Index on Censorship weekly round-up

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Friday, 25 October 2024
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Malcolm McDowell / A Clockwork Orange 1971, directed by Stanley Kubrick. Photo by ScreenProd / Photononstop / Alamy Stock Photo

Hello, readers. This is Sarah Dawood here, editor of Index on Censorship. Every week, we bring the most pertinent global free speech stories to your inbox.

This week, we're talking about film censorship, historic and current. For more than 20 years, Stanley Kubrick’s adaptation of Anthony Burgess’s classic novel, A Clockwork Orange, was banned from cinemas in the UK.

Kubrick was known for his shocking and crass, but altogether original, forays into directing. His interpretation of Burgess’s novel was considered exceptionally scandalous for its depictions of sexual and physical violence. But it wasn’t public outrage that triggered its banning - the director himself pulled the film from circulation in 1973, over concerns about reports of copycat violence and threats to both his and his family’s safety. It wasn’t until 1999, after Kubrick’s death, that his family agreed to permit the release of the film again.

This censorship happened despite no legal requirements - the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) judged the film to be acceptable for adults over the age of 18, and at no point rescinded this. There were legitimate concerns about violence resulting from the film, which should not be underestimated - but the decision did also result in the censorship of one of the most seminal pieces of film and literature of the 20th century, which ironically is, in itself, about the concept of free will.

This example may feel like a relic of a simpler time - we could argue that the internet has desensitised us to violence, and individuals are far more likely to be radicalised by unfettered scrolling on their phone rather than a visit to the cinema. But films of artistic and newsworthy importance are still being censored globally, for fears of the real-world repercussions.

This week, the London Film Festival cancelled its screening of a new investigative documentary on the UK’s far right over safety concerns for festival staff and attendees - particularly in response to the violent riots that took place over the summer. Undercover: Exposing the Far Right is a brave feat of journalism produced by the anti-fascist advocacy group Hope Not Hate. While it is available to watch on Channel 4 ([link removed]) , it lost its initial impact of a premiere.

Kristy Matheson ([link removed].) , the director of the festival, said the decision to cancel was “heartbreaking” but that she had been left with no other viable option. “I think the film is exceptional and easily one of the best documentaries I have seen this year,” she said. “However, festival workers have the right to feel safe and that their mental health and well being is respected in their workplace.”

Outside of the UK, screenings of another documentary film were recently cancelled in Taiwan ([link removed]) following bomb threats. Some cinemas subsequently halted showings of State Organs - a controversial film that reports on alleged cases of forced organ harvesting in China - after they received threatening letters, which the Taiwan police say are likely the work of Chinese cybersecurity forces.

Threats of violence appear to have become a routine way to silence artistic, political or journalistic expression. Concerns around such real-world threats are extremely valid, with historical examples such as the awful murders of the MPs Jo Cox and David Amess proving this.

But the risk of giving into such threats can be to further embolden radical groups, make their voices more powerful, and stop them being held to account. “Safety must always be an utmost priority,” said Nick Lowles, CEO at Hope not Hate ([link removed]) , of the Undercover screening cancellation. “But we can’t deny that it is disappointing to see the brave work of our staff being denied the widest possible audience. Now, more than ever, the true nature of the far right, in Britain and abroad, needs to be exposed.”

There is also the worry that issues of safety or national security may be used as an excuse to avoid contentious films that invite public scrutiny. This year, both Israeli and Palestinian film events have faced screening cancellations due to what theatres have cited as “safety concerns” or worries around appearing politically biased - but in reality, have been partly influenced by lobbying from groups on both sides. Film-makers are not responsible for their governments’ actions, said Odelia Haroush ([link removed]) , the co-founder of the Israeli Seret Film Festival. Referring to cinemas and theatres, she said: “Their role should be to show films and culture, and not cancel culture. Especially now; don’t cancel Palestinian culture, Russian culture, Ukrainian culture, or Israeli culture.”

All of this is not to blame the already financially-stretched creative industries, which do not need the added stress of potentially violent attacks or protests. Extensive security measures and staff training are often additional expenses they cannot afford, and therefore, many event organisers decide that the risks of free expression far outweigh the benefits.

