Centres and free-press groups urging the Navi Mumbai Police Commissioner to urgently probe death threats against journalist Rana Ayyub and her father.
Read our joint letter ⬇️
www.pen-international.org/news/pen-int...
Read our joint letter ⬇️
www.pen-international.org/news/pen-int...
India: PEN International joins call for a police investigation into death threats against journalist and writer, Rana Ayyub — PEN International | Promoting Literature & Defending Freedom of Expression...
24 November : Last week, PEN International joined PEN Centres and free press organisations in sending an open letter to Navi Mumbai Police Commissioner Milind Bharambe, calling for an urgent police i...
www.pen-international.org
November 25, 2025 at 12:07 PM
#India: We join partner PEN Centres and free-press groups urging the Navi Mumbai Police Commissioner to urgently probe death threats against journalist Rana Ayyub and her father.
Read our joint letter ⬇️
www.pen-international.org/news/pen-int...
Read our joint letter ⬇️
www.pen-international.org/news/pen-int...
Reposted by Ross Holder
TAKE ACTION: His words kept Uyghur culture alive — now he’s silenced for them. Stand with #YalqunRozi this #DayoftheImprisonedWriter. Sign our petition to set him free:
Yalqun Rozi — PEN International | Promoting Literature & Defending Freedom of Expression Worldwide
24 HOURS LEFT TO JOIN OUR CAMPAIGN!
www.pen-international.org
November 23, 2025 at 9:59 AM
TAKE ACTION: His words kept Uyghur culture alive — now he’s silenced for them. Stand with #YalqunRozi this #DayoftheImprisonedWriter. Sign our petition to set him free:
Reposted by Ross Holder
To mark the #DayoftheImprisonedWriter, journalist Cheng Lei shared her own story of unjust imprisonment, reflecting on the courage of advocates who helped secure her release.
Watch her full testimony on our Instagram and take action today to support imprisoned writers 👉
Watch her full testimony on our Instagram and take action today to support imprisoned writers 👉
PEN International on Instagram: "To mark the #DayoftheImprisonedWriter, journalist Cheng Lei shared her powerful story of unjust imprisonment, reflecting on the world’s growing neglect of truth and th...
2 likes, 0 comments - peninternational on November 21, 2025: "To mark the #DayoftheImprisonedWriter, journalist Cheng Lei shared her powerful story of unjust imprisonment, reflecting on the world’s gr...
www.instagram.com
November 21, 2025 at 12:18 PM
To mark the #DayoftheImprisonedWriter, journalist Cheng Lei shared her own story of unjust imprisonment, reflecting on the courage of advocates who helped secure her release.
Watch her full testimony on our Instagram and take action today to support imprisoned writers 👉
Watch her full testimony on our Instagram and take action today to support imprisoned writers 👉
Reposted by Ross Holder
#Thailand: We join PEN #Malaysia in expressing our alarm over the Malaysian government's targeting of Murray Hunter in an act of transnational repression. We call for the complaints against him to be withdrawn immediately.
Read our joint statement 🔽 www.pen-international.org/news/malaysi...
Read our joint statement 🔽 www.pen-international.org/news/malaysi...
Malaysia-Thailand: Australian writer Murray Hunter targeted in act of transnational repression — PEN International | Promoting Literature & Defending Freedom of Expression Worldwide
‘ As the current ASEAN Chair, the Malaysian government has a responsibility to demonstrate its commitment to human rights, including the right to freedom of expression, across the region. Instead, it ...
www.pen-international.org
November 21, 2025 at 2:52 PM
#Thailand: We join PEN #Malaysia in expressing our alarm over the Malaysian government's targeting of Murray Hunter in an act of transnational repression. We call for the complaints against him to be withdrawn immediately.
Read our joint statement 🔽 www.pen-international.org/news/malaysi...
Read our joint statement 🔽 www.pen-international.org/news/malaysi...
