Freemuse warns of the emergence of a new global culture of silencing others, where artistic expression is being shut down in every corner of the globe, including in the traditionally democratic West.
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Somalia: Poet sentenced to three years in prison
Poet Naema Ahmed Ibrahim was sentenced in Hargeisa to three years in prison on 15 April 2018 on charges of statements she allegedly made in Mogadishu.

Egypt: Poet detained and allegedly tortured over lyrics and latest book
Poet Galal El-Behairy has been detained on charges of insulting the Egyptian army and Islam over lyrics for a song and latest poetry book.

Freemuse condemns attack on writer Muhammad Zafar Iqbal
Renowned science fiction and children’s stories author, activist and professor Muhammad Zafar Iqbal was stabbed on 3 March 2018 a student at an Islamic school who claimed he attacked the writer because he was "an enemy of Islam".

Freemuse condemns imprisonment of Spanish rapper Valtonyc
Spanish rapper Valtonyc has been sentenced to three years and six months in prison on charges of “glorification of terrorism and humiliation of its victims” and “threats” in his songs.

Freemuse concerned over increasing imprisonments of Egyptian women artists
Since the start of 2018, Egyptian courts have sentenced at least three women singers to prison for music that was considered to be immoral and insulting to Egypt.

Freemuse first annual State of Artistic Freedom report
Freemuse warns of the emergence of a new global culture of silencing others, where artistic expression is being shut down in every corner of the globe.

Equatorial Guinea: Artist Freed from Prison
An Equatorial Guinean court on 7 March 2018 released an artist imprisoned on dubious charges for nearly six months, 18 human rights groups said today. The prosecution dropped all charges against Ramón Esono Ebalé, a cartoonist whose work is often cri

Music Freedom Day 2018: Listen to voices of the silenced
On 3 March, Music Freedom Day 2018 places the spotlight on women, LGBT and minority musicians to celebrate artistic freedom of expression.

Musician Ferhat Tunç indicted a third time – Freemuse calls for all charges to be dropped
On 23 January 2018, musician and 2010 Freemuse Award winner Ferhat Tunç was presented with a third indictment in four months over political messages posted on his social media.

Zimbabwe: Musicians attacked for singing in native language
Zimbabwean musician Jeys Marabini and his band were attacked by audience members for singing in their native IsiNdebele language during their performance at the inauguration of President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
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The State of Artistic Freedom 2018
15 March 2018 -
Art Under Threat in 2016
8 February 2017 -
INSIGHT publication: Targeting the Arts 2016
10 May 2017 -
Freemuse report on the effects of terror on arts and culture
26 October 2016 -
Pakistan: The war on living arts in Swat
27 June 2016
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Drop charges against musician Ferhat Tunç in Turkey
4 December 2017Ferhat Tunç is being prosecuted for his peaceful expression … again. For the last 10 years of his over 30-year career as an artist, Ferhat has been the target of numerous government investigations and cases against him because of his music and other peaceful expressions. Ferhat is now having to defend himself in three new cases against him. Together, the charges amount to more than 13 years imprisonment. Your actions are important and can make a difference in Ferhat’s life and the lives of others like him in Turkey. Stand in solidarity with these artists and demand that Turkey drop all the charges against Ferhat Tunç.
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Open letter to the President of Equatorial Guinea: Release artist and writer Ramón Esono Ebalé
16 November 2017 -
Let Women Sing
21 July 2017 -
In prison for a year in Iran; artists call for musician’s and filmmaker’s release
1 June 2017 -
Turkey: Seven members of Grup Yorum arrested
3 December 2016
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Equatorial Guinea: Artist Freed from Prison
7 March 2018An Equatorial Guinean court on 7 March 2018 released an artist imprisoned on dubious charges for nearly six months, 18 human rights groups said today. The prosecution dropped all charges against Ramón Esono Ebalé, a cartoonist whose work is often critical of the government.
Read More » -
Freemuse first annual State of Artistic Freedom report
8 March 2018 -
Music Freedom Day 2018: Listen to voices of the silenced
27 February 2018 -
Legal restrictions and threat of deadly violence curb artistic freedom in Bangladesh
2 November 2017 -
In prison for a year in Iran; artists call for musician’s and filmmaker’s release
1 June 2017
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November 2017: Cartoonist detained over 60 days with no charge
23 November 2017Freemuse and 17 other organisations have sent an open letter to Equatorial Guinea's President calling for the release of cartoonist Ramón Esono Ebalé.
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October 2017 Newsletter: Troubling events in the world of artistic freedom
9 October 2017 -
Artsfreedom newsletter: We remember Shaima Rezayee
24 February 2017 -
Artsfreedom newsletter: Turkey – The Freemuse Files
15 December 2016 -
Artsfreedom newsletter: The intentional destruction of the living arts
27 October 2016
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USA: Trump and Trauma, Threats and Tribalism: Art Censorship and a Divisive Presidency
15 January 2018A look at the most representative issues affecting artistic freedom in the first year of the Trump administration.
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Saudi Arabia: Artists redraw 21st century identity
28 November 2017 -
Brazil: Sponsorship of cultural activities limits freedom of expression
16 November 2017 -
Censorship in Nigeria: Musical free expression in the shadow of Fela
10 July 2017 -
Turkey: A prolonged tragedy for theatre
11 May 2017