Salman Rushdie has chosen Syrian journalist, lawyer
and human rights defender Mazen Darwish to share the PEN Pinter Prize 2014.
Mazen Darwish wins the International Writer of Courage Award in recognition of
his fight for civil rights and freedom of expression in Syria.
Salman
Rushdie made the announcement at a public event at the British Library this
evening, Thursday 9 October. Zaher Omareen, Syrian researcher and writer,
formally accepted the prize on behalf of Darwish, who is currently imprisoned
for charges of ‘publicising terrorist acts’ under Syria’s Anti-Terrorism Law.
The PEN Pinter Prize was established in 2009 in memory
of the Nobel Prize-winning playwright Harold Pinter. The prize is awarded
annually to a British writer or a writer resident in Britain of outstanding
literary merit, who, in the opinion of the judges, exemplifies the spirit of
Harold Pinter through his or her engagement with the times. The British winner
shares the prize with an international writer who is active in defence of
freedom of expression, often at great risk to their own safety.
Rushdie was named as recipient of the PEN Pinter Prize
in June this year by judges Michael Billington, Antonia Fraser, Simon Jenkins,
Kamila Shamsie and President of English PEN and Chair of Judges, Maureen
Freely. Salman Rushdie delivered an address, published in a limited
edition by Faber & Faber and presented to members of the audience.
Rushdie chose Mazen Darwish to share the prize from a
shortlist drawn up by the English PEN Writers at Risk programme.
Antonia Fraser, Harold Pinter’s widow, said: ‘There
could not be a more appropriate and deserving choice in view of the current
situation in Syria, one that speaks directly to the ideals of PEN.’
Salman Rushdie said: ‘Mazen Darwish courageously
fought for civilised values - free expression, human rights - in one of the
most dangerous places in the world. His continued detention is arbitrary and
unjust. He should be freed immediately, and we must hope this award may help,
by shining a light on his plight.’
Maureen Freely, President of
English PEN, said: ‘During this time when yet again Syria is capturing
headlines around the world, we must not forget that creative defenders of free
expression are detained and possibly tortured. Particularly at times of
conflict we depend on the voices of calm and principled reason’.
About Mazen Darwish
Journalist,
lawyer and human rights defender Mazen Darwish is the founding President of the
Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM). Founded in 2004,
the SCM works to promote freedom of opinion and expression and, since the
uprising began in 2011, has documented the human rights abuses taking place in
Syria.
Mazen
Darwish was arrested on 16 February 2012, alongside bloggers and SCM members
Hussein Ghreer and Hani Zetani, after their offices were raided by Air Force
Intelligence officers. In March 2014 the General Prosecutor of the
Anti-Terrorism Court of Damascus presented charges against Mazen Darwish of
‘publicising terrorist acts’ under Article 8 of the 2012 Anti-Terrorism Law. If
convicted, he faces a prison sentence of up to 15 years.
Darwish’s
lawyers have challenged the jurisdiction of the Anti-Terrorism Court, arguing
that the SCM’s activities cannot be considered as terrorist acts. They have
also highlighted several procedural irregularities, including the absence of an
arrest warrant. Furthermore, the trial has failed to comply with international
standards and has been subject to excessive delays. There are also widespread
fears that Darwish and his co-defendants have been tortured and ill-treated,
and that evidence extracted under torture may be used against them. There has
been no official investigation into these allegations.
The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) has
declared the detention of Mazen Darwish, along with his colleagues from SCM, to
be arbitrary and has asked for their immediate release.
Their trial is due to resume at the Anti-Terrorism Court on 5 November
2014. (Subject to change)
About the PEN Pinter Prize
The PEN Pinter Prize was established in 2009 by the
worldwide writers’ association and freedom of expression charity English PEN in
memory of Nobel-laureate playwright Harold Pinter. The prize is awarded
annually to a British writer or writer resident in Britain of outstanding
literary merit, who, in the words of Harold Pinter’s Nobel Literature Prize
speech, casts an ‘unflinching, unswerving’ gaze upon the world and shows
a ‘fierce intellectual determination...to define the real truth of our lives and
our societies’.’ The British winner chooses an International Writer of Courage
to share the prize with them from a shortlist provided by the English PEN
Writers at Risk programme.
The British Library acquired Harold Pinter’s extensive
archive in 2007. It is now available to researchers. The British Library has
hosted the PEN / Pinter Prize since its inauguration in 2009.
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