PEN International calls to take action for Nobel Laureate Ales Bialiatski on International Mother Language Day

Held every year on 21 February, International Mother Language Day is observed to promote linguistic and cultural diversity, and multilingualism. To mark this anniversary, PEN International features the case of Belarusian writer, human rights defender, Nobel Peace Prize winner and PEN Belarus member Ales Bialiatski, detained since 2021 and currently on trial.

This case is emblematic of the type of threats and attacks writers and journalists around the world are often subjected to, for peacefully exercising their right to freedom of expression. It is also emblematic of the type of oppression experienced by writers and journalists who are prevented from expressing themselves in their indigenous or minoritised language. – writes PEN International.