The award is presented annu- ally to an outstanding British, Irish or Com- monwealth writer who then shares it with “a writer who is active in defence of freedom of expression, often at great risk to their own safety and liberty.” Mrs Sabet was selected by this year’s award winner, the Northern Irish poet Mi- chael Longley, from a shortlist of internation. M RS SABET, 64, was named “In- ternational Writer of Courage” at the PEN Pinter Prize event, held on 10 October. Mahvash Sabet named “International Writer of Courage” The Iranian Bahá’í Mahvash Sabet, freed in September after almost ten years in an Iranian prison, shared in the top honour at a prestigious literary award ceremony, held at the British Library on 10 October 2017.

Sabet found solace in writing poems that were collected and adapted into English, published as Pris- on Poems four years ago. She was arrested in March 2008 and released in September 2017. A former teacher, Mrs Sabet was one of the seven members of the former lead- ership group of the Bahá’ís in Iran known as the Yaran, who were jailed for ten years each on baseless charges. It’s incredible that she is finally free.” “We have continued to raise her case overĪl cases supported by the English branch of PEN, the international writers’ association that campaigns for freedom of expression.

“You are an ex- ample of advocacy to people of goodwill everywhere, including journalists and activ- ists among my own compatriots, and even certain clerics in Iran.” In the ceremony’s closing remarks, An- tonia Byatt, director of English PEN, said that is was “so wonderful to hear Mahvash’s voice live in this room as it should be, rather than locked away. “When I suffered in prison, your com- passion sustained me all through those dark years, your sincere support encour- aged me,” Mrs. Sabet attracted attention to her poetry, inspiring PEN to feature her in a campaign to defend persecuted writers. And in thanking you for this great honour, I would like to speak on be- half of all whose rights and freedoms have been deprived.” The plight ofMrs. “It is a wonder to me and a mystery.” “I am torn between joy and sorrow at this moment. “Ten years of my life have just passed be- hind bars, and as I re-enter the world I find myself given this incredible award,”Mrs. Sabet herself, in which she recited one of her own poems. The audience then watched a video message sent by Mrs. Sabet expressed her gratitude for the award via a written message, read at the cer- emony by writer Bahiyyih Nakhjavani, who adapted Mrs Sabet’s poetry for publication in English.

Her incarceration by the Iranian authorities was a sin against the light.” Mrs.

Prison Poems by Mahvash Sabet