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#FreeIlham: Writers Pose for a Cause

As his daughter Jewher Ilham accepted the award on his behalf, she had one last request from the luminaries in the room, who included James Salter, Jennifer Egan, John Waters and even members of Pussy Riot: support the campaign for her father's release online with the hashtag #FreeIlham.
PEN America
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PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect open expression in the United States and worldwide.

PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect open expression in the United States and worldwide.
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On Monday, May 5, New York City's "Literati" gathered at the 2014 PEN American Center Literary Gala to honor Salman Rushdie, Twitter CEO Dick Costolo and, most importantly, Chinese Uyghur writer Ilham Tohti, who is currently in prison for his peaceful advocacy of minority rights in China. As his daughter Jewher Ilham accepted the award on his behalf, she had one last request from the luminaries in the room, who included James Salter, Jennifer Egan, John Waters and even members of Pussy Riot: support the campaign for her father's release online with the hashtag #FreeIlham.

Taiye Selasi (Right)

#FreeIlham: Writers Campaign to Release Ilham Tohti

Please join us in spreading Tohti's name and story, knowing that with more awareness of his case comes greater safety for Tohti and his family, and better chances of release. Tweet this.

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