Index on Censorship weekly round-up

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Friday, 08 November 2024
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President Donald J. Trump and President Vladimir Putin meeting in the White House during the 45th presidency.
Photo by Shealah Craighead

Apologies for another newsletter hitting your inbox that opens on the US election results, but it feels remiss not to talk about something that could have large implications for global free expression. Donald Trump is not a free speech hero. As I wrote on Wednesday here ([link removed]) his attacks will start with the media. Where they will stop is anyone’s guess. To say we are unnerved by the prospect of another four years of Trump is to understate. With him at the helm the USA could become a hybrid regime, a country merging autocratic features with democratic ones.

While our concerns are first for the people in the USA, we are also worried about what this means globally. Who will criticise China, Russia, Saudi Arabia and the likes for their gross attacks to free expression with the same clout as the USA? What terrible things will happen while we are all distracted by the clown in the White House?

But on the note of distraction, I want to end there in terms of Trump and instead talk about other things of import from the world of free expression this week.

First up, Cop29. It starts on Monday and it is keeping to tradition, namely being held in a country that thrives on both oil and the suppression of human rights – in this case Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijani government has long engaged in a crackdown on civil society, which has only heightened over the last few years. Azerbaijan authorities claim they are “ensuring everyone’s voices are heard” at Cop29. This is a lie. Prominent activists, journalists and government critics have recently been jailed, including key voices on the climate crisis. In April, for example, they arrested prominent climate justice activist Anar Mammadli
([link removed]) and placed him in pre-trial detention, where he remains.

Such harassment has forced many local activists to leave Azerbaijan. Those who remain risk prosecution and retaliation if they dare voice criticism during Cop29. One person who is not deterred is Danish artist Jens Galschiøt (the artist behind the Tiananmen Pillar of Shame). He and his team are currently transporting three sculptures ([link removed]) to Baku to highlight climate injustice. We will be watching closely what happens next.

Beyond Baku, we were disturbed to read this week of a Papuan news outlet, Jujur Bicara (also known as Jubi), which was attacked with a bomb ([link removed]) . The bomb damaged two cars before staff at the paper were able to put out the fire. Jubi editor Victor Mambor said that he's been the victim of a string of attacks, which he believes relate to his work.

As we approach the year’s end we’re reflecting on just what a brutal year it has been for media freedom. Ditto protest rights. Those protesting Mozambique’s election last month can attest to this – at least 18 have been killed since the 9 October vote, with police firing tear gas at protesters this week in the capital Maputo, while in Belarus around 50 people were recently detained ([link removed]) , all of whom were connected to peaceful protests around the 2020 elections.

Finally, a good news story, of sorts. The Satanic Verses is no longer banned ([link removed]) in India. A court in the country overruled a decades-long import ban on the book. I say good news of sorts because lifting the ban seems to be down to an administrative error. A petition was filed in 2019 on the grounds that the ban violated constitutional rights to freedom of speech and expression. The man who filed the petition, Sandipan Khan, requested a copy of the notification that banned the import of the book back in 1988. When he was informed that the document could not be located, the Delhi High Court ruled that it had "no other option except to presume that no such notification exists". It’s not every day we get wins in the free speech world so we’ll take this one.

On the note of Salman Rushdie, who was our 2023 Trustees Award winner at our annual Freedom of Expression Awards, we’ve just announced the shortlist for our 2024 awards. Click here ([link removed]) to see the amazing individuals and organisations who are holding the line on free expression today. And if you value free expression and you have been rattled by the events of this week please do consider donating to Index ([link removed]) . We’re a small charity with big ambitions and a lot of that is down to the support of people like you.

