Persecuted cartoonists from around the world are in the spotlight this month at London’s Westminster Reference Library, which is hosting the exhibition “Gagged,” featuring “cartoons about censorship and repression of cartoonists from around the world.” The free exhibit is on…
Author: Maren Williams
Egyptian Police Raid Indie Press, Arrest Volunteer for ‘Posession of Unregistered Books’
Egyptian police on Sunday raided the office of a small independent press, Merit Publishing House, and detained a volunteer staff member for “being in possession of unregistered books without ISBNs,” implying they likely weren’t approved by government censors. The same…
Two Libya Comic Con Organizers Released Without Charge
Two of the five Libya Comic Con organizers who were detained by an armed militia when the show was raided and shut down on November 3 have now been released without charge, according to a report from the independent news…
San Antonio Mother, News Station Team Up Against Graphic Novel in School Library
A San Antonio mother is unhappy that her son was able to check out the graphic novel SP4RX by Wren McDonald from the library at Hobby Middle School, telling a local news station that she found “drugs, naked women and…
Spanish Cartoonists Release Free Expression Manifesto
Dozens of Spanish political cartoonists have signed their names to a manifesto in defense of free speech, citing recent attempts to prosecute comedy under the country’s two-year-old ‘gag law’ as well as a recent string of cartoonists abruptly fired from…
Zunar Asks Top Malaysian Court to Rule on Freedom to Travel
In a judicial hearing yesterday, Malaysian cartoonist Zunar requested that the country’s highest court consider his challenge to a punitive order that prevents him from traveling abroad. The personal travel ban was imposed last year by Inspector-General of Police Khalid…
Conejo Valley School Board Approves ‘Red-Flagging’ of Books
During a contentious meeting Tuesday night that dragged on for six hours, California’s Conejo Valley school board passed a new ‘red-flagging’ policy that will require high school English teachers to warn parents of any assigned book considered to have “mature…
Japanese Politician Apologizes for Suggesting Serial Killer ‘Influenced’ by Anime
A Japanese politician and elected member of the national legislature has apologized after implying that anime and video games may have influenced an alleged serial killer who is suspected of murdering and dismembering at least nine people. House of Councillors…
Indian Cartoonist Arrested for Defamation After Complaint by Local Official
Indian cartoonist Bala G. is vowing to continue his work, despite the fact that he was arrested earlier this month for defamation and obscenity after drawing three local officials in the buff. The cartoon in question was a commentary on…
Conejo Valley Board to Vote on Contested ‘Red-Flagging’ Policy
In front of an overflow crowd at the Tuesday evening meeting of California’s Conejo Valley school board, president Mike Dunn insisted that the board will vote next week on a proposed ‘red-flagging’ policy for reading assignments, which would require teachers…