In Iran, ordinary words like “kiss,” “dance,” and “wine” can be cause for a printed book to be vetted and censored. Laws that would prohibit the publication of words such as these as well as legally empower the ministry of…
Comic artist Sonny Liew has done work for the biggest publishers in the industry, but now he is tackling a very important, highly personal, and potentially controversial project — a graphic novel depicting some of Singapore’s most controversial events. From…
Malaysian cartoonist Zunar was set to face nine sedition counts this week, but at the last minute a court postponed the start of his trial to July 7 due to a separate pending legal challenge to the country’s entire Sedition…
“The world is unfortunately waking up to the power and influence of cartoonists, [responding] through the exercise of violence and murder.” So said Robert Russell, executive director of Cartoonist Rights Network International, in the recent report, “Drawing the Line: Cartoonists…
A 29-year-old Iranian artist and women’s rights activist is facing up to two years in prison, plus corporal punishment, for a cartoon she drew last year criticizing a bill that would outlaw some forms of birth control. Atena Farghadani’s trial…
The fallout from the January attack on Charlie Hebdo continues, as surviving cartoonist Luz confirmed this week that he plans to leave the publication in September. The news comes in the midst of a public dispute among staff over the…
In the tumultuous years since the US-led coalition’s invasion of Iraq and the fall of Saddam Hussein, the country’s media landscape has changed dramatically for everyone–including political cartoonists. In a recent interview from the online magazine Sampsonia Way, cartoonist Saad…
Just over a week before Zunar’s trial on nine counts of sedition is slated to begin, a Malaysian court yesterday allowed the Ministry of Home Affairs to move forward with a separate effort to ban two of his cartoon books…
A Turkish newspaper columnist wrote last week that the state-run television broadcaster cancelled the popular children’s cartoon Pepee in 2013 because the main character proclaimed to his young audience that “theft, slander and lying are bad.” Some within then-Prime Minister…
Dozens of authors have registered their protest of PEN American Center’s presentation of its Freedom of Expression Courage Award to Charlie Hebdo staff. In response, the National Coalition Against Censorship issued a statement — which CBLDF signed — doubling down…