Libya’s second annual comic con was cut short on Friday when it was stormed by armed militia forces who shut down the event and detained about 20 people. Most have since been released — not exactly unscathed — but the…
Category: International
Jordanian Cartoonist Under Investigation for Blasphemy
Jordanian cartoonist Emad Hajjaj is under investigation for “insulting religion” and “inciting sectarian strife” after a private citizen filed a complaint over a cartoon that shows the crucified Jesus denouncing the leader of the Greek Orthodox Church in Jerusalem. The…
Ramón Esono Ebalé Wins Courage in Editorial Cartooning Award
Ramón Esono Ebalé, a political cartoonist and graphic novelist from and currently detained in Equatorial Guinea, has been given Cartoonists Rights Network International’s Courage in Editorial Cartooning award.
Chinese Censor Board Frowns on Battle Royale Game Genre
China’s media censor board announced this week that it is unlikely to approve the wildly popular multiplayer online video game PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) because it “severely deviates from the socialist core value and the Chinese traditional culture and moral rule.”…
Gui Minhai Missing Since Alleged Release from Chinese Detention
Chinese authorities claim to have released Gui Minhai, the last of five men associated with Hong Kong publisher Mighty Current who were originally detained in late 2015. According to his daughter Angela Gui, however, his whereabouts remain unknown and he…
Trivedi Calls Out Indian Government on Continued Exploitation of Sedition Law
Indian political cartoonist Aseem Trivedi, who was arrested and charged with sedition in 2012 before the charges were ultimately dropped, has warned in a new interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that the state of free expression in his country…
Turkish Cartoonists Persist Despite Government Crackdown
As Turkish political cartoonist Musa Kart and his journalist colleagues from the newspaper Cumhuriyet continue to await a verdict on baseless charges of “aiding and abetting” terrorist organizations, other cartoonists in Turkey are also feeling the heat. At least one,…
Another Delay for Zunar in Challenge to Personal Travel Ban
Malaysian cartoonist Zunar will have to wait at least another month for his day in court to challenge the personal travel ban that has prevented him from leaving the country since last year. A judge deferred the hearing to November…
Cartoonist Outspoken Despite Political Unrest in Kenya
Patrick Gathara is among the best known political cartoonists in Kenya. With a cartooning resume that spans more than 20 years, Gathara has also contributed political commentary to publications like The Washington Post and Al-Jazeera. He also maintains his own…
PEN America Creates Resource Directory for Artists at Risk
In light of ongoing threats to artistic freedom around the world, PEN America this week announced its new resource called the Artists at Risk Connection (ARC). The project aims to connect threatened artists with “emergency funding, housing opportunities, residencies, fellowships…