The European Court of Human Rights has convicted Turkey of violating freedom of speech in the case of singer Ferhat Tunç. A Turkish court had sentenced Ferhat Tunç to three months in prison and ordered him to pay a fine for having made dissident comments during a concert. The European …

Jacques-Alain Bénisti, mayor of a Paris suburb, has tried to derail the screening of Abderrahmane Sissako’s ‘Timbuktu’, despite never having seen the film. The mayor feared “that the movie makes an apology for terrorism,” reported Le Figaro. According to Le Monde, Bénisti thought that young people would see the jihadists …

Freemuse initiates and organises several campaigns and advocacy initiatives for musicians and composers at risk. Freemuse has also provided substantial support to persecuted and prosecuted artists. Current Freemuse campaigns Currently Freemuse (openly) campaigns for the release of the following artists. Other cases are under investigation or involve non-public actions. Mehdi …

Artists, activists and journalists respond to Turkey’s presentation to the UN Council on Human Rights Universal Periodic Review.

The Turkish Supreme Board of Radio and Television (RTÜK) has fined two music tv channels for airing music videos with scenes of sexuality, reported Hurriyet Daily News. RTÜK fined Genç TV for broadcasting the music video of Elliphant’s song ‘One More’, which features a scene of two women kissing. RTÜK …

Artists, activists and journalists respond to Turkey’s presentation to the UN Council on Human Rights Universal Periodic Review   On 27 January 2015, Bülent Arinç, Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey, delivered a report on the state of human rights in Turkey to the United Nations Council on Human Rights. Arinç, …

On 30-31 January 2015, an unusual gathering of world women will unfold over two days of conversations and performances at Riksscenen in Oslo, Norway. The summit is organised by artist and activist Deeyah Khan. ‘World Woman’ is “a convening of courageous and creative women who are defenders of freedom of …

One of Syria’s most prominent artists has been denied a visa to travel to the UK for the opening of his own exhibition in London. Thaier Helal, widely known in Syria for his neo-expressionist works, was denied entry to Britain by the Home Office. He was due to appear at …

‘The Ramdam festival of disturbing films’ in the Belgian town Tourni has been closed after terrorist threats. After a court decision, Police sealed the area around the cinema complex Imagix for the entire duration of the festival. “Since its foundation in 2011, the festival Ramdam has given word to pluralistic …

On 16 January 2015 an investigation was opened against folk music artist Kutsal Evcimen because of insulting prime minister of the time, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, with the folk song ‘Satın Eşek Sıpaları’ which he sang – and with a short speech he made – during Malatya 11th International Arguvan Folk Music Festival. …