The Siege

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The English Centre of International PEN, the worldwide association of writers, exists to uphold the values of literature, literacy and freedom of expression. The first PEN Club was founded in London in 1921 to promote intellectual co-operation and understanding among writers, to create a world community of writers that would emphasise the central role of literature in the development of world culture, and to defend literature against the modern world’s threats to its survival. As the world’s oldest human rights organisation and the oldest international literary organisation, PEN acts as a powerful voice on behalf of writers harassed, imprisoned and sometimes killed for their views. Membership of English PEN is open to all who are actively engaged in any branch of literature, regardless of nationality, race or religion. In accordance with its charter, PEN believes that literature knows no frontiers, and that it should remain a common currency between nations in spite of political and international upheavals.