2008 Woodie Awards
Celebrating Banned Books Week
Rollins' Chapter of Anmesty International observes annual banned books week.
Erika Batey
Issue date: 10/7/05 Section: Life & Times
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Does a government or a group have the right to determine what is published or what its citizens read? This is the theme of the annual international Banned Books Week, held by Amnesty International and the American Library Association.
In honor of this year's observance week, the Rollins chapter of Amnesty International met to discuss this year's specific cases and write letters petitioning governments to release imprisoned authors and journalists.
Banned Books Week has been an annual event since 1982, and took place this year from September 24 to October 1. It is held by Amnesty International around the world, and in the US also by the American Library Association. Whereas the American Library Association focuses on novels that have been "challenged", Amnesty focuses its attention on authors, journalists, and scholars from around the word who have been detained or persecuted, "because of the writings that they produce, articulate, or read."
On Tuesday, September 27, members from Rollins Amnesty International met with members from the Orlando chapter of Amnesty at Winter Park Library for a discussion of various individuals whose writings have been challenged or banned in their countries. Among this year's cases are a historian from China, a poet and reporter from Eritrea, an editor from Iran, and a writer from Myanmar.
Tohti Tunyaz, an ethnic Uighur from Xuar in northwestern China, is currently serving an eleven year prison sentence because of his research into Uighur history and Chinese government policy towards minority groups. He was detained in February 1998 and arrested the following year. Among the charges against him are "inciting separation," and "illegally acquiring state secrets."
Fessahaye Yohannes is a poet, playwright and short story writer from Eritrea. He is also co-founder and reporter for Setit, a weekly newspaper that stands for freedom of thought and opinion. He is one of ten journalists who have been detained without charge or trial since late September 2001. Recently his newspaper has been shut down because of articles that are critical of the government.
In honor of this year's observance week, the Rollins chapter of Amnesty International met to discuss this year's specific cases and write letters petitioning governments to release imprisoned authors and journalists.
Banned Books Week has been an annual event since 1982, and took place this year from September 24 to October 1. It is held by Amnesty International around the world, and in the US also by the American Library Association. Whereas the American Library Association focuses on novels that have been "challenged", Amnesty focuses its attention on authors, journalists, and scholars from around the word who have been detained or persecuted, "because of the writings that they produce, articulate, or read."
On Tuesday, September 27, members from Rollins Amnesty International met with members from the Orlando chapter of Amnesty at Winter Park Library for a discussion of various individuals whose writings have been challenged or banned in their countries. Among this year's cases are a historian from China, a poet and reporter from Eritrea, an editor from Iran, and a writer from Myanmar.
Tohti Tunyaz, an ethnic Uighur from Xuar in northwestern China, is currently serving an eleven year prison sentence because of his research into Uighur history and Chinese government policy towards minority groups. He was detained in February 1998 and arrested the following year. Among the charges against him are "inciting separation," and "illegally acquiring state secrets."
Fessahaye Yohannes is a poet, playwright and short story writer from Eritrea. He is also co-founder and reporter for Setit, a weekly newspaper that stands for freedom of thought and opinion. He is one of ten journalists who have been detained without charge or trial since late September 2001. Recently his newspaper has been shut down because of articles that are critical of the government.