Reposted by Ross Holder
Last week, we partnered with the Independent Chinese PEN Centre for a conference on the brutal realities of Chinese imprisonment and the impact of global conflict on free expression. During its award ceremony, the ICPC also honoured the courage of Zhang Haitao, Ding Jiaxi, and Gao Yu.
November 20, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Last week, we partnered with the Independent Chinese PEN Centre for a conference on the brutal realities of Chinese imprisonment and the impact of global conflict on free expression. During its award ceremony, the ICPC also honoured the courage of Zhang Haitao, Ding Jiaxi, and Gao Yu.
Reposted by Ross Holder
SIGN OUR PETITION: www.pen-international.org/yalqun-rozi-...
Uyghur writer #YalqunRozi has spent 9 years behind bars in China for expressing his cultural identity. Sentenced to 15 years, his only “crime” was helping preserve the Uyghur language. You can set him free. #DayoftheImprisonedWriter
Uyghur writer #YalqunRozi has spent 9 years behind bars in China for expressing his cultural identity. Sentenced to 15 years, his only “crime” was helping preserve the Uyghur language. You can set him free. #DayoftheImprisonedWriter
Yalqun Rozi — PEN International | Promoting Literature & Defending Freedom of Expression Worldwide
www.pen-international.org
November 18, 2025 at 10:41 AM
SIGN OUR PETITION: www.pen-international.org/yalqun-rozi-...
Uyghur writer #YalqunRozi has spent 9 years behind bars in China for expressing his cultural identity. Sentenced to 15 years, his only “crime” was helping preserve the Uyghur language. You can set him free. #DayoftheImprisonedWriter
Uyghur writer #YalqunRozi has spent 9 years behind bars in China for expressing his cultural identity. Sentenced to 15 years, his only “crime” was helping preserve the Uyghur language. You can set him free. #DayoftheImprisonedWriter
Reposted by Ross Holder
Our #DayoftheImprisonedWriter campaign starts today! Stand with writers behind bars: Rory Branker, Yalqun Rozi, Mohamed Tadjadit & Mzia Amaglobeli. You can write to authorities, sign petitions, or send messages of support — every action helps! www.pen-international.org/our-campaign...
Day of the Imprisoned Writer 2025 — PEN International | Promoting Literature & Defending Freedom of Expression Worldwide
“Across the world, writers continue to pay a heavy price for speaking truth. Rory Branker, Yalqun Rozi, Mohamed Tadjadit, and Mzia Amaglobeli remind us that words can shake the powerful — and that cou...
www.pen-international.org
November 15, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Our #DayoftheImprisonedWriter campaign starts today! Stand with writers behind bars: Rory Branker, Yalqun Rozi, Mohamed Tadjadit & Mzia Amaglobeli. You can write to authorities, sign petitions, or send messages of support — every action helps! www.pen-international.org/our-campaign...
Reposted by Ross Holder
Happening now: Our first panel for the Independent Chinese PEN Centre Award Ceremony, featuring a timely and important discussion with Luo Shengchun, Enver Tothi Bughda, and Ben Rogers on imprisonment and the increasingly severe reality of surveillance in China. #DayoftheImprisonedWriter
November 14, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Happening now: Our first panel for the Independent Chinese PEN Centre Award Ceremony, featuring a timely and important discussion with Luo Shengchun, Enver Tothi Bughda, and Ben Rogers on imprisonment and the increasingly severe reality of surveillance in China. #DayoftheImprisonedWriter
Reposted by Ross Holder
“We should all worry deeply about a world in which authoritarian governments use threats against people at home to silence critics of human-rights abuses abroad,” writes Laura Murphy in a guest essay
A human-rights researcher on why she pushed back when China bullied her university
Democratic governments must resist authoritarian states trying to co-opt their institutions, writes Laura Murphy
econ.st
November 11, 2025 at 9:00 PM
“We should all worry deeply about a world in which authoritarian governments use threats against people at home to silence critics of human-rights abuses abroad,” writes Laura Murphy in a guest essay
Reposted by Ross Holder
EVENT: From nationwide surveillance to the silencing of critical voices, this panel will explore the inner workings of China’s prison system and the courage of those who resist it.
