Writers behind bars

It can be easy, in the whirlwind of creativity that is Edinburgh in August, to take our freedom to express ourselves for granted. A sobering reminder of this is provided by Amnesty International's Imprisoned Writers programme, a series of readings aimed at raising awareness for silenced writers around the world.

Taking place daily in Charlotte Square throughout the Book Festival, the talks are inspired by the UN Declaration of Human Rights, with each event focusing on a particular article in the declaration.

The events take the form of readings from the work of imprisoned writers around the world, including Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, Chinese poet and journalist Shi Tao, and exiled writers such as Palestinian poet Iyad Hayatleh. Authors including Ian Rankin and Iain Banks will be reading at the events.

“It’s great to have support from people like that because it’s a good way of introducing a new audience to some of the things happening around the world that they are probably not going to be aware of otherwise,” says Amnesty International Scotland director John Watson, who will be chairing some of the readings.

“We often find that it is authors who are at the forefront of campaigns for human rights, and it's authors who are being persecuted, because they are the ones who are speaking out and challenging ideas in society.”

The series will pay particular attention to Binayek Sen, a medical doctor and human rights activist in the Chhattisgarh region of India. Sen was arrested in May 2007 after being accused of passing letters between imprisoned members of a banned leftist group, though Amnesty believe the charges are politically motivated. He exposed abuses against indigenous tribal peoples in the region carried out in a government counter-insurgency campaign. Released on bail earlier this year following two years in prison, Sen is yet to face trial, and could be sentenced to life imprisonment if found guilty.

"We're campaigning for Binayak Sen at the Edinburgh Festival because it's such a clear case of someone being denied the right to free speech - and freedom of expression is, at heart, what the festival's all about,” says Watson.

"Amnesty is constantly being confronted with cases of people who are harassed, locked up or even killed for what they say or what they write. From journalists in Russia to activists in China, people like Binayak Sen are putting their freedom or even their life on the line when they speak out."

Amnesty has a long-standing relationship with the Edinburgh festival, and the imprisoned writers series is just one of a variety of events this summer. As well as the series, Amnesty also hosts the regular comedy sell-out Stand Up for Freedom, and the Amnesty International lecture with former Sudanese child soldier Emmanuel Jal – as well as presenting the annual Freedom of Expression Award to a festival production "of excellent artistic merit which also builds understanding of human rights."

Watson believes Amnesty are perfectly placed take part in the festivals in this way. “It’s a great opportunity to engage with people, and an organisation like Amnesty survives by engaging with people,” he says. “And for Amnesty there is a connection to the festivals that other charities wouldn’t have, because we talk about freedom of expression. We are actually a part of what the festivals are about, rather than simply taking part in it.”

 

This month also sees the launch of Freedom: the third in a trilogy of Amnesty books published to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the declaration of human rights, and containing work by writers including Paulo Coelho, AL Kennedy and Andrew Motion.

“It’s great that we have authors speaking out about freedom of expression,” says Watson. “They have an opportunity that many people just aren’t able to enjoy.”