The International Cities of Refuge Network is an association of cities and regions around the world dedicated to the value of Freedom of Expression.
Protection
ICORN Cities offer persecuted writers a safe haven where they can live and work without fear of being censored or silenced.
Promotion
ICORN supports the artistic endeavours of its guest writers and promotes new spaces for intercultural dialogues worldwide.
Literary and human rights prizes announced
June 2013 Saved to Network News
The Polish Prize of Sergio Vieira de Mello, awarded to individuals and organizations from all over the world with the aim to promote human rights, democracy and tolerance, announces the call for applications. And The Manchester Writing School at MMU launches the international literary competition Manchester Poetry and Fiction Prizes to celebrate excellence in creative writing.
An open letter to Ahmadinejad – my green vote was not your black name
June 2013 Saved to Network News

Illustration: Saadia Hussain
As the Iranian election is rapidly closing up, The Dissident Blog has dedicated their latest special issue to Iran. It includes an honest open letter to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad by ICORN guest writer in Malmö, Naeimeh Doostdar Sanaye.
Masresha Mammo is new ICORN guest writer in Amsterdam
June 2013 Saved to Network News
At the invitation of the City of Amsterdam and the Dutch Foundation for Literature, Ethiopian journalist and writer Masresha Mammo arrived in Amsterdam in May 2013 to take residence as the city’s new ICORN guest writer. During the next 12 months, Mammo will live and work in the apartment where Anne Frank and her family lived for nine years, which today functions as a residency for refuged writers.

