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AuthorLitangen

In February 2025, Lebanese-Australian artist Khaled Sabsabi was abruptly removed from representing Australia at the 2026 Venice Biennale, igniting a firestorm of controversy within the international arts community. The decision, made by Creative Australia, followed backlash over Sabsabi’s 2007 video installation You

Lebanon’s vibrant arts scene, known for its cultural richness and political critique, continues to face significant challenges due to censorship and harassment. Artists, filmmakers, and performers are frequently targeted by authorities, religious groups, and political factions when their work addresses sensitive issues such as politics, religion, or gender, domestically and abroad

In February 2025, Moroccan artist Khadija Tanana became the latest target of state censorship when her artwork, Hand of Fatima, was forcibly removed from the Tetouan Centre of Modern Art.

Artistic freedom in Jordan faces significant challenges, with artists across various fields—spanning journalism, street art, music, and filmmaking—dealing with censorship, harassment and legal action, making an environment where creative expression is increasingly constrained

In Tunisia, artists face growing harassment and censorship, yet they continue to reclaim public spaces through creative expression. Ballet dancer Nesrine Ben Arbia performs in historic locations, resisting conservative pressures. Despite threats from extremist groups and restrictive laws, artists persist in challenging societal norms. Initiatives like Street Art in Médenine and the Dream City Festival highlight art’s power to inspire change in Tunisia’s evolving political landscape.

A cohort of national free speech and arts organizations expressed outrage at the Trump Administration’s recent efforts to establish ideological control over federally-funded cultural initiatives in the United States