PEN SA Calls for the Charges Against Dareen Tatour to be Dropped

This is one of the cases highlighted by PEN on the Day of the Imprisoned Writer 2016. Read about the other cases here.

A poet and a Palestinian citizen of Israel, Dareen Tatour is currently standing trial on charges of “support for a terrorist organisation” and several counts of incitement to violence in connection with her poetry and social media activity. Tatour was detained over a year ago and is currently under house arrest. Read more about the case and find out what you can do to help on PEN International’s website.

PEN South Africa has sent a letter to the Israeli Minister of Justice Ayelet Shaked calling for the charges against Dareen Tatour to be dropped:

PEN South Africa is writing to express our concern over the charges brought against poet Dareen Tatour, who is a Palestinian citizen of Israel. Tatour is currently standing trial on charges of “support for a terrorist organisation” and several counts of incitement to violence in connection with her poetry and social media activity.

PEN International has issued a comprehensive statement outlining the details of the charges against Tatour, which are appended below this letter. After reviewing the charge sheet and the evidence against her, PEN has concluded that Tatour has been targeted for her poetry and activism.

We call on you to drop all charges against her as we believe she is being held solely for her peaceful exercise of her rights to freedom of expression and urge you to release her from house arrest immediately and unconditionally.

Sincerely

Margie Orford
President
PEN South Africa

Mandla Langa
Executive Vice-President
PEN South Africa

Raymond Louw
Vice President
PEN South Africa