Roger Tagholm considers whether authors pulling out of the PEN ceremony honoring Charlie Hebdo was the appropriate reaction.
What is a Bigger Crime, Censorship or Self-censorship?
When the state forces writers to operate in a gray area, where things that are tolerated one day are deemed illegal the next, it’s indefensible.
Against All Odds, 1,000 Strong Afghan PEN Survives, Thrives
Afghan PEN is “progressing in an endless upward curve”, nurturing young Afghan writers and promoting freedom of expression.
Book Publishing and Freedom
Book publishing should represent the pinnacle of civility. It is also one of the ultimate expressions of personal and political freedom.
Should Extremist Views Be Available to Readers in Egypt?
By Edward Nawotka Now that Egypt is close to eliminating censorship and opening its citizenry to a plentitude of political and religious views, the question arises of whether or not it is appropriate to have books with the most extreme views on sale in bookshops. In today’s lead story, Ramy Habeeb argues against censorship, saying that all points-of-view should be …
Light a Candle for Liu Xiaobo
By Edward Nawotka We’ve been remiss in not writing about the trial and sentencing of literary critic and political commentator Liu Xiaobo (please forgive us), which took place over the holidays. For a year Liu Xiaobo has been under arrest — at first, with no formal charge, then in July on the ominous charge of “inciting subversion of state power” …
Is Yale’s Cartoon Controversy Just More Publishing Cowardice?
Sherry Jones, author of The Jewel of Medina, discusses self-censorship and publishers who stand up against threats to freedom of speech and freedom to publish.
Bonus Material: Yale’s Experts Predicted Violence if Cartoons Were Published
By Edward Nawotka Yale University’s decision not to reproduce the September 30, 2005, Jyllands-Posten cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad in Jytte Klausen’s The Cartoons That Shook the World is the subject of today’s lead editorial by author Sherry Jones. Yale, for its part, issued a statement saying that it had consulted with numerous individuals who warned the school printing the cartoons …