ART UNDER THREAT IN 2016: WHAT DROVE VIOLATIONS The following section of the Art under Threat in 2016 report explores the issues and tendencies that drove governments and other groups to limit artistic expression. TABLE OF CONTENTS * Click on the following titles to be taken to that part of …

ART UNDER THREAT IN 2016: EGYPT SERIOUS VIOLATIONS: 18 ACTS OF CENSORSHIP: 19 State censorship of the arts in the name of “protecting public morals and state interests” continues to stifle artistic freedom of expression in Egypt. Restrictions on art and literary works that address politics, sex and religion, remain …

Freemuse, along with more than 60 organisations, calls for an open and independent investigation into the jailing and death of Shady Habash.

On the eve of Eid al-Fitr, cultural rights defenders submit a joint letter calling on the Egyptian president to release Mustafa and Galal. 

24-year old Shady Habash was awaiting trial in the city’s Tora prison on pre-trial charges of “spreading false news” and “joining a banned organisation”.

We, the undersigned, call for the immediate release of Mustafa Gamal from prison in Egypt.

Freemuse registered 469 cases of censorship and attacks on artists and violations of their rights in 2015, making it our worst recorded year yet.

Already hours before the launch of the Freemuse/AFTE study ‘Censors of Creativity’ on 21 May 2014, dozens of young Ramy Essam supporters started gathering outside the entrance of the Townhouse/Rawabet Theatre in downtown Cairo. The famous ‘singer of the revolution’ was one of the artists who performed at the launch. …

AFTE and Freemuse publish an extensive study on censorship of artistic expression in Egypt. The 84-page report ‘Censors of Creativity’ reveals that the Egyptian government needs to reform the current legislative and institutional apparatus of censorship. “Several conservative restrictions imposed on artistic creativity contravene human rights standards and basic liberties,” …

Ramy Essam comments on music censorship in Egypt.   This interview with Ramy Essam was recorded by Freemuse Web Editor Mik Aidt in Stockholm, Sweden, on 22 November 2011. 18 days at the Tahrir Square in February 2011 catapulted singer and guitarist Ramy Essam to fame. All of a sudden, he was on CCN, …