News

Teresa Toda behind bars for the past year with the prospect of another nine years [24/02/2009]

Last December it was a year since Teresa Toda, former Deputy Editor of the newspaper EGIN and member of the Basque PEN Centre's executive board, had been put in prison. She has served one year and has another nine to go before she is released. When she was put in prison, we posted detailed information on this website, firstly in December 2007 and afterwards in January 2008.

The information deals with the reasons why she was sent to prison, the abuses committed against freedom of expression, the magnitude of the sentence handed down, the broad echo abroad, and many other objective, specific and cold pieces of information. Cold, yes, because we have only seen the data and information, not Teresas voice.

Today we have had the chance to hear Teresas words in a letter written in English and smuggled out of the prison. She wants to express thanks for the support she has received. She wants to explain how important letters are when they are read inside the prison cell, how necessary it is to break down the walls and, above all, to show those who guard the walls that the people behind bars are not isolated. Teresa speaks of the power of words, the warmth of words. This is what she says:

Dear PEN Club friends

Have been truly moved for all the cards I have received over X-mas from writers (and, from now on, friends!) from the UK, the USA and Australia, sending a tender message of solidarity and good wishes. I would have liked to reply to each and everyone of you, but I am only allowed to write two letters weekly, so it becomes quite impossible. Therefore, I trust my gratitude will reach you all on the internet.

You really cannot imagine the value of a few words, a few lines, written on lovely, pretty cards! They bring us imprisoned writers echoes of freedom, they help us our spirits high in face of our troubles and they show our gaolers that they can not cut us off from the outside world nor fully hide the injustice of out situation and the attacks on liberty of expression and opinion.

Thus, keep it up! PEN Club members work is important on an international level, very important, but also on a person-to-person level, keeping up the links with those writers cut off from their chosen profession and tasks by unjust rulings.

I hope my warmest gratitude will reach you all, as well as my best wishes for 2009!

Teresa Toda, Basque PEN writer in prison.

My direct address is:
Teresa Toda
CP M.8
37799 Topas, Salamanca, Spain

and, as you can see, I speak, read and write English.