According to PEN America's 2025 Freedom to Write Index, Iran recorded the sharpest rise in imprisoned writers worldwide last year, jailing 43 authors—more than any other nation except China, which led with 119.This marked a significant escalation in Tehran's crackdown on dissent, surpassing previous years amid ongoing protests and regional tensions.

The report highlights that Iranian authorities targeted writers linked to the Woman Life Freedom movement, women's rights advocacy, and criticism of mandatory hijab laws, with 15 female writers imprisoned—the highest globally.Overall, 401 writers were jailed across 44 countries in 2025, up from 375 the prior year, reflecting a 69% global increase over seven years.Saudi Arabia ranked third with 27 jailed writers, followed by Vietnam (24), Turkey (22), Israel (21), and Russia (18).In Iran, many detainees faced charges for peaceful expression, including anti-war sentiments and ethnic minority advocacy.PEN America urges immediate releases and an end to suppression, noting Iran's consistent second-place ranking behind China.The trend underscores broader threats to free speech amid geopolitical conflicts, including the recent Iran-Israel war and U.S.involvement under President Trump.