Culture‘We demand the truth’: Olga Tokarczuk and JM Coetzee call for proof of life of disappeared Eritrean writers

A letter signed by 188 writers urges Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki to provide verified proof of life for 12 writers detained incommunicado since a 2001 crackdown on free expression. Nobel laureates Olga Tokarczuk and JM Coetzee are among the signatories, while PEN International plans to deliver the letter to Eritrea’s London embassy.

Eritreadisappeared writersfree speechPEN International

TThe Guardian★★★☆☆2026-09-18 08:30Original