In recognition of National Banned Books Week (October 5-11), Amnesty International USA will spotlight seven cases that illustrate human rights violations faced by individuals and communities due to their written or spoken words, as well as other forms of artistic expression.
This year, featured individuals include a media commentator, blogger, poet, photojournalist, and others who have expressed critical viewpoints.
Alaa Abdel Fattah
Egypt
On September 23, 2025, Alaa Abdel Fattah, a prisoner of conscience and a leading voice of Egypt’s 2011 revolution, was granted a presidential pardon after six years of unjust imprisonment. He was sentenced to five years in December 2021 for “spreading false news” through a social media post, and although his sentence was set to end on September 29, 2024, Egyptian authorities refused to release him.
Since 2019, Amnesty International has issued 17 Urgent Actions for his release. Alaa was also featured in Amnesty’s 2023 and 2025 Banned Books Week Action. Thanks to supporters like you in our global rapid response network, we never lost hope that justice would prevail.
Let this moment remind us that perseverance and collective action can drive meaningful change.
We invite you to send Alaa a solidarity message, which you will find on the case sheet!
Additional Resources
Watch: Father’s Day for Alaa – Half an Hour with Khaled
In this powerful Father’s Day tribute, Hollywood stars read Abd el-Fattah’s poignant excerpt about his son Khaled, emphasizing his love and resilience amid the emotional toll of his imprisonment.
Read: You Have Not Yet Been Defeated
A collection of essays, tweets, letters, and personal reflections by Alaa Abd el-Fattah, many of which were smuggled out of Egyptian prisons.
Yashar or Yaxia’er Xiaohelaiti / 亚夏尔·肖合拉提
Uyghur Songwriter Sentenced to 3 Years for His Rap Lyrics and Books in His Possession
China
Yashar, also known as Yaxia’er Xiaohelaiti (亚夏尔·肖合拉提), and using the stage name “Uigga,” a 27-year-old Uyghur songwriter, is serving a three-year prison sentence for creating music and possessing Uyghur-language books. Convicted on June 20, 2024, of “promoting extremism” and “illegally possessing extremist materials,” he endures unjust imprisonment for expressing his cultural identity and freedom of expression.
Case Sheet Online Petition Printable Petition Sample Letter Young Responders UA Edition
Sai Zaw Thaike
Photojournalist sentenced to 20 years in prison for reporting on a cyclone
Myanmar
Photojournalist Sai Zaw Thaike traveled undercover to Rakhine State, Myanmar, determined to report on the devastation of Cyclone Mocha, which slammed into the country in May 2023. Sai embedded himself with a relief team, but after a week there, Sai Zaw was arrested. He was interrogated, beaten, and in September 2023, sentenced by a military tribunal to 20 years in prison with hard labor. His trial lasted just one day. Following the 2021 military coup, the military raided the offices of “Myanmar Now,” a news agency where Sai worked. The media outlet was subsequently banned, and staff had to flee the country.
Mark Kislitsyn
Trans Man Receives 12-Year Prison Sentence for EXPRESSING Anti-War Activism
Russia
Mark Kislitsyn, a 28-year-old transgender man and LGBTQI+ activist, was sentenced to 12 years for high treason after donating $10 to a Ukrainian bank. He claimed the transfer was for humanitarian reasons. Despite his gender identity, he is imprisoned in a women’s colony, forced to wear women’s clothing, and denied gender-affirming treatment. Kislisyn had been arrested and fined previously for his anti-war picket and was known to criticize the Russian invasion of Ukraine on social media.
Kislitsyn’s sentencing “takes place against the backdrop of an accelerating crackdown on LGBTI rights.” In May, Russian security forces arrested at least 10 book publishing professionals in Moscow on “extremism”-related charges over alleged “LGBTI propaganda” in books published by affiliated printing houses.
Mohammad bin Nasser al-Ghamdi
30 years in prison for peaceful social media posts
Saudi Arabia
Mohammad bin Nasser al-Ghamdi, a 56-year old retired teacher, was sentenced to death for his peaceful social media (X and YouTube) activity criticizing the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia and the country’s foreign policy, and calling for the release of detained clerics. Although his death sentence was commuted, Mohammed was resentenced to 30 years in prison.
Sonia Dahmani
Lawyer and media personality jailed for speaking out against racism
Tunisia
Sonia Dahmani, a 59-year-old Tunisian lawyer and prominent media personality, frequently appeared on radio and TV shows, such as “Emission Impossible” on IFM Radio and “Denya Zida” on Carthage+. She regularly commented on migration, racism, and other political issues, such as the poor detention conditions in prisons. Sonia Dahmani is facing five separate legal proceedings for publicly criticizing authorities about Tunisian prison detention conditions and speaking out against issues like racism. She has been arbitrarily detained since May 11, 2024.
Case Sheet Online Petition Printable Petition Sample Letter Video
Protect Students’ Rights to Freedom of Expression
Stop the Crackdown: Protect Student Rights to Freedom of Expression and Stop Revoking Visas of Foreign Students
USA
No one should be ripped away from their family and sent to detention just for exercising their right to freedom of expression or be punished for peacefully protesting. No one should be threatened for exercising free speech by speaking at a protest or for publishing an op-ed, and no one should be deported for speaking out for human rights. All students should feel like they belong on their campuses and are free to be themselves without being harassed or singled out. Universities must fight to protect students’ rights and refuse to collaborate in the government’s attacks on campuses.
Sign up to Protect Freedom of Expression and Say No to Censorship!
Take action on your own or with a group of people. Amnesty International will provide you with resources including case sheets, postcards to send, bookmarks and ink pens that promote Freedom of Expression, and updates from our 2025 Banned Books Week action.
2025 Action Guide
Internationalize Banned Books Week & Human Rights – For Librarians and Booksellers
2025 Banned Book List
Children’s Resources
2025 Social Media Graphics
2025 Printable Sample Letter Packet
Report your Banned Book Week Actions
Order Your 2025 Bookmarks
2025 Printable Petitions
2025 Case Sheets
& Literature Competition
Amnesty International invites people under age 25 to submit a literary or art piece for their Banned Books Art and Literature Competition. The piece should depict the intersectionality of human rights and the freedom of expression, or the danger of censorship.
RELEASED
- Hip Hop Artist Toomaj Salehi, Iran
- Graffiti Artist Pierina Nocheti, Argentina
- Social Media Blogger Ana da Silva Miguel (Neth Nahara), Angola
- Author and Professor Etienne Sissoko, Mali
REMAINS IN DETENTION
- Journalist and Blogger Maria Ponomarenko, Russia
- Fitness Instructor Manahel al Otaibi, Saudi Arabia
- Filmmaker Chen Pinlin, China
- Student Kamile Wayit, China
Some members have been granted bail and or under house arrest, several remain incarcerated
- BK-16, India
NO UPDATE
- Journalist Amaro Jordan, Mexico
DISAPPEARED
- Journalists and photojournalists Nidel and Haitham
