Patrick Gathara is a strategic communications consultant, writer and award-winning political cartoonist in Kenya. He has worked as a professional cartoonist for 20 years and was the General Secretary of the Association of East African Cartoonists for nearly a decade starting in 2001. He has published several collections of Kenyan cartoons as well as a study on the history and impact of political cartooning in Kenya.
Amb. Cynthia P. Schneider
Cynthia P. Schneider, Distinguished Professor in the Practice of Diplomacy at Georgetown University, teaches, publishes, and organizes initiatives in the field of cultural diplomacy, with a focus on relations with the Muslim world. Ambassador Schneider co-directs the Laboratory for Global Performance and Politics at Georgetown, as well as the Los Angeles-based MOST Resource (Muslims on Screen and Television). Additionally, she co-directs the Timbuktu Renaissance project which grew out of her work leading the Arts and Culture Dialogue Initiative within Brookings’ Center for Middle East Policy. From 1998-2001 she served as U.S. Ambassador to the Netherlands, during which time she led initiatives in cultural diplomacy, biotechnology, cyber security, and education. From 1984-1998 Prof. Schneider taught art history at Georgetown, and published on seventeenth century Dutch art. Dr. Schneider has a PhD and BA from Harvard University.
Dr. Ritu Gairola Khanduri
Associate Professor of Anthropology at University of Texas at Arlington, Ritu Gairola Khanduri specializes in visual anthropology with a particular interest in political cartoons. Dr Khanduri has written on the significance of cartoons in Indian politics and presented papers at the Silha Center for Ethics & Hubbard School of Journalism, University of Minnesota, Miranda House College for Women, University of Delhi, Vigdis Finnbogadottier Institute for Multiculturalism & Foreign Languages, University of Iceland and the American Anthropological Association, Washington DC as well as having work featured in Visual Anthropology Review, The Journal of Graphic Novels & Comics, and History & Anthropology among others. She is currently working on a study of the portrayal of Mahatma Gandhi by cartoonists around the world.
Pakistan seeks to censor domestic & international cartoonists
A series of actions taken by Pakistan’s media authorities and those loyal to prime minister Imran Khan indicate that satire in general and cartooning in particular is set for a crisis in the country.
Fellow IFEX members the Pakistan Press Foundation do a superb job monitoring, reporting and challenging threats to press freedom in the south Asian nation. Of late they have highlighted guidance from PEMRA, Pakistan’s national electronic media regulator, that satellite tv channels do not “demean individuals representing various political parties and law enforcement agencies through caricatures, animated characters, photo-shopped images and funny memes”.
Additionally, there have been apparently bogus expressions of mass dissatisfaction with journalists and the ruling PTI party especially has been making proclamations of “treason” concerning journalists that strike a chord with those watching from under the yoke of increasingly authoritarian and populist governments elsewhere. Against this background two very recent attempts at cartoon censorship provide evidence that Pakistani popular opinion is indeed hardening against satire.
Syndicated cartoonist, CNN contributor and 2019 Herblock Prize finalist Clay Jones took to Twitter Saturday to report that an image of a preliminary rough drawing of a cartoon on his blog had been flagged as “blasphemous” in a complaint to WordPress, who host the site. Thankfully WordPress do not intend to take action – they have not always been so reliable in this regard – and Clay says that the finished version of the cartoon on the same October 2015 post was flagged a year ago. Specifically the complaints say:
“It is highlighted that the web pages hosted on your platform are extremely Blasphemous / Hate Speech. The same have also been declared blasphemous under Pakistan Penal Code section 295, 295A, 295B, 295C and is in clear violation of Section 11 and 37 of Prevention of Electronic Crime Act (PECA) 2016 and Section 19 of Constitution of Pakistan.”
and
“[The PTA is] designated for taking appropriate measures for regulating Internet Content in line with the prevailing laws of Islamic Republic of Pakistan. In lieu of above it is highlighted that few of the webpages hosted on your platform are extremely Blasphemous and are hurting the sentiments of many Muslims around Pakistan. The URL’s mentioned are clearly in violation of Section 37 of Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016 and Section 19 of Constitution of Pakistan. You are requested to contribute towards maintaining peace and harmony in the world by discontinuation of hosting of these websites for viewership in Pakistan with immediate effect. We will be happy to entertain any query if deemed necessary and looking forward for your favorable response at your earliest.”
Complaints lodged with WordPress by “Web Analysis Team, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA)”
The fact that two versions of the same cartoon, one very much unfinished, have both been flagged but with such a space of time between suggests that a human element is involved in the composition of these complaints and they may not be generated by an algorithm. However they betray a severe lack of what might be termed “cartoon literacy”. It should be apparent that Clay Jones is not advocating for blasphemy; in fact, he is criticising those in the USA who would contend that cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad form the ne plus ultra of free speech.
At the same time the leader of the South Asian Free Media Association, Imtiaz Alam was on Twitter, forwarding to his more than seventy-two thousand followers a cartoon by Afghani cartoonist Atiq Shahid originally published on the ToonsMag platform.
Some heated debate on Pakistani television ensured. Alam appeared to apologise for any offence caused but also restated the importance of satire within journalism.
