Cineworld cancellation of Lady of Heaven screenings

A movie about the daughter of the Prophet Mohammed and which depicts his image has seen hundreds protest in Bolton, Birmingham and Sheffield. Banning the film is not the answer. Read the story here.

Egypt: Activist Abdelrahman ‘Moka’ Tarek is free

Egyptian pro-democracy activist and blogger Abdelrahman ‘Moka’ Tarek has been released from prison. He was first detained in 2013 when he was involved in protests against military trials for civilians which were organised in front of the Egyptian Senate. Moka works with the Al-Nedal Centre for Rights and Freedoms to defend freedom of expression and prisoner’s rights in Egypt and in 2021 won Index on Censorship’s Freedom of Expression Award. Read about his release here.

Belarus: Andrei Aliaksandrau writes as he faces trial for treason 

On Monday 7 June, our former colleague and his girlfriend faced court behind closed doors, charged with treason for helping protesters against Alyaksandr Lukashenka's government in Belarus. On the day his trial started, he wrote an open letter to his family, friends and supporters. We also publish a letter from the Belarusian poet Sabrina Brilo about her friend.
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Meet our Journalism award nominees

Index on Censorship has announced the shortlist for its 2022 Freedom of Expression Awards. The nominees in the Journalism category are a Russian podcaster branded a foreign agent, a reporter from Kashmir who writes on freedom of expression issues and a Chinese activist who has reported extensively on the MeToo movement.

The Awards celebrate those courageous artists, journalists and campaigners who risk arrest, assault and imprisonment through their championing of freedom of expression.

Read about the nominees here.