Tag: asia

Anime News Network Highlights Banned Manga

A recent feature from Anime News Network about 7 Manga Banned Around the Globe brought to our attention a few instances of manga censorship that we haven’t covered because they predate our news blog by a few years. We did…

Zunar Remains Defiant Before Trial

Facing trial next month on nine counts of sedition which could carry a sentence of up to 43 years, Malaysian cartoonist Zunar has been making the English-language media rounds with a profile from news agency AFP and an interview with…

Award-Winning Indian Cartoons Celebrate Freedom of Expression

Political cartoonists from India and around the world received some well-deserved recognition last week with the announcement of the winners in this year’s Maya Kamath Memorial Awards from the Indian Institute of Cartooning. While all of the designees reflect a…

Zunar Charged with Nine Counts of Sedition

The latest round of the Malaysian government’s harassment against political cartoonist Zunar came to a head last week when he was charged with nine counts of sedition, which could carry a total sentence of up to 43 years in prison.…

Cartooning Flourishes in Myanmar’s New Independent Media

The nation of Myanmar has only had an independent press for three years, since the longtime military junta began transitioning to a civilian government. In that short time, though, a new generation of cartoonists has arisen to document and respond…

Zunar Arrested for Twitter Criticism of Malaysian Government

Malaysian cartoonist Zunar is currently imprisoned, awaiting questioning over a tweet he posted this week suggesting that the country’s judiciary is corrupted by political or financial influence. He issued the criticism just after the internationally condemned sodomy conviction of former…

Malaysian Police Again Raid Zunar’s Office, Seize Books

Malaysian police carried out another raid of cartoonist Zunar’s office in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, seizing about 150 books despite having obtained no warrant for the search. Zunar himself is currently abroad in London, but has once again been summoned to…

Indonesian Editor Could Face Jail Time for Cartoon

Stephff cartoon

An Indonesian newspaper editor could face up to five years in prison for blasphemy because of a political cartoon criticizing ISIS that his newspaper published in July. Some Indonesian fundamentalists complained that a modified ISIS flag bearing a pirate-style skull…

International Community Rallies to Support Zunar

Zunar cartoon

With Malaysian political cartoonist Zunar facing yet another government investigation for sedition, the international cartooning community is rallying to spread the word and pressure Malaysian authorities to leave him in peace. Nearly all of Zunar’s books have been officially banned…