PROTECT AND PROMOTE RESIDENCIES FOR PERSECUTED ICORN RESIDENCY PROGRAMME CITIES OF REFUGE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION WRITERS AND ARTISTS

Writers, journalists and artists often Any writer or artist, who is threatened or ICORN offers two-year residencies By 2016, more than 50 cities had joined the become the first targets when author- persecuted for expressing his or her opinions for persecuted writers and artists network, to host writers and artists who face itarian regimes and repressive groups clamp or ideas through their professional work, in an ICORN city of refuge. threats and persecution. The cities of refuge are down on freedom of expression. They are on can apply for an ICORN residency. ICORN located in more than 15 countries across Europe, the front line, giving voice to ideas, debate and accepts applications from all writers and The host city assists with obtaining a residency the United States and Mexico, and con- critique, which frequently challenge existing artists, including journalists, creative writers, permit, covers travel costs, housing, a monthly tinue to expand towards South America, South societal norms and concepts. This can make translators, publishers, academic writers, grant and health insurance. During the resi- Africa, Australia and Asia in the coming years. them subject to censorship, persecution, cartoonists, filmmakers, visual artists, dency, the city also provides a suitable work- imprisonment and death. bloggers and musicians. space, and helps build networks with relevant The cities of refuge are managed independently culture professionals, schools and universities, and collaborate locally with a large number of Photo: Javad Montazeri As a response, , the International Cities human rights practitioners, the media and policy cultural, political and civil society organisations. Everyone has the right to freedom ICORN Asieh Amini, journalist and human rights activist, ICORN of opinion and expression; this right of Refuge Network, offers temporary, long-term makers, locally, nationally and internationally. resident in Trondheim 2010–2012. Fights for women’s rights includes freedom to hold opinions safe residencies to writers, journalists and and to combat the death penalty in Iran, particularly stoning and juvenile execution in Iran. without interference and to seek, artists at risk, so they can continue their work receive, and impart information without fear of persecution. and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers. Since 2006, more than 150 writers and artists have been offered a residency in anICORN Article 19 in the United Nations city. The hosted writers and artists play a vital Universal Declaration of Human Rights It is our common task to make sure role, both in highlighting human rights and free We survive under great difficulties. that their voice is heard and becomes speech violations in their home countries, And sometimes we do not survive. the object of interest for mass media, and in supporting their in-country colleagues. ANNA POLITKOVSKAYA (1958—2006) authorities and ordinary people They bring new impulses to the host cities; A fierce critic of Russian authorities and the of the free world. build bridges between countries, cultures, Chechen wars, the Russian journalist and human politics and people, and contribute insight rights activist, Anna Politkovskaya, was shot dead DANUTA GLONDYS and new perspectives to the local debate. Photo: Hossein Salmanzadeh/ICORN Photo: Hossein Salmanzadeh/ICORN outside her home in Moscow in 2006. Krakow City of Refuge/ICORN Board Speed dating session for writers/artists, cities and organisations FL. Henry Reese, Director of Pittsburgh City of Asylum, at the ICORN Network Meeting in Amsterdam 2015. signing membership agreement with ICORN Director Helge Lunde and Chair of ICORN Board, Peter Ripken.

THE NETWORK ICORN SECRETARIAT HISTORY In Gaza, hip-hop is the language Throughout the twentieth century, of the youth and the rebels. We need the City of has been host to exiles people to resist, not only by weapons, from around the world, for intellectuals but also by words. My friends and I ICORN is an international organisation and artists. The values of human rights The ICORN secretariat is located in Stavanger, ICORN was established in Stavanger in 2006, were constantly subject to censorship, for cities and regions offering temporary, and freedom of expression is at the core Norway, and acts as the administration and during a meeting between representatives harassment and arrests under the long-term residencies for writers, journa- of the international strategy of our city. communication hub for the local residency from the cities of Amsterdam, Barcelona, pretext of blasphemy and ‘improper’ lists and artists at risk, advancing freedom Being a part of ICORN, hosting writers programmes worldwide. Frankfurt, Stockholm, Mexico City, Norwich, behaviour. The chance I got fromICORN of expression, defending democratic values and artists at risk, is both a very Stavanger and others. Also present were and the city of Gothenburg became and promoting international solidarity. concrete and an important symbolic Norwegian PEN and PEN International.

a key to the rest of my life; fulfilment of our commitment. The primary tasks The cities were part of the International Photo: Tommy Ellingsen

