A Canadian schoolboy spent 34 days, including Christmas, New Year and his 16th birthday, in jail.

At a recent fundraising event held in Ottawa, well known writers spoke in support of the boy, after it appeared he had been imprisoned because of comments in an essay for his drama teacher at Tagwi Secondary School, Ontario. Michael Ondaatje and Margaret Atwood were among authors who defended the boy at the "Artists for Freedom of Speech" event.

Last week, however, the authors refrained from comment when it appeared the boy was not arrested as a direct result of the essay, performed as a monologue in drama class, but as a result of death threats allegedly made to three other students in his class. He has been released on bail.