Zimbabwe’s music and comedy scenes have long been vibrant arenas for cultural expression, but they are increasingly becoming battlegrounds for freedom of speech.
Arrested in 2018 for criticizing corruption, Egyptian poet Galal El-Behairy has endured torture, harsh prison conditions, and prolonged detention. His case exemplifies Egypt’s escalating crackdown on artistic freedom.
In Tunisia, artists face growing harassment and censorship, yet they continue to reclaim public spaces through creative expression. Ballet dancer Nesrine Ben Arbia performs in historic locations, resisting conservative pressures. Despite threats from extremist groups and restrictive laws, artists persist in challenging societal norms. Initiatives like Street Art in Médenine and the Dream City Festival highlight art’s power to inspire change in Tunisia’s evolving political landscape.
Iranian filmmakers face significant challenges due to strict censorship, which limits creative freedom and forces many to produce films in secret or leave the country. Nina Zarabi's story highlights these challenges
Hamdan Ballal, co-director of "No Other Land," was assaulted by Israeli settlers and detained by soldiers in the West Bank
Miami Beach's mayor is trying to cut funding for O Cinema after it screened the controversial film No Other Land.
The Oscar-winning documentary "No Other Land" fuels controversy over its political themes, highlighting Palestinian resistance and Israeli demolitions in the West Bank.
Brookings Institution warns of rising threats to U.S. arts, linking censorship, defunding, and authoritarian tactics
Sukatani’s censored song sparks protests and debate on free speech, with police facing allegations of intimidation.
A cohort of national free speech and arts organizations expressed outrage at the Trump Administration’s recent efforts to establish ideological control over federally-funded cultural initiatives in the United States
Recent actions by the Trump administration that have sparked concerns about censorship in the US arts scene
Fareed Armaly rejects Käthe Kollwitz Prize from the Berlin Academy of Arts, protesting Germany’s censorship, racism, and suppression of Palestinian voices.
Bangladesh: The government reaffirms commitment to free expression, dismissing claims of pre-publication book censorshi
Iranian singer Amir Tataloo's death sentence sparks global outcry over blasphemy and freedom of expression
Submit your nomination for Index on Censorship's 2025 Freedom of Expression Awards by March 7, 2025.
Art museums lack policies, leaving them vulnerable to rising censorship threats and external pressures, according to a new report made by PEN America, the Association of Art Museum Directors, and Artists at Risk Connection.
The Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression (AFTE) has condemned the General Egyptian Book Organization’s (GEBO) decision to bar ElMaraya for Culture and Arts from participating in the 2025 Cairo International Book Fair without providing any explanation
Once banned in Syria, Stars in Broad Daylight resurfaces as a symbol of artistic resilience
UC Berkeley's "A Counter-Imaginary in Authoritarian Times" project is a significant initiative aimed at confronting artistic and academic censorship. The $2.6 million grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation will fund this multi-year, interdisciplinary effort to address the complex challenges posed by modern forms of authoritarianism and censorship.
