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…
Category: International
Turkish State Broadcaster Allegedly Retaliated Against Children’s Cartoon
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…
CBLDF Joins NCAC Response to Charlie Hebdo PEN America Award Controversy
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…
Maus Pulled from Russia Bookstores for Depicting Nazi Propaganda
Although no formal complaints were issued, several major bookstore chains in Russia have begun pulling the Pulitzer Prize winning graphic novel Maus off of their store shelves and internet sites. The reason: The cover depicts a Nazi swastika. According to…
Australia Presents Cartoonist’s Work in Solidarity with Charlie Hebdo
In the aftermath of the attacks on the Charlie Hebdo offices in early January, Australian cartoonist David Pope drew his now infamous cartoon entitled “He Drew First” as a tribute to those most impacted by the devastating event. Earlier this…
Fear for Reputation Leads Queen’s University to Cancel Charlie Hebdo Conference
Earlier this week, it was sadly announced that Queen’s University Belfast would be canceling an academic conference on the Charlie Hebdo attacks over security concerns as well as the potentially negative reputation that the University would garner by holding such…
Indian Supreme Court Strikes Down Internet Censorship Law
In late March, free speech scored a victory overseas when the Indian Supreme Court officials annulled Section 66A of the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2008, ensuring greater freedom of expression for Indian citizens in online communications. Section 66A not only…
Turkey’s Censorship Leads to More Outspoken Cartoonists
Turkey has one of the richest histories of satire and cartooning, but it is also one of the most oppressed and governmentally regulated countries in recent history when it comes to freedom of speech and expression. But cartoonists continue to…
Zunar Remains Defiant Before Trial
Facing trial next month on nine counts of sedition which could carry a sentence of up to 43 years, Malaysian cartoonist Zunar has been making the English-language media rounds with a profile from news agency AFP and an interview with…
CBLDF Executive Director Discusses the Power of Comics in Norway
CBLDF Executive Director Charles Browstein recently took the fight for the freedom to read to Norway, and we now have the video evidence to prove it! The amazing folks at Creative Mornings, which hosted one of Brownstein’s lectures, “The Power…