Egyptian author Ahmed Naji, jailed since February after being convicted of “violating public modesty” with an excerpt from his novel Use of Life, is launching a new appeal for release after the government agreed to review the cases of political…
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At 95, Al Jaffee Talks Censorship, Satire, and Political Hot Air
Over 60 years ago, legendary cartoonist Al Jaffee started applying his satirical pen to the pages of Mad Magazine. At 95 years of age he still contributes the “Fold-ins” that he invented in 1964, and now holds the world record…
Russian Library Director Goes to Trial for Possessing “Extremist” Books
The director of the Library of Ukrainian Literature in Moscow, Russia, has begun the trial process after being charged and put on house arrest last year for possessing books that “incite ethnic hatred.” Last October, Natalia Sharina’s personal residence as…
A Look at CBLDF’s 30th Anniversary Auction
To celebrate its 30th anniversary of protecting the First Amendment rights of the comics community, Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF) and Heritage Auctions are offering 11 important works at auction. The pieces come from the 1987 “A Benefit Portfolio in Defense of the First Amendment” that…
Be a Force for Change! Support CBLDF!
In light of this week’s political turmoil, CBLDF would like to feature some items that focus on the power of free expression to affect positive change, no matter what your political leanings might be. These items include Liberty Annual 2016, She Changed Comics, CBLDF’s embroidered…
Why Mike Diana Still Matters
Our film, The Trial of Mike Diana, is both a documentary on one of the most outrageous convictions in America’s legal history — a 1996 conviction of obscenity over a self-published zine — as well as a sober and multi-faceted discussion on one of recent history’s most unique comic artists.
Bookstore Threatened for Anti-Trump Display
A bookstore in Saugerties, New York, was threatened with misdemeanor zoning violation charges over an anti-Trump window display. Inquiring Minds Bookstore owner Brian Donoghue assembled the display to voice his concerns over statements made by Trump during his campaign. “I really felt…
Tennessee Parent Wants World History Textbook Removed Due to Coverage of Islam
The mother of a seventh grader in Sullivan County, Tennessee this week filed a formal challenge to an entire world history textbook because she believes that some parts of the unit on religions amount to “Islamic indoctrination.” Backed by a…
Vietnamese Creators Fight Against Outdated “Comics Are for Kids” Mentality
Vietnamese comic artists today are not only finding creative ways to combat censorship, but are also working to overcome many of the negative stereotypes still associated with the medium—most frequently, the fallacy that comics are for children and cannot be…
In Exile, Venezuelan Cartoonist Finds Space to Criticize Government Oppression
Rayma Suprani has long been one of the best-known and most fearless political cartoonists in Venezuela, but for almost a year she and her work have only been “in” the country virtually, through social media. After El Universal, the newspaper…