The trial against writer Saw Wai and two other activists started on charges of violation of Section 505(a) of the Penal Code.

Iranian filmmaker, Mohammad Rasoulof, has been ordered to serve a one-year prison sentence on the charge of “propaganda against the system."

After a police raid on the house where the Grup Yorum members have been staying, they were taken to the hospital to be force-fed.

Swedish publisher of Chinese origin Gui Minhai was sentenced to ten years in prison in China on the charge of “providing intelligence” abroad.

The musician is reportedly 'not surprised' by the decision and remains in exile.

26 January 2020: Cuban artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara was released after police detained him near his girlfriend Claudia Genlui Hidalgo's home.

After his arrest, Algerian poet Mohamed Tadjadit was sentenced on 19 December 2019 to 18 months in prison for “undermining the national unity.”

Freemuse is pleased to hear about the release of Moroccan street theatre artist Younes Benkhdim.

“An attack on these cultural sites is a war crime as defined by the International Criminal Court and should be treated thus,” says Freemuse Executive Director Dr. Srirak Plipat, “Further, these threats show an alarming disregard to cultural heritage, the international cultural community, and humanity at large. Freemuse condemns this threat and calls on the USA standby the international law they have agreed to in order to protect these basic human rights and freedoms.”

Moroccan rapper Gnawi (real name Mohamed Mounir), has been sentenced to a year in prison for insulting the government.