Tickets ⬇️
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/chinese-pr...
Tickets ⬇️
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/chinese-pr...
November 8, 2025 at 10:23 AM
EVENT: From nationwide surveillance to the silencing of critical voices, this panel will explore the inner workings of China’s prison system and the courage of those who resist it.
Tickets ⬇️
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/chinese-pr...
Tickets ⬇️
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/chinese-pr...
For those in London next Fri, please join us for this fantastic event, organised by the Independent Chinese PEN Centre, in partnership with PEN International
May be of interest to your networks: @ppoon.bsky.social, @nicolamacbean.bsky.social, @taniabranigan.bsky.social,
@pm-thornton.bsky.social
May be of interest to your networks: @ppoon.bsky.social, @nicolamacbean.bsky.social, @taniabranigan.bsky.social,
@pm-thornton.bsky.social
Join the Independent Chinese PEN Centre with PEN International for “Chinese Prisons and International War: The 2025 ICPC Awards and Panel Discussions” on 14 November 2025, 1–5 PM.
Tickets available now ⬇️ www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/chinese-pr...
#DayOfTheImprisonedWriter
Tickets available now ⬇️ www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/chinese-pr...
#DayOfTheImprisonedWriter
November 6, 2025 at 3:43 PM
For those in London next Fri, please join us for this fantastic event, organised by the Independent Chinese PEN Centre, in partnership with PEN International
May be of interest to your networks: @ppoon.bsky.social, @nicolamacbean.bsky.social, @taniabranigan.bsky.social,
@pm-thornton.bsky.social
May be of interest to your networks: @ppoon.bsky.social, @nicolamacbean.bsky.social, @taniabranigan.bsky.social,
@pm-thornton.bsky.social
Reposted by Ross Holder
Join the Independent Chinese PEN Centre with PEN International for “Chinese Prisons and International War: The 2025 ICPC Awards and Panel Discussions” on 14 November 2025, 1–5 PM.
Tickets available now ⬇️ www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/chinese-pr...
#DayOfTheImprisonedWriter
Tickets available now ⬇️ www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/chinese-pr...
#DayOfTheImprisonedWriter
November 4, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Join the Independent Chinese PEN Centre with PEN International for “Chinese Prisons and International War: The 2025 ICPC Awards and Panel Discussions” on 14 November 2025, 1–5 PM.
Tickets available now ⬇️ www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/chinese-pr...
#DayOfTheImprisonedWriter
Tickets available now ⬇️ www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/chinese-pr...
#DayOfTheImprisonedWriter
Reposted by Ross Holder
What would a world with true freedom of expression look like? 💡
At this year’s Frankfurt Book Fair with @youngwriterspen.bsky.social, leading voices reminded us that freedom of expression isn’t easy... It’s dialogue, discomfort, and the courage to speak and listen so every voice can be heard.
At this year’s Frankfurt Book Fair with @youngwriterspen.bsky.social, leading voices reminded us that freedom of expression isn’t easy... It’s dialogue, discomfort, and the courage to speak and listen so every voice can be heard.
October 22, 2025 at 10:22 AM
What would a world with true freedom of expression look like? 💡
At this year’s Frankfurt Book Fair with @youngwriterspen.bsky.social, leading voices reminded us that freedom of expression isn’t easy... It’s dialogue, discomfort, and the courage to speak and listen so every voice can be heard.
At this year’s Frankfurt Book Fair with @youngwriterspen.bsky.social, leading voices reminded us that freedom of expression isn’t easy... It’s dialogue, discomfort, and the courage to speak and listen so every voice can be heard.
Reposted by Ross Holder
#China: Today, on the 10-year anniversary of the kidnapping of poet, bookseller and PEN member, Gui Minhai, 65 PEN Centres around the world renew our demand for his immediate and unconditional release.
Read our joint statement ⬇️
www.pen-international.org/news/china-p...
#FreeGuiMinhai
Read our joint statement ⬇️
www.pen-international.org/news/china-p...
