Libya’s Cultural Crackdown

In 2025, Libya’s creative community faces unprecedented restrictions as authorities in the East and West impose strict controls over music, theater, and visual arts. Rap concerts are canceled, festivals shut down, and galleries closed, while bloggers and artists face surveillance, threats, and arbitrary detention. Human rights groups warn that these measures are driving self-censorship, exile, and the suppression of Libya’s vibrant cultural expression, raising urgent concerns about freedom of expression.

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AuthorLitangen
CategoriesCensorship in Arts, Censorship MENA, Censorship SWANA, Artistic Rights, North-Africa
TagsLibya, KA7LA, MC Mansour Unknown, Maryam Al-Warfalli

Misrak Terefe and Tobiya Poetic Jazz

In February 2025, poet Misrak Terefe, co-founder of Tobiya Poetic Jazz, was briefly detained in Addis Ababa. While released after three days, the incident highlighted ongoing challenges for Ethiopia’s independent arts scene. Observers and supporters, including diaspora artists and human rights advocates, framed the arrest as emblematic of broader pressures, though local sources confirm only the detention itself and her continued work with Tobiya Poetic Jaz

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AuthorLitangen
CategoriesCensorship in Arts, Artistic Rights, East-Africa
TagsTobiya Poetic Jazz, Misrak Terefe, Ethiopia, Poetry

Çiğdem Mater and the Punishment of Artistic Intention in Turkey

Turkish film producer Çiğdem Mater remains in prison, convicted for the “intention” to create a documentary on the 2013 Gezi Park protests—a film never made. Her sentence highlights the rise of artistic repression in Turkey, turning creative planning into a crime. Ongoing global advocacy efforts push for her release as her case becomes a global symbol in the fight for artistic and civic freedoms

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AuthorLitangen
CategoriesCensorship in Arts, Artistic Rights, Artist at Risk, Southern-Europe
TagsTurkey, #FreeCigdemMate, Gezi Park

Crackdown on Civil Society Expressions in Tunisia

In 2025, Tunisian artists, cultural organizations, and independent media face mounting pressure from administrative suspensions, audits, and legal scrutiny. Dream City 2025 continued its program, but the broader arts ecosystem experiences self-censorship, interrupted projects, and heightened risk. Independent media collective Nawaat illustrates the intersection of artistic, journalistic, and civic freedoms under threat in Tunisia today.

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AuthorLitangen
CategoriesArtistic Rights, Freedom of Expression, Human Rights, Censorship in Arts, North-Africa
TagsTunisia, Dream City, Nawaat, The tightening of civic space

Diana Loginova and Stoptime: The Power of Musical Dissent in Russia

Russian street musician Diana Loginova, 18, and her band Stoptime, were arrested in St. Petersburg in October 2025 after performing anti-Kremlin songs by banned artists. Their public protest sparked viral online support and waves of solidarity, highlighting the risks artists face for dissent under Russia’s expanding censorship laws. The case underscores the importance of artistic freedom and youth resistance to governmental repression.​

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AuthorLitangen
CategoriesCensorship in Arts, East-Europe, Artistic Rights
TagsRussia, Diana Loginova, Stoptime

Violence Against Artists is Escalating: Mexico Arrests Expose Regional Crisis

The arrest of 16 suspects in Mexico on November 1, 2025, for the murder of two Colombian musicians has exposed a chilling reality: criminal organizations across Latin America are systematically targeting artists. The case of Bayron Sánchez (B-King) and Jorge Luis Herrera (Regio Clown) illuminates growing dangers facing artists in regions where organized crime intersects with artistic freedom. From Peru's extortion crisis to Colombia's conflict zones and Brazil's gang coercion, artists throughout the region face violence.

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AuthorLitangen
CategoriesArtistic Rights, Artist at Risk, Censorship in Arts, Latin America
TagsArtistic Freedom, Violence Against Artists, Freedom of Expression, Criminal Violence, Cultural Rights, Artist Safety

Iranian Rappers Targeted, Forced Confessions Revealed

Since October 2025, Iranian authorities have arrested at least five rappers and a composer, targeting minority artists from Ahwazi Arab and Kurdish communities. Forced confessions and public apologies, circulated online and via state-linked channels, expose a systematic campaign of intimidation. Human rights groups report beatings, denial of legal counsel, and coercion, highlighting a broader pattern of repression against artists and activists across Iran.

