Biniam Simon, the 2025 PEN Eritrea Freedom Expression Award Winner, received his award on Sunday, 26th October, in Milan, Italy, in a ceremony hosted by PEN Eritrea as part of its Annual Meeting. Austrian writer and human rights defender Wolfgang Martin Roth presented Biniam with the PEN Eritrea Freedom of Expression Award trophy. Roth praised the winner for his steadfast commitment and sacrifices in pursing truth and freedom.
The director of PEN Eritrea in Exile, Awet Fissehaye, congratulated Biniam on winning the well-deserved recognition. And he thanked the 2025 Award Committee for their thoughtful selection of the winner.
On 18 September 2025, Biniam was announced the winner of the Award to highlight the unlawful imprisonment of Eritrean journalists and writers and the 2001 ban on the free press.
Biniam’s pithy yet powerful acceptance speech was personal and relatable, touching everyone in the audience.
It is so difficult to say anything after watching this documentary [referring to the film about Dawit Isaak’s life in prison screened at the event], especially for some of us. My sister died at one of these containers; it hits home right there. It is so difficult! Anyway, thank you for highlighting such kind of situation in the international arena. Thank you, PEN Eritrea, especially the organisers of this event. And thank you for the award.
I remember years back at the Geneva UN headquarters, I was interviewing one of the EU Parliament members. I asked him if enough was done by EU Parliament about the journalists who are in prison back in Eritrea. And he said, ‘Are they still in prison?’ – and I said, ‘Yes.’ – ‘And that is the answer. It means we haven’t done nothing’.
Today you are giving me something [ the Award] because you said you [I] have done something. But please remind me that I have also done nothing, so that I can continue working. Thank you very much again.