Thank you and take care,

Jemimah Steinfeld, CEO
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** Index on Censorship announces 2024 Freedom of Expression award shortlist
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Colin Firth speaking at the 2023 Freedom of Expression Awards. Photo by Mark Frary

This week, Index on Censorship announced the shortlist for its annual Freedom of Expression Awards. The shortlist of 13 organisations and individuals from nine countries across five continents, highlights how free expression can be protected at a time of growing instability, authoritarianism and censorship. Each nominee covers diverse and critical issues such as the treatment of political prisoners in conflict zones, empowering citizen journalism and accountability, championing independent journalism, defending the rights of women and the LGBTQ communities, opposing war propaganda and authoritarianism, celebrating local languages, cultures and identities and countering disinformation.

Divided into three categories: Arts ([link removed]) , Campaigning ([link removed]) and Journalism ([link removed]) , the annual award is an opportunity to celebrate the courage and creativity of the journalists, artists, campaigners and dissidents who, against all odds and at times facing threats of persecution, harassment, imprisonment or death, speak out and speak up to defend human rights and democracy.

See the full shortlist here ([link removed]) ,


** Anything is possible: 35 years on from the fall of the Iron Curtain
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The secret 1988 meeting of dissidents included: back row, Mirosław Jasiński (first left), Petr Uhl (second left), Adam Michnik (fourth left), Jan Ruml (first right); middle row, Václav Havel (second left), Anna Šabatová (third right), and: front row, Petr Pospíchal (second left), Jan Urban (third left), Jacek Kuroń (third right) and Ján Čarnogurský (first right). Photo by NED.

There is a grainy photograph on the first page of the January 1990 edition of Index on Censorship magazine showing a group of twenty or so smiling friends of various ages. They are dressed in the non-descript shabby style favoured by most European intellectuals of the period. They could easily be mistaken for a group of academics on a field trip if it weren’t for the sign in Polish behind them which reads: State Border: Crossing Forbidden.

The picture was taken on 9 July 1988 at a secret location on the Polish-Czech border. This unruly band of comrades has been brought together by the bitter and often lonely struggle against Stalinism, their friendship formed in an underground network of Polish-Czech solidarity. The cause often seemed hopeless and at the time the picture was taken this obscure group of writers and activists could never have imagined that the whole edifice they had spent their lives opposing was about to collapse.

Read the story of the photo here. ([link removed])


** Mozambique faces protest crackdown following disputed presidential election
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A building displays ruling party posters in support of presidential candidate Daniel Chapo ahead of elections in Maputo, Mozambique. Photo by Associated Press / Carlos Uqueio / Alamy Stock Photo

There has been growing unrest in the east African state since 24 October, when the country’s National Electoral Commission (CNE) declared Daniel Chapo of the ruling Frelimo party the winner of the 9 October general election with 71% of the vote, amid vote rigging claims, writes Clemence Manyukwe ([link removed]) .


** New issue: Inconvenient truths
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[link removed] latest issue of Index has now landed with subscribers. In the autumn 2024 issue, we dig into how scientists are being silenced around the world, exploring the science in China that is served with a side of propaganda, the deadly world of scientific censorship in Iran and the pathologists in Uganda being stopped from uncovering the truth behind mysterious deaths.

We hear from Murong Xuecun, Marina Litvinenko and Boris Akunin, amongst many other important voices.
If you want the next issue of Index on Censorship through your letterbox, subscribe to our magazine today ([link removed]) .


** In India, the money from state advertising is too tight to mention
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[link removed] many newspapers in North East India – which is made up of eight states including Assam – The Drongo Express relies heavily on advertisements placed by government departments. The newspaper has not received any of the money since last October, putting its survivial on the line.

Angana Chakrabarti ([link removed]) reports from the North Eastern region, where government advertising is used as a tool to control the media.


** From the Index archives
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** The other wall: Europe’s dividing line shifted
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** by Irena Maryniak
June 2014
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As we mark the 35th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall this weekend, we take a dive into the archive to the 25th anniversary when Eastern Europe expert Irena Maryniak wrote for Index about the role of religion in the former Soviet Union. From Volume 43, Issue 2, a special edition on the fall of the Wall. 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.

We rely on donations from readers and supporters. By donating ([link removed]) to Index you help us to protect freedom of expression and to support those who are denied that right.
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