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AuthorLitangen
CategoriesCensorship in Arts, Artistic Rights, Artist at Risk, Western Asia
TagsIran, Iran rappers arrested, Ahwazi Arab artists, Forced confessions Iran, Iran artistic repression

China’s Expanding Censorship on artistc expressions

Since 2021, China’s cultural authorities have tightened control over artistic expression through CAPA’s “Performance-sector norms,” blacklists, and prosecutions that enforce ideological loyalty. Artist Gao Zhen’s detention and the suppression of politically sensitive art abroad highlight a widening campaign to align creativity with Party doctrine. NGOs warn this system, now extending beyond China’s borders, has produced a chilling effect on global artistic freedom.

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AuthorLitangen
CategoriesCensorship in Arts, Artistic Rights, Southeast Asia
TagsChina, China Association of Performing Arts (CAPA), Gao Zhen, Bangkok Arts and Cultural Centre, Sai

El Salvador’s Culture Under Bukele’s Control

Since 2021, President Nayib Bukele has tightened control over El Salvador’s cultural sphere, reshaping it into a vehicle for state propaganda. Mass firings, restrictive laws, and new bureaucracies such as the RAEX registry have silenced dissenting artists and organizations. What began as a modernization drive has evolved into a system where art serves authority—and creative freedom depends on political loyalty

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AuthorLitangen
CategoriesCensorship in Arts, Artistic Rights, Latin America
TagsElSalvador, Nayib Bukele, South-America

Arab States Intensify Digital Content Controls

Across the Arab world, governments are rapidly tightening rules on social media, influencers, and online expression. From Saudi Arabia’s 2025 media code to Egypt’s cybercrime prosecutions and Bahrain’s high-profile influencer arrests, these measures claim to protect morals and national identity—but also sharply limit free expression. The region is entering a decisive phase of digital governance, reshaping youth culture, journalism, and creative industries.

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AuthorLitangen
CategoriesCensorship in Arts, Artistic Rights, Censorship SWANA, Middle East
TagsSwana

Teddy Yo: Ethiopian Hip Hop Icon, Music, and Resistance

Teddy Yo, born Tewodros Assefa, has become one of Ethiopia’s most influential hip hop artists. Known for blending local rhythms with global urban styles, his politically charged song “Wenbersh” led to a brief 2022 arrest, highlighting challenges for artists in Ethiopia. His 2024 album Yileyal demonstrates resilience and ongoing cultural influence, making him a voice for youth and the diaspora navigating social and political complexities.

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AuthorLitangen
CategoriesCensorship in Arts, Artistic Rights, East-Africa
TagsTeddy Yo, Ethiopia, Hip Hop, Yileyal

US Arts Institutions Unite Against Censorship

More than 150 cultural institutions across the United States have issued a joint appeal against mounting political interference and censorship, warning that artistic and intellectual freedom are at risk. Led by the National Coalition Against Censorship and the Vera List Center, the statement calls for solidarity and courage as funding cuts and government intervention threaten the independence of museums, theatres, and cultural organizations nationwide.

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AuthorLitangen
CategoriesArtists in Protest, Artistic Rights, Censorship in Arts, North America
TagsVera List Center for Art and Politics, National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC), USA, US

Censored Film Triumphs at FAMAS Awards

One year after surviving attempts at censorship, Alipato at Muog has emerged victorious, winning Best Picture and Best Director at the 73rd FAMAS Awards. The documentary chronicles the Burgos family’s decades-long search for Jonas Burgos, a disappeared activist, and stands as both a landmark of Philippine independent cinema and a defiant reminder that truth-telling and artistic freedom cannot be silenced.

