The already dire situation for freedom of expression and other basic human rights in Turkey has sharply worsened since last week’s failed military coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s government. In just the past few days, 10,000 people have been…
Category: International
Farghadani Discusses Past Imprisonment and Future Plans
Just over two months ago, Iranian artist and activist Atena Farghadani was freed from prison after her draconian prison sentence of 12 years and 9 months for mocking her country’s parliament in a cartoon was shortened to the 18 months…
Chinese Cartoonist Speaks Out About Censorship
For over a year, Chinese cartoonist Wang Liming (best known as Rebel Pepper) has been living in exile in Japan after landing in hot water with the Chinese government for his subversive and highly controversial cartoons. In a recent interview…
Egyptian Court Denies Ailing Author’s Request for Bail Pending Appeal
Egyptian author Ahmed Naji’s request to be released from prison pending an appeal in his obscenity case was denied last week, meaning he will continue to serve his two-year sentence for “violating public modesty” until a higher court decides to…
Cartoonists Discuss Taboos and Censorship in Italian Media
At the Cartoon Movement website, more than 400 political cartoonists from around the world have the chance to share their work internationally and build a community across borders. After remarking what seemed a high proportion of Italians among the contributors’…
Malaysian Police Investigate Lawmaker for Cartoon on Facebook
A Malaysian Member of Parliament is under investigation for sedition after he allegedly shared a cartoon that offended some members of the majority party on Facebook. After heated demonstrations against Nga Kor Ming and his political party DAP this week,…
Experimental Comics Thrive in Middle East Despite Obstacles
Without a doubt, the current world hot spot for underground and experimental comics is the Middle East and North Africa–a fact that might surprise many Americans. From Egypt’s Tok Tok to Lebanon’s Samandal to Nadia Khiari’s radical cartoon cat Willis…
India’s Madras High Court Refuses to Ban Controversial Novel
A two-judge panel at the Madras High Court in India last week rejected petitions to ban author Perumal Murugan’s novel One Part Woman, which has been the target of public protests including a book burning last year. Rightwing nationalists from…
Turkish Journalist Questioned for Sharing Cartoon Online
In just the latest in a string of media clampdowns in Turkey, last week a reporter for Dicle News Agency was detained and questioned at a police checkpoint and for allegedly insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan with a cartoon shared…
Large Turnout for Hong Kong Democracy Protest After Bookseller Revelations
Thousands of Hong Kong residents joined pro-democracy demonstrations last weekend, following local bookstore manager Lam Wing Kee’s revelation that he was involuntarily detained for eight months on the Chinese mainland as authorities there sought information about customers and the books…