PEN International is composed of 147 centres in 101 countries, the only worldwide writers' association and now the most venerable of all human rights organisations.
Since its formation in 1921, PEN's one core principle has united its tens of thousands of members across the globe: Defend freedom of expression.
I say unite. There have reports of dissent over a special award being made to the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in honour of the dead and the handful of staff not slaughtered at the hands of two gunmen on January 5. PEN America, the largest of our centres, decided to recognise Charlie Hebdo staff for their stance for free expression despite their grief, despite threats of murder, violence and even a firebombing of their premises. Dissent has come from 29 prominent members of PEN America who wish to disassociate themselves from the award, believing the now world-famous French satirical magazine guilty of anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and racism.
Partly in reaction to the attempted hijacking of "Je Suis Charlie" by world leaders who are serial offenders against free expression many PEN centres across the world, including here in Scotland, took a central role in exploring and expressing real people's feelings. Scottish PEN organised two events titled Are We Still Charlie to look at free expression in the 21st century. Chairing both those events - the first on the night after a gunman shot dead one participant at a similar event in Denmark - I heard great breadth and depth of opinion from panellists like Greg Moodie, Joyce Macmillan, Aamer Anwar and Chris Cairns, as well as highly engaged, impassioned audiences.
People care deeply about free expression, I'm pleased to say. They want to argue and discuss and debate and, above all, are prepared to defend it. That includes the rights of the PEN America dissenters. I support their right to dissent - but disagree with their argument.
The Executive of Scottish PEN supports our PEN colleagues' decision to make this award. We do not believe this award is about content, or context, but for the principle of speaking truth to power - and for sheer bravery.
Drew Campbell,
President, Scottish PEN,
The Writers' Museum,
Lady Stair's Close,
Lawnmarket,
Edinburgh.
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