The Japan PEN Club supported the poetic protest of "Baamdaad - the house of poetry in exile" against the ban on poetry and art in Afghanistan. The official announcement of the Japan PEN Club states that: "Poetry is the freedom to think and is the basis of literary expression. We support the movement created by Somaia Ramish against the ban on art in Afghanistan.
As well we tribute to poets all around the world who are protesting against the ban on poetry and art in Afghanistan.
The announcement of the Japan PEN Club translated from Japanese to Persian. As well the founder of Baamdaad - House of Poetry in Exile, I appreciate their solidarity and support!
The Japan PEN Club
The Taliban took over Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, on August 15, 2021, and after taking power, continued to commit serious human rights violations, such as banning girls' education and employment, and suppressing literature and art, until January 2023. On January 15, 2023, a ban on writing poetry was issued.
Somaia Ramish, a poet who took refuge in the Netherlands after the fall of Afghanistan, founded Baamdaad – House of poetry in Exile, she wrote on her account on social networks: "Please write a poem in protest against the ban on poetry and art in Afghanistan and send it to me." In response to this request, more than 100 poems were received from Japan and other countries of the world.
These poetic works were edited by Nozomu Shibata, a poet who works as a representative of (Baamdaad- House of Poetry in Exile) in Japan, and translated into Japanese in the book "No Jail Can Confine Your Poem". This book was published as a poetic protest against the ban on poetry and art in Afghanistan on August 15, 2023 in Japan.
The French version of this book will be published in France in November.
Poetry is freedom of thought and is the basis of literary expression. I would like to support Somaia Ramish's resistance through poetry and pay tribute to poets around the world who have participated in protesting censorship and supporting the right to freedom to write poetry.
September 25, 2023
The Japan PEN Club
Human Rights Committee
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