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…
Category: International
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…
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…
Coalition Comes to Defense of Imprisoned Cartoonist
A coalition of human rights organizations, free expression advocates, and cartoonist groups have sent a letter to the leader of Equatorial Guinea, calling for the release of cartoonist Ramón Esono Ebalé. Ebalé , an Equatoguinean political cartoonist and graphic novelist, now lives in…
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…
Prize Winners on the Work that Inspired Them
The Guardian recently interviewed several recipients of the Observer/Cape/Comica graphic short story prize, asking them to share their thoughts on how the comics format has changed over time and the work that inspired them, some of which has been censored. The…
Italian Street Artist Charged With Blasphemy for Jesus Poster
An Italian street artist who goes by the pseudonym Hogre is facing a blasphemy charge over a poster of a pedophilic Jesus that briefly hung in a Rome bus shelter this summer. The poster titled Ecce Homo Erectus was a…
London Exhibit to Feature Censored Cartoonists
Persecuted cartoonists from around the world will be in the spotlight this month when London’s Westminster Reference Library hosts the exhibition “Gagged,” featuring “cartoons about censorship and repression of cartoonists from around the world.” The free exhibit will be on…