Freemuse welcomes Kelsang Yarphel’s release but remains concerned that it only comes after he served out his four-year prison sentence.
Read More »Let Women Sing
In 2017, Freemuse began its Let Women Sing campaign, shining a spotlight on female artists, who face some very violent and direct censorship restrictions globally. The right to perform at a festival isn’t the same for everyone. In some countries, female musicians are censored, attacked, threatened or even killed, simply …
Read More »Pakistan: Music once again in the crosshairs
Pakistan's relationship with music remains tenuous with religious leaders and police threatening and raiding music events or banning music outright.
Read More »Japan: Artist appeals obscenity ruling over ‘vagina art’
A Tokyo court upheld a 2016 ruling fining artist Megumi Igarashi 400,000 yen (USD $3,500) for distributing obscene material related to her “vagina art”.
Read More »Australia: Two radio DJs fired for playing offensive song
On 4 June 2017, two Mount Gambier radio DJs received a text message from the station's board telling them their was being shut down for indecency.
Read More »China: Performance artist sentenced to four years in prison
Artist Chen Yunfei was sentenced to 4 years in prison for “picking quarrels & provoking trouble” related to his art and criticism of the Chinese government.
Read More »South Korea: K-pop stars receive death threats
In mid-June 2017, K-pop group Apink and K-pop singer Mina, from group Twice, received death threats, via social media and phone, respectively.
Read More »India: Film cleared for release by appellate board
On 24 April 2017, India's film appellate tribunal overturned a decision by the film censorship board, clearing film ‘Lipstick Under My Burkha’ for release.
Read More »China: Banned Hong Kong film scrubbed from award coverage
Chinese media blocked live coverage of the 36th Hong Kong Film Awards every time mention was made of Hong Kong crime film ‘Trivisa’.
Read More »Malaysia: Art group withdraws from show after artwork was removed
Two large pieces of art by art collective Pangrok Sulap were removed from the Escape from the SEA exhibition allegedly due to complaints over content.
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