When journalist Naouel Bizid invited trans activist and performer Khookha McQueer to mark the 100th episode of Deep Confessions Podcast, a show about mental health became a flashpoint for Tunisia’s culture war over queer visibility and freedom of expression.
Mohamed Ramadan faces a two-year prison sentence for releasing his hit “Number One, you halves” without Egypt’s required censorship permits, extending state control into music published on global platforms like YouTube. The conviction, though not yet enforced, sends a chilling signal to high-profile artists as authorities tighten oversight of digital creativity and blur the line between stardom and criminalisation.
Iranian singer, Parastoo Ahmadi, 27, stages a bold hijab‑free “imaginary concert” in a historic caravanserai, livestreamed on YouTube with no physical audience but watched by thousands online. Performing in a sleeveless dress with uncovered hair alongside three male musicians, she directly challenges Iran’s bans on women singing publicly. Within 24 hours, the judiciary announces legal proceedings, turning one virtual show into a high‑stakes test of artistic freedom.
