Poet and #FreedomToWrite honoree Galal El-Behairy started writing poetry in high school. During his time as a university student, he performed readings as a form of creative protest.

Unjustly detained since 2018, El-Behairy wrote this poem—read by his father—from jail. #FreeGalal

Letter from Jailed Egyptian Poet Galal El-Behairy - PEN America This letter announcing a hunger strike from imprisoned poet Galal El-Behairy was shared with PEN America on August 8, 2025.

El-Behairy sent us a heartbreaking letter about his inhumane conditions in detention. Egypt must release him and ensure his immediate medical treatment.

Share his words and call for his release. Full letter: pen.org/letter-from-...

#FreeGalal #FreeThemAll #PoetryIsNotACrime #FreedomToWrite

@penamerica.bsky.social @peninternational.bsky.social @pencanada.bsky.social @freedomhouse.bsky.social @humena.bsky.social #FreeGalal

Joint Letter to the Egyptian Ambassador to the U.S. Urging Action on the Ongoing Detention of Galal El-Behairy - PEN America Silencing a poet for his words not only stifles individual creativity but also weakens the broader human rights principles.

We demand Galal El-Behairy’s immediate release and humane treatment in custody, including access to medical care, legal counsel, and books. His ongoing detention violates Egyptian and international law. #FreeGalal #FreedomToWrite

Read the joint letter: pen.org/joint-letter...

Poetry in Chains: Writers Gather in Solidarity With Detained Poet Galal El-Behairy - PEN America If you have something different inside of you, don’t lose it, don’t suppress it. Feed it by reading poetry, by participating in such campaigns and solidarity.

Find a recording of the gathering and full conversation with El-Behairy’s father, novelist @ahmednaji.bsky.social, PEN International’s @minathabet.bsky.social, and journalist @basmamostafa.bsky.social in our latest blog. Read and share with #FreeGalal

pen.org/poetry-in-ch...

Poetry in Chains: Writers Gather in Solidarity With Detained Poet Galal El-Behairy - PEN America If you have something different inside of you, don’t lose it, don’t suppress it. Feed it by reading poetry, by participating in such campaigns and solidarity.

To honor jailed poet Galal El-Behairy’s 35th birthday, we gathered to discuss creativity, dissent, and solidarity. “Galal’s mode of opposition is his poetry,” El-Behairy’s father told us, urging everyone to support free expression. #FreeGalal

Read more: pen.org/poetry-in-ch...

Egypt must release poet Galal El-Behairy, unjustly jailed since he was 28 years old for his poetry and song lyrics. Today marks his 35th birthday—his 7th spent behind bars. How many more birthdays will Egypt rob from him? #FreeGalal #PoetryIsNotACrime

Photo shows 2025 PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Honoree Galal El-Behairy. Quote reads: "behind me, a trail of shameful charges — the least: lying: the most extreme, terrorism. All crimes, I did not commit, but one: poetry." Beneath that, text indicates Galal El-Behairy has been imprisoned in Egypt since 2018. PEN America logo appears at bottom right.

Egypt must release poet Galal El-Behairy, unjustly jailed since he was 28 years old for his poetry and song lyrics. Today marks his 35th birthday—his 7th spent behind bars. How many more birthdays will Egypt rob from him? #FreeGalal #PoetryIsNotACrime

Attending @penamerica.bsky.social webinar today marking the 35th birthday of PEN America’s 2025 PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write honoree Galal El-Behairy, jailed in Egypt now for 7 years for his poetry. How many more birthdays will Egypt rob from him? #FreeGalal #PoetryIsNotACrime pen.org/writer-at-ri...

PENWrites: Galal El-Behairy – Egypt - English PEN Send a message of solidarity to imprisoned Egyptian poet and lyricist Galal El-Behairy

Today, poet and lyricist Galal El-Behairy is spending yet another birthday imprisoned in Egypt. Join us in sending messages of solidarity, and in continuing the call for his immediate and unconditional release. #FreeGalal #PENWrites
www.englishpen.org/campaigns/pe...

Poet Galal El-Behairy seen smiling in a photo with text discussing the Egyptian government's treatment of writers and crackdown on free speech, mentioning Galal El-Behairy's detention.

Poet Galal El-Behairy’s indefinite detention is just one example of the Egyptian government’s suppression of writers. The Egyptian authorities should release El-Behairy and end this growing pattern of detaining writers indefinitely. #FreeGalal #FreeThemAll

Read more: pen.org/an-egyptian-...

