News Center-The annual report of PEN America has indicated that a new wave of restrictions on writers and cultural activists in Iran has led to a rise in the number of deatinees, bringing it closer again to the levels seen during the widespread protests of 2022. According to the report, the past year alone saw the arrest of at least 17 writers and cultural figures, which reinforces Iran’s position as one of the countries most violation freedom of expression worldwide.

PEN America affirmed that the scope of repression in Iran is not limited to political writers alone, but also includes poets, translators, songwriters, researchers, columnists, human rights defenders, and media workers – all of whom are subjected to arrest, the opening of judicial cases, and heavy sentences.

The director of the organization's "Writers at Risk" program said in part of the report: "Iranian authorities attract more attention than others because of their harsh campaign against independent voices. Poets, translators, researchers, songwriters, opinion writers, human rights defenders, and columnists are all thrown into prisons, while the authorities seek to silence debate, criticism, and opposition."

The report also pointed to political and security developments in recent months inside Iran, explaining that after the 12‑day war between Iran and Israel, Iranian security and judicial authorities intensified pressure on critics, writers, and civil activists. According to the organization, the security climate that emerged after the war became a breeding ground for increased arrests, summonses, and the imposition of broad restrictions on critical voices.

Over the past months, several human rights organizations have accused the Islamic Republic of using vague security charges to silence critics. Many writers and journalists in Iran are prosecuted on charges such as "propaganda against the system," "assembly and conspiracy," or "cooperation with hostile states" – charges that human rights defenders consider tools for suppressing freedom of expression.

The PEN America report comes at a time of growing concern about the conditions of political prisoners, restrictions on internet access, tightened censorship, and the security treatment of cultural activists in Iran. International organizations advocating for freedom of expression have repeatedly warned that the continuation of this approach will push Iran's cultural and media scene toward further closure and complete repression.