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.
Omoyele Sowore’s critique of Nigeria’s legal system highlights deep-rooted judicial complicity in political repression. His prolonged persecution, despite multiple court orders, exemplifies how compromised courts and prosecutors fuel civil unrest. The 2024 #EndBadGovernance protests revived calls for judicial reform, as state-sanctioned crackdowns and unjust detentions revealed systemic failures. Without legal accountability, Nigeria risks repeating cycles of unrest and brutal suppression.
In Pune’s Pimple Nilakh, musician Swapnil Thakur has become the face of resistance against the controversial Mula Riverfront Development (RFD) project. With a drum kit, guitar, and harmonica, his protest anthem “Bahut bada ghotala hain…” has energized thousands. Blending music with activism, Thakur channels public outrage into powerful performances, challenging urban overdevelopment while reclaiming ecological and cultural identity along the threatened riverbanks.
Despite 73% of Americans giving to charity, only 16% support the arts—revealing a critical gap in cultural philanthropy. A 2025 AP-NORC study highlights how donor demographics, political ideologies, and structural inequities shape which creative voices are heard. As arts funding increasingly relies on private donors, questions arise about freedom, equity, and sustainability in cultural expression.
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.
Avant-Garde Lawyers (AGL) is launching the third edition of itsonline course, The Art of Defending Artists 3.0. This program is designed to empower human rights defenders, legal professionals, civil society advocates, and socially engaged artists with the tools and knowledge to protect artistic freedom worldwide.
The arrest and extradition of Kuwaiti blogger Salman Al-Khalidi in January 2025 has ignited international debate over political persecution, human rights violations, and breaches of international law. Al-Khalidi, a vocal critic of authoritarian regimes, was extradited from Iraq to Kuwait despite his status as a political refugee. This controversial action raises serious concerns about the protection of free expression and the treatment of dissidents in the Gulf region, particularly with regards to violations of international legal protections for refugees.
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
Apply now the Rawabet program production grants! The Production grants are a key component of the Rawabet Programme. These grants are aimed at artists from the Arab region who have resided in Europe since 2015. The programme offers production grants valued up to 12,000 euros for those in the performing arts field, including theatre, dance, circus, performing acts, and music. Some of the supported projects will also have the opportunity to participate in one of the Rawabet festivals during 2025 or 2026.
Europe’s arts philanthropy is navigating major shifts, driven by digital innovation, post-pandemic recovery, and new funding strategies. Foundations are increasing support for sustainability and diversity, yet bureaucratic hurdles and funding disparities persist. Public-private partnerships and pooled funding models show promise, but tensions remain over artistic freedom and access. This article explores the landscape’s challenges and emerging opportunities.
