The open expression advocacy group PEN America has expressed deep concerns over the health and safety of dozens of writers and artists held in Iranian jails and “facing either overt threats or medical neglect.”In a statement on November 11, the group said the Iranian regime was “accelerating its repression” of free speech and assembly in response to a wave of nationwide protests by arresting and sentencing a growing number of writers and artists.“The Iranian government is putting writers’ lives at severe risk through its brazen violation of basic human rights that include systematic abuse and torture in custody, coupled with fast-tracked and harsh sentences solely for exercising the right to free expression,” said Karin Deutsch Karlekar, PEN America’s director of Free Expression at Risk Programs.Karlekar said that the organization supports the recent call of UN human rights experts for the “immediate establishment of an independent mechanism with investigation, reporting, and accountability functions to address and put a stop to these abuses.”Iran has been engulfed by protests since the September death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini following her arrest by Tehran’s morality police for allegedly not complying with hijab regulations.The protest movement, which has turned into the biggest challenge for the Islamic Republic since the 1979 revolution, was met with a brutal crackdown by security forces in which more than 300 people were killed and thousands were put behind bars.Yasin, a Kurdish rapper, was arrested on October 2 and tortured during his detention before being sentenced to death on October 29 for “enmity against God.” Yasin has written songs about unemployment and government oppression, and also supported the ongoing protests."