PEN International continues to appeal to the Syrian authorities to stop the use of excessive force in the ongoing crackdown on anti-government protests. The crisis has now deepened and the numbers of victims on both sides of the conflict continue to escalate. PEN has designed a series of three postcards featuring portraits of the work of imprisoned and killed Syrian poets, which PEN members are urged to send to the Syrian representatives in their countries. They can also be used in publicity events, as postcards or posters, to raise awareness and appealing for the end of the Syrian conflict.

More than 20,000 civilians have been killed, several thousands have been wounded and about two million have been displaced as a consequence of the conflict. PEN has been working on highlighting the cases of killed and imprisoned writers, poets, and journalists, by statements and through our RAN network.

With the purpose of honoring some of our Syrian colleagues through their writings, PEN International has produced three postcards highlighting the cases of writers Dia’a Al-Abdulla, Tal Al-Mallouhi and the late Ibrahim Qashoush. The postcards contain brief extracts of their work and a short background of their cases.

CALL TO ACTION

PEN International urges its members to:

• Print: Download the templates of the postcards from this link and print them;
• Send: Send the postcards to the Syrian authorities via your nearest diplomatic representative of Syria;
• Campaign: Use these materials in any other way you can. Host events in solidarity with these writers and their families, approach the media to raise your concerns about the Syrian crisis, or read sessions at literary events.

Related links:

• Protesters using Qashoush’s songs on YouTube
• A PEN statement on the ongoing conflict in Syria
• The most recent alert issued by the WiPC on Syria
• The online version of this action

There is no petition associated with this RAN.