Persecuted Writers Receive Awards
Tuesday, July 19 2005 @ 11:09 PM EDT
Edited by: Kandy Ringer
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Human Rights Watch 2005
News and Releases
Compiled by Kandy Ringer
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27 Persecuted Writers from 17 Countries Awarded Hellman/Hammett Grants
HRW via BBSNews - New York, July 20, 2005 -- Journalists, novelists and Internet
writers from 17 countries received Hellman/Hammett grants in
recognition of their courage in the face of political persecution.
The Hellman/Hammett grants are given annually to writers around
the world who have been targets of political persecution. The grant
program began in 1989 when the U.S. playwright Lillian Hellman
willed that her estate be used to assist writers in financial need as a
result of expressing their views. Ms. Hellman was prompted by her
experiences during the anti-communist hysteria of the 1950s, when
she and her longtime companion, the writer Dashiell Hammett,
were questioned by U.S. Congressional committees about their
political beliefs and affiliations.
The writers honored this year have been harassed, assaulted,
indicted, jailed on trumped up charges, or tortured merely for
providing information from nongovernmental sources. In addition
to those who are directly targeted, many others are forced to
practice self-censorship.
Some of this year's recipients have asked to remain anonymous
because of possible continuing danger to them and their families.
The recipients who can safely receive publicity include:
- Americas:
- Hollman Morris (Colombia), investigative journalist.
- Pierre Elisem (Haiti), radio journalist
- Africa:
- Kum Margaret (Cameroon), freelance journalist
- Tewodros Kassa (Ethiopia), newspaper editor
- Isioma Daniel (Nigeria), newspaper journalist
- Ismail Mbonigaba (Rwanda), journalist and newspaper editor
- Europe:
- Yuri Bagrov (Russia), reporter
- Middle East and North Africa:
- Assurbanipal Babilla (Iran), playwright and painter
- Omid Memarian (Iran), journalist and Internet writer
- Sina Mottalebi (Iran), journalist and Internet writer
- Taqi Rahmani (Iran), author of 26 books and monographs
- Ali Lmrabet (Morocco), journalist and newspaper editor
- Maha Hassan (Syria), novelist and essayist
- Abdallah Zouari (Tunisia), writer and high school teacher
- Asia:
- Saleem Samad (Bangladesh), journalist
- Bao Zunxin (China), editor-in-chief of several journals
- Guo Qinghai (China), political and economic essayist
- Yu Shicun (China), poet, essayist and teacher
- Ameera Javeria (Pakistan), journalist
In the 15 previous years of the Hellman/Hammett grant program,
more than 500 writers received grants totaling more than $2.5
million. The Hellman/Hammett program also makes small
emergency grants throughout the year to writers who have an
urgent need to leave their country or who need immediate medical
treatment after serving prison terms or enduring torture.
For detailed information on each award winner, see Award Winners.
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