This week our neighbors to the north are celebrating Freedom to Read Week! Much like Banned Books Week in the U.S., this is “an annual event that encourages Canadians to think about and reaffirm their commitment to intellectual freedom, which…
Category: International
Tanzania Bans Newspaper Over “Disrespectful” Cartoon
The Tanzanian government has banned the Nairobi newspaper, The EastAfrican, from newsstands. Although the publicized reason for the ban is that the newspaper was being distributed within Tanzania without proper legal registration as required by a 1976 law, several individuals…
Ecuadorian Cartoonist Faces Charges for “Socioeconomic Discrimination”
Political cartoonist Xavier Bonilla, known as Bonil, has been charged with “socioeconomic discrimination” in his home country of Ecuador for a cartoon targeting Agustín “Tin” Delgado, a former professional soccer player who now sits on Ecuador’s legislative assembly. Bonilla is…
Indian Cartoonist Talks About the Increase in Self-Censorship
Political cartoonist and graphic novelist Vishwajyoti Ghosh is no stranger to speaking out about the importance of free speech both in India as well as the wider world. Recently, he sat down with the Hindustan Times to talk about what…
Two Killed in Copenhagen Attacks on Free Speech Panel and Synagogue
A gunman opened fire on a Copenhagen cafe that was hosting a discussion on art, free speech, and blasphemy on Saturday, killing one attendee and injuring three police officers. The apparent target of the attack, Swedish cartoonist Lars Vilks, was…
Zunar Arrested for Twitter Criticism of Malaysian Government
Malaysian cartoonist Zunar is currently imprisoned, awaiting questioning over a tweet he posted this week suggesting that the country’s judiciary is corrupted by political or financial influence. He issued the criticism just after the internationally condemned sodomy conviction of former…
Dylan Horrocks Reports from France in Wake of Charlie Hebdo Attacks
During a recent visit to France, comics creator Dylan Horrocks visited the site of the Charlie Hebdo attacks. He shared his thoughts on the visit exclusively with CBLDF. In the English-speaking world, the Charlie Hebdo attack has largely been responded…
Palestinian Cartoonist Questioned About Possible Mohammed Cartoon
Palestinian cartoonist Mohammed Sabaaneh is under investigation for drawing a cartoon that was widely interpreted as depicting the Prophet Mohammed, although the artist himself insists the figure was only a symbolic representation of the Muslim faith. Only a short time…
Angoulême Honors Fallen Charlie Hebdo Staff with “Charlie Freedom of Speech” Award
The aftermath of the Charlie Hebdo attacks has left the comics world shaken, but it has also motivated cartoonists around the world to stand in solidarity with creators’ fundamental right to free expression. This past week, was another demonstration of…
The French Contradiction: Free Speech for Some But Not Others?
In the wake of the attack on Charlie Hebdo in Paris, many free-speech-loving Americans have been confused to say the least by the French government’s seeming hypocrisy in dealing with controversial expression. How could officials support the right to caricature…