At Arendalsuka 2025, Samtale og mingel: Kunst, kultur, trusler og (selv)sensur? tackles rising threats to artistic freedom. Organized by Nordisk Ministerråd, Kulturdirektoratet, and Voksenåsen, the event combines expert panels with networking. It highlights challenges from harassment to self-censorship and links cultural resilience with democracy—engaging policymakers, artists, and advocates.
Sarah Al-Bahrani, a rising Iraqi actress, was indefinitely suspended by the state-linked Artists Syndicate after exposing sexual extortion in the entertainment industry. Accused of “unethical conduct,” she alleges retaliation for speaking out. Her case reflects Iraq’s broader suppression of artistic freedom and gendered censorship. Despite harassment and threats, Al-Bahrani has become a symbol of resistance in the face of systemic repression.
Freemuse’s State of Artistic Freedom 2025 reveals alarming global trends in artistic repression throughout 2024. Launched during Democracy Week in Kristiansand, Norway, the report highlights intensified crackdowns in Iran, Türkiye, China, and conflict zones like Gaza. Democratic nations weren’t spared, as self-censorship grew. Legal and criminal threats continue to endanger artists worldwide. Freemuse calls for global action to protect creative expression.
Hoba Hoba Spirit's Rabat concert was indefinitely postponed after backlash from AS FAR football club supporters over frontman Reda Allali’s critical comments. The incident reveals Morocco’s ongoing struggle between artistic freedom and institutional sensitivities. As fans demand accountability, the postponement underscores how cultural expression remains entangled with political red lines—especially when the military or national identity is involved.
Just hours before opening, the satirical cartoon exhibition Licence to Offend was abruptly cancelled by TownSq gallery in Kingston, London. Featuring works by top UK political cartoonists like Morten Morland, the show depicted public figures including Trump, Starmer, and Musk. Citing potential offense and staff safety, the gallery pulled the exhibit. Morland criticized the move as a blow to free expression. Organizers seek a new venue.
Freedom in the Arts (FITA) has launched Afraid to Speak Freely, a powerful report revealing growing censorship, self-silencing, and ideological pressure within the UK’s arts and cultural sector. Based on responses from 483 professionals, the report calls for urgent action to protect freedom of expression and support viewpoint diversity across institutions in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
On May 6, 2025, Azerbaijan became the first-ever global sponsor of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation. While projecting a modern and creative image abroad, the country intensifies censorship and repression at home. Independent artists face arrests, exile, and intimidation, revealing a stark contrast between Azerbaijan’s cultural diplomacy and the lived reality of creative voices who dare to dissent.
Olin Monteiro’s three-decade journey redefines feminist activism in Indonesia, merging art, political resistance, and historical memory. From founding ArtsforWomen Indonesia to connecting rural and urban movements, she uses creativity as both protest and healing. Her initiatives—spanning community theater, zines, and intergenerational networks—challenge patriarchal norms and state repression, positioning art as essential infrastructure for liberation.
When 97 books were pulled from school libraries in Beaufort County, SC, three high school students—Isabella Troy Brazoban, Elizabeth Foster, and Millie Bennett—refused to stay silent. Their bold response to censorship launched a youth-led movement that reversed bans, inspired a national documentary, and redefined what student activism looks like in the fight for intellectual freedom.
In August 2024, Slovakia’s Cultural Strike began after key cultural leaders were dismissed by Culture Minister Martina Šimkovičová. The movement, led by artists and institutions, protests government censorship, ideological control, and poor labor conditions. Backed by international support, it demands merit-based leadership, fair funding, and worker protections, symbolizing broader resistance to the country’s growing authoritarianism.
The January 2025 arrest of journalist Ahmed Serag, following an interview with the wife of jailed cartoonist Ashraf Omar, has drawn sharp criticism from press freedom advocates. Charged with terrorism-related offenses after highlighting human rights abuses, Serag’s case exemplifies Egypt’s escalating crackdown on dissenting voices and independent journalism under President al-Sisi’s regime
The January 2025 arrest of Lebanese comedian Qassem Jaber over a satirical video has ignited a national debate on freedom of expression. Jaber, known for mocking Hezbollah and its affiliates, was accused of defamation and sectarian incitement after targeting lawyer Bouchra al-Khalil. His case underscores the risks faced by artists challenging political powers in Lebanon, where tensions between satire and censorship remain high.
Egyptian-Turkish poet Abdul Rahman Yusuf Al-Qaradawi was deported from Lebanon to the UAE in early 2025, despite urgent warnings from human rights groups. Known for his politically charged poetry, Al-Qaradawi now faces potential torture and enforced disappearance. His case underscores growing regional threats to artistic freedom and expression, and raises serious questions about Lebanon’s role in enabling cross-border censorship.
The cancellation of the Ramadan TV show Al-Musaharati by Jordanian television has sparked discussions about artistic freedom and cultural traditions
EGYPT: The unexpected cancellation of Istinsakh’s private screening on April 7, 2025, has stirred major controversy in Egypt’s film industry. The sci-fi thriller, which tackles the societal impacts of artificial intelligence, was set to premiere publicly on April 9. While officials blame administrative delays, many suspect censorship, reigniting broader concerns about artistic freedom in Egypt's entertainment landscape. As of April 10, 2025, Istinsakh has yet to be release
IRAQ: The banning of the Saudi-produced series Muawiya in Iraq has sparked major controversy, highlighting deep sectarian and political tensions. Centered on Muawiya ibn Abi Sufyan, the show has been accused of glorifying divisive historical narratives. Critics warn it may inflame Sunni-Shia sensitivities, especially during Ramadan, a time of unity. With bans also in Iran, the incident reveals how historical portrayals shape modern geopolitics in the Middle East.
Lebanon has banned Captain America: Brave New World due to the inclusion of Israeli actress Shira Haas as Sabra, a controversial character with ties to Israeli identity and history. Despite Marvel altering her background for the film, the move reignited political and cultural tensions. Activists, including the BDS movement, accuse Disney of promoting Israeli narratives, sparking protests and renewed calls for boycott across the Arab world.
SYRIA: The Syrian TV drama Caesar, set after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, faced backlash and halted production after attempting to film inside former regime prisons. These facilities, infamous for torture and mass executions, hold deep trauma for survivors. The controversy reveals the sensitive balance between artistic expression and honoring victims’ experiences in post-conflict Syria.
EGYPT: Dr. Mabrouk Attia, a retired professor from Al-Azhar University, faces an investigation following controversial content in his Ramadan program on social media, "Kalam Mabrouk." The university's referral comes amid backlash for Attia’s discussions with Mahraganat singers and provocative statements on social issues. This marks the latest in a series of controversies surrounding the scholar, raising questions about Egypt’s approach to freedom of expression, the regulation of religious discourse, and the role of social media in public life.
Uganda’s artists face growing censorship under President Museveni’s rule. From banned music and plays to arrested comedians and TikTokers, creative expression is under siege. Laws targeting LGBTQ+ content and political satire have silenced many, yet artists continue to resist through coded messages, digital activism, and global collaboration—proving that creativity remains a powerful force against oppression.