#FreeGuiMinhai
PEN International
#China: Today, on the 10-year anniversary of the kidnapping of poet, bookseller and PEN member, Gui Minhai, 65 PEN Centres around the world renew our demand for his immediate and unconditional...
www.facebook.com
October 17, 2025 at 11:32 AM
#China: Today, on the 10-year anniversary of the kidnapping of poet, bookseller and PEN member, Gui Minhai, 65 PEN Centres around the world renew our demand for his immediate and unconditional release.
Read our joint statement ⬇️
www.pen-international.org/news/china-p...
#FreeGuiMinhai
Read our joint statement ⬇️
www.pen-international.org/news/china-p...
#FreeGuiMinhai
Reposted by Ross Holder
#China: We join RSF in a coalition of 90 civil society organisations demanding the immediate release of poet, bookseller and PEN member, Gui Minhai.
Read more ⬇️
www.pen-international.org/news/china-j...
#FreeGuiMinhai
Read more ⬇️
www.pen-international.org/news/china-j...
#FreeGuiMinhai
China: Joint Statement from Civil Society Groups on the Chinese Government’s Arbitrary Detention of Swedish publisher Gui Minhai — PEN International | Promoting Literature & Defending Freedom of Expre...
15 October 2025: This week marks the 10th anniversary of the abduction of poet, bookseller and PEN member, Gui Minhai. This is the first of two joint statements that will be published this week, in wh...
www.pen-international.org
October 15, 2025 at 12:27 PM
#China: We join RSF in a coalition of 90 civil society organisations demanding the immediate release of poet, bookseller and PEN member, Gui Minhai.
Read more ⬇️
www.pen-international.org/news/china-j...
#FreeGuiMinhai
Read more ⬇️
www.pen-international.org/news/china-j...
#FreeGuiMinhai
Reposted by Ross Holder
i desperately want everyone involved in the destruction of USAID to have to, st the very least, answer to the american people for the suffering and misery they have caused apnews.com/article/myan...
Starving children screaming for food as US aid cuts unleash devastation and death across Myanmar
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has repeatedly said “no one has died" because of his government’s decision to gut its foreign aid program.
apnews.com
October 8, 2025 at 2:59 PM
i desperately want everyone involved in the destruction of USAID to have to, st the very least, answer to the american people for the suffering and misery they have caused apnews.com/article/myan...
Reposted by Ross Holder
We are alarmed at reports that photojournalist and writer Shahidul Alam and others have been detained following the interception of an aid flotilla bound for Gaza. We call for their immediate release and safe return.
Read his recent article ⬇️
en.prothomalo.com/opinion/5gzi...
Read his recent article ⬇️
en.prothomalo.com/opinion/5gzi...
Life on Conscience
This is not about those of us on this ship. It is about Palestinians, particularly Gazans. We have gone way past the time for words and gestures. It is time for action.
en.prothomalo.com
October 8, 2025 at 1:55 PM
We are alarmed at reports that photojournalist and writer Shahidul Alam and others have been detained following the interception of an aid flotilla bound for Gaza. We call for their immediate release and safe return.
Read his recent article ⬇️
en.prothomalo.com/opinion/5gzi...
Read his recent article ⬇️
en.prothomalo.com/opinion/5gzi...
Reposted by Ross Holder
#Malaysia 🇲🇾 Centre for Independent Journalism & PEN Malaysia raised this question after Murray Hunter's arrest. "Is this a justifiable use of law enforcement and taxpayers’ money to pursue a political commentator abroad for alleged defamation against a public institution?"
Malaysia: Detention of political commentator Murray Hunter a suppression of free speech - IFEX
The Australian-born journalist and political commentator was arrested at Bangkok airport allegedly for defamation at the behest of Malaysian authorities.
buff.ly
October 8, 2025 at 7:00 AM
#Malaysia 🇲🇾 Centre for Independent Journalism & PEN Malaysia raised this question after Murray Hunter's arrest. "Is this a justifiable use of law enforcement and taxpayers’ money to pursue a political commentator abroad for alleged defamation against a public institution?"