© Mana Neyestani Iran/Paris it opened doors and it was up of the administration are to: Network of Cities of Asylum (INCA), founded to me to seize the opportunity. in 1995 by Salman Rushdie and colleagues CHENJERAI HOVE • Receive and assess applications ANNE HIDALGO from the International Parliament of Writers ICORN residency: Stavanger 2005—2007 from writers and artists at risk. Mayor of the City of Paris (IPW) to provide cities of refuge for writers Chenjerai Hove (1956–2015) is one of the foun- ICORN KHALED HARARA (Gaza/Palestine) • Establish connections between persecuted forced to live in exile. ding figures of modern Zimbabwean literature. Administration Centre ICORN residency: Gothenburg 2013 –2015. writers/artists and potential cities of refuge. An outspoken critic of Robert Mugabe, he was Stavanger Cultural Centre Studies music at the University forced to leave his homeland in 2001. From exile, • Find and apply sustainable models of hosting, Hove remained an uncompromising fighter for free- Pb. 310 of Gothenburg and manages projects When the IPW and INCA dissolved in 2005, promoting music and free expression in Gaza. protecting and promotion for each city and dom in Zimbabwe, publishing collections of novels, 4002 Stavanger, Norway many cities wanted to continue their work each hosted writer and artist. poetry and social and political commentaries. ICORN forms a global and dynamic for freedom of expression. A new network was [email protected] network of hospitality and creativity • Maintain and develop the network through formed at the meeting in Stavanger in 2006, www.icorn.org in the ongoing struggle for human rights capacity building, annual meetings and a con- and in 2010, ICORN was officially established Eagle from Rainbows in the dust (1998) @ICORN_ORG and freedom of expression. tinuous exchange of knowledge and experience. as an independent, international member- ship organisation. As of 2014, ICORN cities • Recruit new cities that can provide residencies also offer residencies to artists and musicians fly and perch for the large number of writers and artists at risk. ICORN cooperates closely with at risk. ICORN has experienced an immense fly and perch PEN International and local PEN centres, • Assist, advise and connect host cities growth the past few years and in 2015 passed 50 no one else perches SUPPORT: We depend on your generous as well as a large number of civil society and partners throughout the network. members. The 2016 General Assembly in Paris except a tyrant support to carry out our international pro- organisations within the fields of human marks the 10th anniversary of the network. Connect and cooperate with relevant Photo: Jean-Baptiste Gurliat/City of Paris • gramme for writers, journalists and artists rights, arts and migration, and with public, in a state house Two ICORN cities sign joint action to protect and promote public and civil society organisations. at risk. For more information on how governmental and intergovernmental with guns, and silence writers and artists in exile. The Mayor of Mexico City, Miguel to get involved, see icorn.org/donation Photo: Joakim Roos bodies, locally and internationally. Angel Mancera and the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo. • Fundraise. for the nation. ICORN provides long-term temporary residencies for persecuted writers and artists. protect promote participate

WRITERS/ARTISTS icorn cities Selected profiles by January 2016

SVETLANA ALEXIEVICH (Belarus) Amsterdam Profession: Writer, Barcelona investigative journalist Bergen ICORN residency: Bø Gothenburg 2006—08. Brussels After the controversial publication Chiusi of her book, Zinky Boys, Alexievich Copenhagen has been in and out of exile, contin- Dalarna uously targeted by the Belarus government for her critique, and Drøbak alleged affiliation with the cia. Since 2011, she lives and works Elsinore in Belarus, continuing to document the history of emotions Eskilstuna of the Soviet and post-Soviet people. Frankfurt She was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature 2015. Gävle Girona ZINEB EL RHAZOUI () Gothenburg Profession: Journalist, Hannover writer, human rights activist ICORN residency: Harstad Ljubljana 2011—13. Haugesund Repeatedly censored, harrassed and Ithaca (NY) arbitrarily arrested by the Moroccan Jönköping’s Län government for her political and Karlstad journalistic activities, El Rhazoui fled to Europe upon treats Krakow of imprisonment. She writes books, lectures and works as journalist Kristiansand at . After the attacks on the cartoon magazine Levanger in January 2015, she lives under constant police protection. Lillehammer Linköping RAMY ESSAM () Ljubljana Profession: Musician Luzern ICORN residency: Malmö Malmö 2014—16. Mexico City, Casa Africa As ‘the voice of the revolution’ Mexico City, Casa Refugio Citlaltépetl during the in Egypt, Molde Essam’s songs, critical of the abuses Norrköping of the Mubarak regime, quickly grew Norwich in popularity, drawing support from anti-government protesters. Oaxaca Essam is touring internationally and is contracted by Tom Morello/ Firebrand Records, but continues to be censored by the Egyptian army. Oslo Paris DESSALE BEREKHET (Eritrea) Pittsburgh Profession: Region of Tuscany Journalist and writer Reykjavík ICORN residency: Sigtuna Bø 2012—14. Skåne Arbitrarily arrested for over Skellefteå five months and detained Skien in solitary confinement, Stavanger Berekhet was the victim of various forms of torture Stockholm and abuse because of his writings. In 2014, he established Tromsø PEN Eritrea, and continues to write stories and lecture about = Writer/artist applicant’s country of origin Trondheim the contemporary situation in Eritrea internationally. Uddevalla Uppsala MANA NEYESTANI (Iran) Västra Götaland County Profession: Cartoonist Växjö ICORN residency: Århus Paris 2011—13. After his 2006 cartoon publication in Iran Jome magazine led to protests of dissenting ethnic Azeri in Tabriz, Neyestani was jailed for three month without a trial or verdict for inciting violence and promoting separatism. His graphic novel, An Iranian Metamorphosis, is autobiographical and set in the Evin prison. [email protected] He lives and works in Paris. www.icorn.org @ICORN_ORG Photo credits: Svetlana Alexievich: Tomasz Wiech/Krakow Festival. Zineb El Razhoui: Oslo Freedom Forum. Ramy Essam: Fredrik Elg. Dessale Berekhet: Bøbladet. Mana Neyestani: Louis Canadas. Subscribe to our newsletter