Category: International

Bare Shelves at Moscow Library of Ukrainian Literature

Over a year after the former director of Moscow’s Library of Ukrainian Literature was arrested and charged with “inciting ethnic hatred” through books, the city government appears to be quietly shutting down the library with a specious “merger” into a…

Egyptian Cartoonist Featured in New Documentary

The new documentary Tickling Giants puts the spotlight on the important role of satire and humor in political dissent–in this case, Egyptian heart surgeon-turned-comedian Bassem Youssef, who launched a Daily Show-inspired TV program in the midst of the Arab Spring…

Musa Kart and Colleagues Still in Prison Awaiting Indictment

It has now been over four months since Turkish cartoonist Musa Kart and several of his colleagues from Cumhuriyet newspaper were arrested on suspicion of supporting Kurdish militants and the Gulenist movement. There is little change to report in their…

PEN America Notes Chilling Effect of U.S. Immigration Restrictions

Even before the second version of President Trump’s travel ban was unveiled yesterday, the general unease over immigration restrictions and possible detention or questioning at U.S. ports of entry was already causing a chilling effect for international writers and artists…

Saudi Fans Flock to Kingdom’s First Comic Con

Saudi fans of comics and all things geek made history last week with the kingdom’s first ever Comic Con. Despite fevered criticism from traditionalists who accused them of “devil worshipping,” men and women alike put on their best cosplay and…

CBLDF Joins Condemnation of Proposed DHS Password Policy

CBLDF has joined a statement condemning a Department of Homeland Security proposal that would require non-citizens to provide their social media passwords as a condition of entering the United States. The statement warns, “Freedom of expression and press rights, access…

Turkish Publisher Closes Satirical Magazine Over Moses Cartoon

The publisher of the Turkish satirical magazine Gırgır abruptly shut down the publication and laid off all its staff last week in response to a cartoon that irreverently depicted Moses and was deemed offensive to both Jews and Muslims. The…

Ahmed Naji: “I Believe in Freedom of Expression”

Egyptian novelist Ahmed Naji served nearly a year in prison for “violating public modesty” when an excerpt of his novel The Use of Life was published in a state-run newspaper. Now free, the writer draws inspiration from his experience. “Before…

After Ban, Saudi Cartoonist Walks a Fine Line

In January 2016 the popular Saudi political cartoonist Abdullah Jaber seemingly disappeared from social media, fueling speculation among fans and colleagues as to what might have befallen him. He finally resurfaced 10 days later to quell rumors of arrest or…