The publisher of the Turkish satirical magazine Gırgır abruptly shut down the publication and laid off all its staff last week in response to a cartoon that irreverently depicted Moses and was deemed offensive to both Jews and Muslims. The…
Category: International
Ahmed Naji: “I Believe in Freedom of Expression”
Egyptian novelist Ahmed Naji served nearly a year in prison for “violating public modesty” when an excerpt of his novel The Use of Life was published in a state-run newspaper. Now free, the writer draws inspiration from his experience. “Before…
After Ban, Saudi Cartoonist Walks a Fine Line
In January 2016 the popular Saudi political cartoonist Abdullah Jaber seemingly disappeared from social media, fueling speculation among fans and colleagues as to what might have befallen him. He finally resurfaced 10 days later to quell rumors of arrest or…
CBLDF Joins Statement Opposing U.S. Immigration Ban
This week, CBLDF joined more than thirty cultural institutions and human rights organizations around the world in issuing a joint statement opposing United States President Donald J. Trump’s immigration ban on nationals of seven predominantly Muslim countries. The ban is…
Iranian Refugee Cartoonist on Hunger Strike in Australian Detention Center
The Iranian cartoonist known as Eaten Fish, who is among the thousands of refugees sent to offshore detention facilities by the Australian government, is now in dire condition due to mental health issues compounded by an eight-day hunger strike. His…
Charlie Hebdo Two Years Later
This past Saturday, January 7, marked the second anniversary of the attack that killed 12 people, including five well-known cartoonists, at the offices of French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. Below, we’ve brought together a few of the memorials, reflections, and…
Facebook Blocks Anti-Racist Cartoon
An anti-racist cartoon by Austrian artist Manfred Deix has fallen prey to Facebook’s arbitrary enforcement of their content standards reports Variety. Over the weekend, the cartoon was blocked from the Manfred DEIX Forever Facebook page, and several users who took it…
Freed from Prison, Egyptian Novelist Naji Thanks Supporters Worldwide
A few days after being freed from prison last week, Egyptian novelist Ahmed Naji posted a long message to Facebook thanking the supporters who stood by him during his trial and 10-month incarceration for “violating public modesty” with an excerpt…
Overwatch Digital Comic Banned in Russia for “Gay Propaganda”
The internet may be celebrating the announcement that a main character in the Overwatch digital comic based on the popular video game is LGBTQ, but unfortunately fans in Russia will miss out. As Mashable recently reported, due to laws in…
Exiled Syrian Cartoonist: “Drawing is the Strongest Weapon Against the Regime”
Five years ago as the Arab Spring swept through the Middle East, Syrian political cartoonist Ali Ferzat sensed a tipping point when it became his responsibility to help “break people’s fear,” in his words. Whereas his cartoons previously relied on…