This Friday, poet and 2025 PEN/Barbey Freedom To Write honoree Galal El-Behairy turns 35. It will be his 7th birthday in jail in Egypt.

Share this reading of El-Behairy’s poem by novelist Ahmed Naji and join us in calling for his release.

#FreeGalal #PoetryIsNotACrime

Poetry in Chains: A Conversation with Egyptian Poets and Writers In Honor of Galal El-Behairy’s 35th Birthday - PEN America Join us to mark the 35th birthday of PEN America’s 2025 Freedom to Write honoree Galal El-Behairy, currently detained in Egypt for his words.

I’m joining Poetry in Chains, hosted by @penamerica.bsky.social on Friday, June 27, to mark poet #GalalElBehairy’s 7th birthday behind bars — jailed for his words, not crimes.
Writing is not a threat.
Join us & raise your voice to #FreeGalal.
➡️ To register: pen.org/event/poetry...

We call for the immediate and unconditional release of Egyptian poet and #FreedomToWrite honoree Galal El-Behairy ahead of his hearing tomorrow, when the Egyptian government is likely to extend his unjust and arbitrary detention for another 45 days. #FreeGalal

375 Voices Behind Bars: Why Governments Repress Writers - PEN America Anyone who uses language deliberately to share truth, expose injustice, question authority, or imagine better futures belongs in this community.

Galal El-Behairy uses his writing to resist repression. Our #FreedomToWrite Index shows that writing as a means of expression—whether a song, a blog, or a satirical cartoon—increasingly carries risk. Egypt should #FreeGalal #FreeAlaa #FreeAshrafOmar. pen.org/375-voices-b...

Photo shows 2025 PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Honoree Galal El-Behairy. Text includes a quote about wrongful accusations and identifies him as a poet from Egypt. The PEN America logo is also displayed.

In Egypt, Galal El-Behairy—a poet, lyricist, and the 2025 PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award honoree—has been imprisoned for over seven years. Jailed at age 27, his life was stolen from him. Poetry was his only “crime.” #FreeGalal pen.org/375-voices-b...

PENWrites: Galal El-Behairy – Egypt - English PEN Send a message of solidarity to imprisoned Egyptian poet and lyricist Galal El-Behairy

We warmly welcome the news that poet Galal El-Behairy has been announced as the winner of the PEN/Barbey #FreedomToWrite Award. Please join us in sending messages of congratulations through our international letter-writing campaign, #PENWrites. #FreeGalal
www.englishpen.org/campaigns/pe...

This is such a well deserved and much needed award - Galal El-Behairy's imprisonment is a travesty and he must be freed. If you want to send a message of solidarity and support to Galal please do so here: www.englishpen.org/campaigns/pe... #FreeGalal

Imprisoned Egyptian Poet Galal El-Behairy to Receive PEN America’s 2025 PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award - PEN America Imprisoned Egyptian poet, lyricist, and pro-democracy activist Galal El-Behairy will receive the 2025 PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award on May 15 at its annual literary gala in New York City

We are honored to announce poet Galal El-Behairy as the recipient of the 2025 PEN/Barbey #FreedomToWrite Award. At 27 years old, El-Behairy was jailed in Egypt in 2018 solely for writing song lyrics and poetry that challenged the state. #FreeGalal pen.org/press-releas...

PENWrites: Galal El-Behairy – Egypt - English PEN

Today marks seven years since poet and lyricist Galal El Behairy was imprisoned in Egypt. Join us in sending him a message of solidarity through #PENWrites and calling for his immediate release. #FreeGalal www.englishpen.org/pen-writes/p...

Egypt: Joint submission to the UPR on the crackdown on dissent and violations of freedom of expression - PEN America Egyptian authorities are obligated to uphold international human rights standards and abide by their own constitution.

Our joint recommendations with @pen_int & @englishpen include: repeal all laws that restrict free expression, release all detained writers including #FreeAlaa and #FreeGalal, and immediately end all forms of harassment against writers in Egypt.
pen.org/press-releas...

PENWrites: Galal El-Behairy – Egypt - English PEN

Poet & lyricist Galal El-Behairy has been imprisoned in Egypt for almost 7 years. Ahead of tomorrow’s UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Egypt, please join the call for his release & send a message of solidarity through our #PENWrites campaign. #FreeGalal
www.englishpen.org/pen-writes/p...