Free Word (Vapaa sana) is an online writing series published by Finnish PEN. We publish poetry, prose, essays and articles mainly by our members but also texts written by writers whose freedom of expression is endangered. Free Word is also a platform for texts discussing timely freedom of expression topics. If you wish your text to be published in the series send it to info@suomenpen.fi. For the full series, click: https://www.suomenpen.fi/en/category/vapaa-sana/.
Free Word
Joy Hyvärinen: Freedom of expression of non-fiction writers and researchers under threat
Harassment is threatening the freedom of expression of non-fiction writers and researchers in Finland. Disagreements, disputes and criticism are part...
Olli Heikkonen: Endangered Uralic languages
No small language and literature is safe under the pressure of big languages. According to UNESCO, most of the existing...
Matteo Stocchetti: Freedom of expression and genocide
How can freedom of expression stop an ongoing genocide? What are ways of exercising this freedom that can stop the...
Minna Castrén: Promoting literature and reading is a fight for freedom of expression
Minna Castrén’s text is only in Finnish and Swedish.
Matteo Stocchetti: Freedom of expression is not enough
To strengthen democracy, we need communicative competences. The idea that freedom of expression is one of the fundamental democratic freedoms...
Laura Lindstedt: The writer’s freedom of expression in a world dominated by spectacle
What comes to mind from the words “writer’s freedom of expression”? Do you think of imprisoned, exiled or murdered writers,...
Oula-Antti Labba: The decade of indigenous languages is also significant for freedom of expression
The Sámi indigenous peoples celebrate their National Day on 6 February. At the same time the decade of indigenous languages...
Janne Huuskonen: The authorities must respect the law
Freedom of expression allows criticism of those in power. Politicians have a broad right to freedom of expression, perhaps even...
Peter Mickwitz: A trip to Ukraine
The last week of October I travelled to Kyiv, Ukraine together with representatives for the Nordic PEN centres, PEN Berlin,...
Iida Simes: Let us see hope
The murder of Anna Politkovskaya (30.8.1958 – 7.10.2006) was immediately widely noticed by the media worldwide. The murderer shot Politkovskaya...
Pirita Näkkäläjärvi: Hate Speech and Indigenous People Sámi
Freedom of speech of indigenous peoples and hate speech towards indigenous peoples has not been widely studied. Academic literature on...
Joy Hyvärinen: Artistic freedom of expression
Questions related to freedom of expression can be controversial and challenging. Artistic freedom of expression can be especially challenging. Art...
Nataliya Teramae: The Shell of a Snail
Read the Essay by Nataliya Teramae in Ukrainian. When you emigrate to a foreign country, you automatically start looking for...
Joy Hyvärinen: Does Finland need a commission on freedom of expression?
The freedom of expression commission appointed by the Norwegian government in 2020 has recently published its report (read the report...
Peter Mickwitz: Örnulf Tigerstedt, right-wing radical and president of PEN Finland
Panem et Circenses. Let me toast to your freedom your eight-hour workday, your cultivated soul, your progress and your other...
Judyth Hill: Wage peace
Author and active PEN International member Judyth Hill is visiting Finland’s PEN 5-11.5. In addition to his commitment to freedom...
Joy Hyvärinen: Freedom of expression, limits and forgotten groups
It can be challenging to defend freedom of expression. You have to be ready to also defend the right of...
Nataliya Teramae: How we brought up a dictator
Artists do have the gift of prophesying. For Ulf Stark’s book ‘The Dictator’ Linda Bondestam created a picture of a...
Joy Hyvärinen: Controversial copyright law on its way
Finland, like other EU countries, needs to change its legislation to take account of the EU’s new copyright directive (DSM...
Samay Hamed: For the last American soldier
For the last American soldier: Goodbye General Greet your daughter from the girls of Kabul Tell her about the colorful...