In 1981, the PEN International writers association declared 15 November to be the Day of the Imprisoned Writer.

This year, the Kurdish Literature Association and Mesopotamia Writers Association published a statement on 15 November to show their solidarity with their colleagues in prison.

“Hundreds of writers and intellectuals are currently behind bars in our country”, declared the statement, before criticising governments for not respecting basic human rights. “Although everybody is supposed to be free to express their opinion, in reality fascist governments put people in prison for doing so”. Writers also called for public awareness of the current situation in prisons and demanded the release of writers who are kept behind bars.

“For this reason, to defend the rights of writers and thinkers in prisons and to make their voices heard, 15 November was declared to be the Day of the Imprisoned Writer by the International Writers Union. By demanding the release of writers who are currently imprisoned, we wish for hopeful futures for all our writer”.