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AuthorLitangen
CategoriesArtistic Rights, Censorship in Arts, Southeast Asia
TagsFilipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) Awards, Philippines, Alipato at Muog, Southeast Asia, Jonas Burgos

Bi-2, and a Global Outcry Over Transnational Repression

Bi-2, a Russian-Belarusian anti-war rock band, was detained in Thailand in January 2024 for alleged visa violations after concert organizers claimed proper permits were secured. Accusations of Russian consular interference led to global advocacy from Amnesty and Human Rights Watch, resulting in the band’s release to Israel. Their case exposes new realities of transnational repression facing artists.​

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AuthorLitangen
CategoriesCensorship in Arts, Artistic Rights, Artists in Protest, East-Europe
TagsBi-2, Thailand, Russian-Belarusian, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch

Argentina's Artists Defy Libertarian Cultural Crackdown

Argentina’s artistic community faces systematic repression under Javier Milei’s government, which merges far-right libertarianism with state-driven censorship. From canceling concerts at memorial sites to dismantling cultural institutions and smearing dissenting artists, the regime weaponizes bureaucracy against creative freedom. Yet from guerrilla performances to encrypted livestreams, artists are resisting with powerful acts of defiance—turning cultural repression into a spark for resurgence.

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AuthorLitangen
CategoriesArtists in Protest, Censorship in Arts, Artistic Rights, Latin America
TagsArgentina, Javier Milei, Milo J, Lali Espósito, María Becerra, Cecilia Roth

Nicaraguan Artists Resisting Authoritarianism

"Glances of Resistance" began as a covert Berlin exhibition by exiled Nicaraguan artists, documenting authoritarian violence through defiant art. As Nicaragua's regime intensified repression—banning performances, exiling creators, and dismantling civil society—art became both target and weapon. From torn-down “Trees of Life” to underground collectives, this resistance preserves truth where the state enforces silence. Global solidarity is now vital to protect Nicaragua’s vanishing creative voice.

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AuthorLitangen
CategoriesCensorship in Arts, Artists in Protest, Artistic Rights, Latin America
TagsNicaragua, Glances of Resistance, Ortega-Murillo, Josué Monroy, Gioconda Belli, Sergio Ramírez, Bishop Rolando Álvarez

Youth Defy Censorship in Kenyan Drama

“Echoes of War,” a play by Butere Girls High School, was censored despite winning regionals in Kenya's national drama festival. A court ruling ordered its reinstatement, but police blocked performances, detained playwright Cleophas Malala, and harassed students. On April 10, the cast protested by walking out in costume, singing the national anthem. The incident sparked national outcry, exposing tensions between youth expression and state control.

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AuthorLitangen
CategoriesCensorship in Arts, Artistic Rights, East-Africa
TagsButere Girls High School, Echoes of War, Kenya National Drama and Film Festival, Nakuru, Kenya, East Africa, Cleophas Malala

Arendalsuka: Art, Culture, Threats, and (Self-)Censorship

At Arendalsuka 2025, Samtale og mingel: Kunst, kultur, trusler og (selv)sensur? tackles rising threats to artistic freedom. Organized by Nordisk Ministerråd, Kulturdirektoratet, and Voksenåsen, the event combines expert panels with networking. It highlights challenges from harassment to self-censorship and links cultural resilience with democracy—engaging policymakers, artists, and advocates.

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AuthorLitangen
CategoriesArtistic Rights, Censorship in Arts, North Europe
TagsArendalsuka, art27Arendal, Norway

Germany’s Antisemitism Policy: Funding, Art, Debate

Germany’s Bundestag passed a non-binding resolution in November 2024, urging that public funding for cultural and academic projects align with the IHRA definition of antisemitism. While not a law, the resolution is rapidly changing practices, impacting artistic freedom, and fueling debate over its effects, particularly in high-profile institutions like Documenta. Critics warn of self-censorship and legal uncertainty as Germany’s cultural sector adapts.

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AuthorLitangen
CategoriesCensorship in Arts, Artistic Rights, Freedom of Expression, Central Europe
TagsGermany, International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), Antisemitism Policy, Documenta, Oyoun Collective

Art Under Threat: Freemuse’s 2025 Report is Out

Freemuse’s State of Artistic Freedom 2025 reveals alarming global trends in artistic repression throughout 2024. Launched during Democracy Week in Kristiansand, Norway, the report highlights intensified crackdowns in Iran, Türkiye, China, and conflict zones like Gaza. Democratic nations weren’t spared, as self-censorship grew. Legal and criminal threats continue to endanger artists worldwide. Freemuse calls for global action to protect creative expression.

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Posted
AuthorLitangen
CategoriesCensorship in Arts, Artistic Rights, North Europe
TagsFreemuse, State of Artistic Freedom 2025, Norway