People’s safety must always be paramount, and there is no justification for favouring a film screening over individuals’ lives. But there is a concern that restricting people’s viewing access - whether that be to vital information or cultural enrichment - out of fear may only embolden those wishing to silence others’ through violence.

Sarah Dawood, Editor
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** Tainted science
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A laboratory technician conducts tests in an animal research lab test area. Photo by Design Pics Inc / Alamy

Lisa Jones-Engel never envisioned being thrown out of a conference hours before she was due to give a keynote speech. But that’s exactly what happened when she told the organisers of an event for scientists involved in animal testing about her new role with the non-profit People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta).

Katie Dancey-Downs speaks to the scientists who have been censored for questioning the effectiveness of animal testing in an article from our new issue ([link removed]) .


** Living in gangster times
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Journalists hold a protest against the murder of a journalist at Siwan district of Bihar in Allahabad.
Photo by Prabhat Kumar Verma / Pacific Press / Alamy Live News

On 25 June, 40-year-old journalist Shivshankar Jha was returning to his home in Muzaffarpur, in the eastern frontier state of Bihar, when he was set upon by a group of men. He was taken to hospital with multiple stab wounds and later died of his injuries. He worked for several Hindi news outlets in the region and had been reporting on liquor smuggling. His family said he had received death threats and blamed the criminal gangs he had been investigating. Reporting on organised crime in the eastern state of Bihar is a deadly business, writes Amir Abbas. ([link removed])


** Tackling impunity
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Attendees at the anti-SLAPP conference at the Royal Irish Academy in Dublin. Photo by Georgia Beeston

Yesterday, Index hosted an Anti-SLAPP Conference at the Royal Irish Academy in Dublin. The conference was attended by a wide range of stakeholders, including lawyers, academics, journalists, campaigners, and NGOs interested in addressing legal harassment of public watchdogs both north and south of the border. The use of SLAPPs was discussed in a range of contexts, including in relation to sexual and gender-based violence, the protection of the environment, and academic and journalistic investigations. The keynote speeches were delivered by Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee and human rights lawyer, Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC.



** Calling for reform in Ireland
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The Platform on Safety of Journalists demand reform in Ireland following an anti-SLAPP conference. Photo by Council of Europe Platform on Safety of Journalists
Following a two-day mission to Dublin on 22-23 October 2024, the partners of the Council of Europe’s Platform on Safety of Journalists today called on Irish authorities to continue to engage with civil society in order to prioritise the reform of defamation legislation, the adoption of comprehensive anti-SLAPP provisions, the safety of journalists throughout the island of Ireland, and a sustainable model for trusted public service media. Read more here ([link removed]) .
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On Tuesday 29 October, Index will launch its latest magazine issue, Inconvenient Truths: How Scientists are Being Silenced Around the World, with a panel discussion at Liverpool John Moores University. A panel of scientists, researchers, and journalists will come together for a discussion on the multiple forces working to silence scientists and discredit science today.

With speakers Paul Garner, MB BS MD, professor emeritus in evidence-based public health in infectious diseases; Dr Hannah Little, a lecturer in communication and media at the University of Liverpool and a director of Open Rights Group, a UK-based digital rights advocacy organisation; and Dr Deborah Cohen, an award-winning medically qualified science and health broadcaster, journalist and editor. Moderated by Sarah Dawood, editor of Index on Censorship.


** From the Index archives
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** For the love of God?
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** by Rebecca L Root
Autumn 2023
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Our autumn 2023 issue on blasphemy is now available free of charge via our publisher Sage's website. The issue looked at the rising threat of blasphemy laws and how they are being weaponised by the religious right. In this scene-setter, Rebecca L Root explored the world’s increasingly harsh blasphemy laws and speaks to those who have fallen foul of them. Read it here. ([link removed])
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Index on Censorship defends people's freedom to express themselves without fear of harm or persecution. We publish censored writers and artists, monitor and campaign against censorship, and encourage debate.

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