In the intervening time the PTI faithful rallied. ToonsMag is owned and operated by Arifur Rahman, himself a former victim of censorship and unjust imprisonment in Bangladesh. He tells us that in the last twenty-four hours the site has been knocked offline some twenty times due to the influx of traffic. At the time of writing the cartoon was approaching one hundred and thirty-three thousand views; taken together the cartoons posted either side have just seven thousand. Additionally Atiq Shahid reports he has been suspended from Facebook (a common occurrence in his case).
“Hey…you moron ..if I ever meet you ..I will teach you how to respect the prime minster you bastard.”
“Shameful cartoon. This is not freedom of expression but expression of a sick mentality.”
“This cartoon is representing the three heads of states i.e. of Pakistan, KSA and USA and look how filthy the depiction is. If you’ll immediately not removed this cartoon and warned the cartoon maker I’ll sue in court. This is my final warning.”
“Kindly remove this post. This post really hurts Millions of People, very disgusting thing of this man. you can see the Anger vote on this post, Please review post remove it and try restrict people.”
“Cartoons must be funny. And must have not hurt feelings of others. Imran Khan is our Prime Minister. Shame in you act. Show some respect. This shows what your parents teaches you. You must apologize for that publicly.”
“It’s very very humiliating as a Pakistani for us because our national flag shows on a dog,,, freedoms of expression doesn’t mean people’s are free to play with sentiments of 220 millions peoples.”
“You should be ashamed of yourself retard.”
Selected feedback posted at ToonsMag concerning Atiq Shahid’s cartoon.
In asking why a cartoon isn’t funny or is so disrespectful to their favourite leader these critics sound like the failed regime in Malaysia; with their threats of court action they remind the reader of the world’s archenemy of journalistic freedom, the president of Turkey; and in their reference to violence they yolk themselves in with the vilest of extremists. In reality there is no workable law that protects an individual from personal offence, no obligation on cartoonists working around the world to observe Pakistani regulations and, most importantly, long-standing articles of international statute that enshrine freedom of expression for all.
Intended homage or not, the scenario of a national leader as a dog, emblazoned with their flag and in a subservient posture to the American president is very redolent of the now notorious cartoon by António Antunes that many allege led to the removal of all cartoons from the international New York Times. Perhaps those making the complaints are aware of how that unfolded and sense a weakness that can be exploited. They forget that ToonsMag is a platform wholly dedicated to the freedom of expression of cartoonists and as such for any one piece there is always another making the counterpoint.
We stand with Shahid, Rahman, Jones and any practitioner – inside or outside Pakistan – who falls foul of the PTI and its supporters’ increasing intolerance of dissent, critique or mockery.
To Report a Cartoonist in Danger Email Cartoonists Rights Network
Three months on, Musa Kart remains a prisoner
Two years ago the Turkish cartoonist Musa Kart made a remarkable statement in defence of cartooning and freedom of expression at the commencement of his trial on false accusations of support for terrorism.
Today Cartoonists Rights Network International, Cartooning For Peace and Cartooning For Peace Swiss Foundation publish a joint statement, reminding all that Musa remains a prisoner having courageously and voluntarily surrendered to the authorities in April, alongside colleagues formerly employed at Cumhuriyet newspaper.
READ THE FULL STATEMENT
We maintain our commitment of support for Musa Kart, a past winner of our Courage in Editorial Cartooning Award and the current holder of the CFP Swiss Foundation’s International Prize for Press Cartooning. We call for clemency and an acquittal in his case.
To Report a Cartoonist in Danger Email Cartoonists Rights Network
PX Molina receives Cabot Prize for journalism
Our current Courage in Editorial Cartooning Award laureate is only the seventh cartoonist selected in the eight decade history of Columia University’s prestigious Maria Moors Cabot Prizes.
We are delighted to learn that the Trustees of Columbia University, NY have decided to recognise a cartoonist in this year’s quartet of gold medal winners and gratified that they have chosen the same individual we deemed most worthy of plaudits in 2018.
“Today, in the face of hardline governments everywhere fomenting an increasingly hostile environment for journalism and satire, Molina uses his pen and wit to take aim not only at the repressive government of President Daniel Ortega, but also at human rights abuses throughout the Americas and the world. He places the Nicaraguan situation—often without words—in the context of global trends. His cartoons—exquisitely drawn and equally forceful—translate complicated situations for readers in Nicaragua and beyond. His vision effectively demonstrates the power of satire and cartooning as a way of furthering Inter-American understanding.”
Maria Moors Cabot Prize panel, Columbia Journalism School
The Maria Moors Cabot Prizes are the oldest international journalism awards in the world. Pedro will now join such legendary Latin American cartoonists as Hermenegildo Sábat, Juan Carlos Colombres and Antonio Arias Bernal among their roll of honour.
“I thank God, my family (who are many more than those who share my blood), my colleagues from the independent Nicaraguan media, especially CONFIDENCIAL who, despite censorship and persecution, continue to do quality journalism wherever they are and with what they have at hand. You are all a constant inspiration for this servant.”
Pedro X. Molina
Pedro’s former employers, the Confidencial news company, have an extensive article covering his latest victory on their website. Readers will recall the series of police raids there in the latter part of 2018.
Deliberations for the CRNI Courage in Editorial Cartooning Award are underway; this year’s recipient will be announced in the fall.
