Category: International

NCAC Celebrates 2015 Free Speech Heroes

2015 was a busy year for free speech. To celebrate, our frequent partner in protecting free expression, the National Coalition Against Censorship (CBLDF is a sponsor of NCAC’s Kids’ Right to Read Project), looks back on 15 heroes who faced…

Chinese Cartoonist Walks a Fine Line with Subversively Cute Art

Unsurprisingly, independent political cartoonists are few and far between in China. The country’s best-known cartoonist, Rebel Pepper, has been exiled in Japan for over a year due to implicit threats from his own government. But his experience has not deterred…

Zunar Launches Legal Challenge to Malaysia’s Sedition Act

The sedition trial of Malaysian cartoonist Zunar, which was set to begin today, has been delayed yet again as he and two other defendants launched another challenge to the country’s Sedition Act, a vestige of Malaysia’s colonial past. A court…

Lebanese Comics Collective Counters Government Censure with Crowdfunding Campaign

The Lebanese indie comics collective Samandal, financially crippled after three of its editors were fined a total of $60,000 for charges that include “inciting sectarian strife” and “denigrating religion” through comics, this week turned to crowdfunding in a last-ditch effort…

Suppressed 1978 Judge Dredd Stories to be Republished Next Year

Two legendary Judge Dredd storylines that were suppressed by their original publisher in 1978 amid concerns about copyright infringement will finally see the light of day again, after a recent change in UK law provided firmer protections for parody and…

UN Envoy Recommends Japanese Ban on Some Manga and Anime

A UN special envoy on child protection waded into the debate over manga and anime in Japan this week, urging the country to ban “particular, extreme child pornographic content” even if it does not involve any actual children. In a…

Zunar to Tour Europe Ahead of Sedition Trial

In the final weeks before his trial on nine counts of sedition is set to begin in Malaysia, cartoonist Zunar will embark on a whirlwind European tour with several speaking engagements from Oct. 26 to Nov. 4. Although the events…