Reposted by Ross Holder
#Vietnam: On the fifth anniversary of writer and journalist Pham Doan Trang's arrest, we join a coalition of 21 rights organisations calling for her release.
Read our statement ⬇️
www.pen-international.org/news/vietnam...
#FreePhamDoanTrang
Read our statement ⬇️
www.pen-international.org/news/vietnam...
#FreePhamDoanTrang
Vietnam: On 5th anniversary of writer Pham Doan Trang’s arrest, PEN International joins coalition calling for her release — PEN International | Promoting Literature & Defending Freedom of Expression W...
6 October 2025: Ahead of the fifth anniversary of the detention of prominent Vietnamese journalist, writer and woman human rights defender Pham Doan Trang, an international coalition of non-government...
www.pen-international.org
October 6, 2025 at 10:14 AM
#Vietnam: On the fifth anniversary of writer and journalist Pham Doan Trang's arrest, we join a coalition of 21 rights organisations calling for her release.
Read our statement ⬇️
www.pen-international.org/news/vietnam...
#FreePhamDoanTrang
Read our statement ⬇️
www.pen-international.org/news/vietnam...
#FreePhamDoanTrang
Reposted by Ross Holder
Don’t miss this important discussion! PEN Malaysia, PEN Philippines, and PEN International are hosting a panel ahead of Myanmar’s December elections, exploring the links between the electoral process, violence & restrictions on free expression. Oct 5, 3–4 pm (MYT). meet.google.com/dbh-tngp-fnr
October 3, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Don’t miss this important discussion! PEN Malaysia, PEN Philippines, and PEN International are hosting a panel ahead of Myanmar’s December elections, exploring the links between the electoral process, violence & restrictions on free expression. Oct 5, 3–4 pm (MYT). meet.google.com/dbh-tngp-fnr
Reposted by Ross Holder
#Malaysia #Thailand: We join PEN Malaysia in expressing concern over the arrest of writer & journalist #MurrayHunter by the Thai police, reportedly at the behest of the Malaysian authorities. As ASEAN chair, Malaysia must reflect on the signal this sends. abcnews.go.com/Internationa...
Australian says he was improperly arrested in Thailand over his criticism of Malaysia
An Australian man arrested in Thailand on a defamation charge he says originated with Malaysia's government claims he is a victim of transnational repression, in which Southeast Asia countries coopera...
abcnews.go.com
October 3, 2025 at 12:22 PM
#Malaysia #Thailand: We join PEN Malaysia in expressing concern over the arrest of writer & journalist #MurrayHunter by the Thai police, reportedly at the behest of the Malaysian authorities. As ASEAN chair, Malaysia must reflect on the signal this sends. abcnews.go.com/Internationa...
Reposted by Ross Holder
We welcome the news that @pensweden.bsky.social has awarded the 2025 Tucholsky Prize to imprisoned author Phạm Đoan Trang.
This recognition shines an important light on her courage to overcome state censorship and her tireless fight for freedom of expression.
www.svenskapen.se/senaste-nytt...
This recognition shines an important light on her courage to overcome state censorship and her tireless fight for freedom of expression.
www.svenskapen.se/senaste-nytt...
Tucholskypriset 2025 tilldelas fängslade författaren Phạm Đoan Trang — Svenska PEN
Den fängslade vietnamesiska författaren Phạm Đoan Trang 2025 års Tucholskypris. Motiveringen lyder: Författaren och publicisten Phạm Đoan Trang tilldelas Tucholskypriset 2025 för sitt hängivna skrivan...
www.svenskapen.se
October 2, 2025 at 3:12 PM
We welcome the news that @pensweden.bsky.social has awarded the 2025 Tucholsky Prize to imprisoned author Phạm Đoan Trang.
This recognition shines an important light on her courage to overcome state censorship and her tireless fight for freedom of expression.
www.svenskapen.se/senaste-nytt...
This recognition shines an important light on her courage to overcome state censorship and her tireless fight for freedom of expression.
www.svenskapen.se/senaste-nytt...