Riad Sattouf, Franco-Syrian creator of the universally lauded graphic memoir The Arab of the Future, is an uneasy symbol of the intercultural tensions currently roiling Europe and the Middle East. A longtime contributor to Charlie Hebdo and until 2014 the…
Tag: middle east/north africa
Egyptians Speak Out for Ahmed Naji and Free Expression
Egyptian novelist Ahmed Naji remains in prison pending an appeal of his conviction for “violating public modesty” with an excerpt from his book Use of Life. A few brave government officials, including Minister of Culture Helmy al-Namnam, have spoken out…
Tunisian Newspaper Nixes Comic Critical of U.S. Influence
The state-owned Tunisian newspaper La Presse last week rejected a cartoon that criticized the U.S. government’s involvement in Tunisian domestic affairs. According to cartoonist Lotfi Ben Sassi, someone at the newspaper said the strip he submitted for last Sunday’s paper…
Ahmed Naji Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for “Violating Public Modesty”
Egyptian novelist Ahmed Naji was sentenced to two years in prison this weekend for “violating public modesty” with an excerpt from his book Use of Life, which was published in a state-owned newspaper two years ago. Naji was previously acquitted…
Arrest Doesn’t Deter Egyptian Cartoonist Gawish
In the aftermath of his overnight arrest last week, Egyptian cartoonist Islam Gawish is speaking out through media interviews to make clear that he will not be intimidated into stopping or modifying his work. In fact, he says the Sisi…
Atena Farghadani Explained in Pictures
Iranian artist and activist Atena Farghadani has now been in prison for over a year, currently awaiting an appeal of her nearly 13-year sentence for drawing a cartoon that showed members of Parliament as animals. Recently, New Zealand cartoonist Toby…
Nadia Khiari Wins Free Expression Award at Angoulême Alternative Festival
This year’s Festival International de la Bande Dessinée in Angoulême, France, stirred up quite a bit of controversy in the comics community, but one FIBD story has largely flown under the radar. That would be the decision not to give out…
Egyptian Cartoonist Released Without Charge After Overnight Jail Stay
Egyptian cartoonist Islam Gawish was arrested on Sunday, allegedly for operating a website without government authorization, but was released yesterday without charge. Although his cartoons tend towards social rather than political satire, it appears an arresting officer found some of…
Italian Government Draws Ridicule for Covering Nude Statues During Iran Visit
After the Italian government covered up ancient nude statues ahead of a state visit from Iranian President Hassan Rouhani last week, cartoonists are having much fun at officials’ expense, but also leading a debate regarding freedom of expression on the…
Farghadani Acquitted on “Illegitimate Relations” Charge
Iranian cartoonist Atena Farghadani, currently serving a nearly 13-year prison sentence for caricaturing members of parliament as animals, has been spared even more prison time as she was recently acquitted of “non-adultery illegitimate relations.” That charge was brought after she…