PEN International Calls for Peace – Dispel all Hatreds
Scottish PEN is a signatory to this statement from PEN International, and asks our members to consider signing. “20 October: In the third decade of the 21st Century humans are able to see into the...
View ArticleFlash Fiction by Lizzie Eldridge
Chair of the Scottish PEN Writers at Risk Committee, Lizzie Eldridge, wrote these two stories in response to the conflict in Gaza. The stories were originally published by Literary Revelations, who...
View ArticleStatement on the Killing of Journalists Hamza Dahdouh and Mustafa Thuraya
Scottish PEN must yet again condemn the targeted killing of journalists by the Israeli army in its continuing attacks on Gaza. The two young men who died in these latest killings were Hamza Dahdouh...
View ArticlePEN International Writers for Peace Committee call for submissions
The Writers for Peace Committee of PEN International is seeking articles for inclusion in its March 2024 newsletter. They have given the following submission guidelines: Type of Content: Articles...
View ArticleScottish poets respond to Israel’s genocide in Gaza
A number of our members and other Scottish poets have written poems in response to the current conflict, and have kindly given permission for them to be shared here. Scottish PEN invites further...
View ArticleScottish PEN Speaks at Glasgow Protests Against the Genocide in Gaza
Chair of the Scottish PEN Writers at Risk Committee, Lizzie Eldridge, spoke at two of the recent protests in Glasgow. Her speeches are reproduced below. 31st December 2023 I’m Lizzie Eldridge, and I’m...
View ArticleCelebrating Robert Burns
Scottish PEN member and Burns scholar Gerard Carruthers speaks on the compassion and enduring appeal of Scotland’s national poet. As an organisation that, among its other objectives, champions...
View ArticleHolocaust Memorial Day
Every year on 27 January the UK marks the horrific organised slaughter perpetrated in Europe in the 1930s and 40s and in many other parts of the world since then. At a time when dehumanising hatred...
View ArticleValentines4Palestine: Donate for Writers at Risk
On Wednesday 14 February 2024, fifteen UK independent bookshops including Glasgow’s Mount Florida Books will hold events to raise money for the PEN Emergency Fund to provide support ringfenced for...
View ArticlePoet Peter Clive responds to Israel’s genocide in Gaza
Scottish PEN member Peter Clive submitted the following poems in reply to our recent post, Scottish poets respond to Israel’s genocide in Gaza. We encourage further poetic and literary submissions as...
View ArticleFundraiser for Médecins Sans Frontières Gaza
What? An event to raise funds for MSF Gaza Where? Street Level Gallery, Trongate, Glasgow.When? Sunday 25th February 2-4pm Scottish PEN is collaborating with SCAP, bringing writers together to share...
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Upcoming events: readings by Bachtyar Ali
The Writers in Exile committee of Scottish PEN invites you to join us to celebrate the English language publication of ‘The Last Pomegranate Tree’ by the internationally acclaimed, award-winning...
View ArticleUpcoming event: International Women’s Day
Scottish PEN with the Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities (IASH)and GENDER.ED invite you to an inspiring afternoon event on International Women’s Day, Friday 8 March, in central...
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Flash fiction and poetry by Ukrainian writer Malvina Perova
Malvina Perova is a Ukrainian writer and illustrator. Together with her younger sibling, she’s currently working as a video games digital art creator. 24th of February 2022 woke her up with loud...
View ArticleMoon Tell Me Truth
Over 600,000 children in Gaza are trapped in Rafah. There is nowhere safe for them to go. All the poems in the exhibition Moon Tell Me Truth to be held at the Scottish Storytelling Centre from 23 May...
View ArticleEvent postponement
We have had to take the decision to postpone the event, ‘Declarations: On Freedom for Writers, Readers and Palestine’, which had been due to take place at Lighthouse Bookshop on Friday, 5th April. We...
View ArticleScottish PEN statement on the denial of Dr Ghassan Abu-Sitta’s entry to France
Scottish PEN is appalled by the news that Dr Ghassan Abu-Sitta was prevented from entering France on Saturday 4th May 2024. Dr Abu-Sitta is a renowned British-Palestinian plastic surgeon, rector of...
View ArticleScottish PEN statement on police handling of journalists and protesters at...
Scottish PEN is deeply concerned about reported police aggression towards peaceful protesters at Thales Arms Factory, Govan, on Wednesday 15 May 2024. The protest peacefully and successfully closed...
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Come Here: Scottish Poets Respond to the Children of Gaza
At the request of Scottish PEN member Heather Kiernan, working with the Hands Up Project, Scottish PEN organised a call-out to Scottish poets to respond to ‘Moon Tell Me Truth’, illustrated poems by...
View ArticleScottish PEN Statement on Police Violence against Peaceful Activists at Govan...
Scottish PEN is shocked and appalled at the level of violence used by Police Scotland against peaceful activists on Wednesday 3rd July 2024. Police violence occurred following a peaceful protest at...
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