KLAY BBJ, the Tunisian rapper who has been sentenced to imprisonment for his lyrics critical of the police and the Tunisian regime joined via skype The Impossible Music Sessions, which took place as part of a Nordic Experts Meeting on safe havens for artists in Malmö, Sweden, on 11 November …

The Tunisian rappers Klay BBJ and Weld el 15 were sentenced to jail after a performance that was deemed to be too critical of the nation’s police force. The government’s harsh treatment of the rapper gained international attention. Initially sentenced to 21 months in jail, Klay was freed on October …

“In the context of the Arab Uprisings, the censorship can be seen as a symptom of governments’ fear of people uniting and has led to grave human rights violations, torture, exile and the morbid murdering of artists.” Middleeastmonitor.com – 31 October 2013: Protecting the creative voices of the Arab Uprising …

Tunisian rap artists have launched a labour union to defend their interests and promote their art. The ‘National Rap Union’ will be linked to the General Confederation of Tunisian Workers and intends to “raise the level of urgency of files concerning the defence of freedom of expression.” This was reported …

On 17 October 2013, an appeals court overturned the conviction of rapper Klay BBJ on charges of “insulting the police,” Human Rights Watch reported. A district court had sentenced Klay BBJ (real name: Ahmed Ben Ahmed) to six months in prison for performing lyrics it deemed “insulting” at a summer …

Newsletter from Article 19, published on article19.org on 21 October 2013: Art, in any form, constitutes a key medium through which information and ideas are imparted and received. Artist Alert, launched by ARTICLE 19 in 2008, highlights cases of artists around the world whose right to freedom of expression has …

Tunisian rapper Klay BBJ has been sentenced to six months in prison for insulting the authorities in his songs, reported several news agencies on 26 September 2013. That is 15 months less than the sentence he was first given in August 2013. Klay BBJ (real name: Ahmed Ben Ahmed) lost …

Two Tunisian rappers, Weld El 15 and Klay BBJ, have been given 21 month jail terms in absentia for insulting officials, their lawyer said on 4 September 2013, criticising the ruling as a new attack on freedom of expression. This was reported by AFP. The trial took place on 30 …

Here is a book which describes a largely invisible global community of writers, artists, doctors, musicians, museum curators, lawyers, activists, and educators of Muslim heritage around the world who often risk death to combat the rising tide of fundamentalism within their own countries. ‘Your Fatwa Does Not Apply Here’ is …

Newsletter from Article 19, published on article19.org on 14 August 2013: Art, in any form, constitutes a key medium through which information and ideas are imparted and received. Artist Alert, launched by ARTICLE 19 in 2008, highlights cases of artists around the world whose right to freedom of expression has …