Kuwait relaxes book censorship laws after banning thousands of titles

A 12-person committee previously met twice a month to approve or blacklist all books published in the country, for offences including immorality or insulting IslamAfter banning almost 5,000 books in the last seven years, Kuwait’s government has relaxed its book censorship laws in a move that has been welcomed by writers and free speech activists.Kuwaiti state media reported that the country’s parliament had voted 40 to nine in favour of lifting the Ministry of Information’s control over books imported into the country. Previously, the ministry had blacklisted more than 4,000 books since 2014, with titles including Victor Hugo’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame and One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez falling foul of its censorship committee. All books published in the country had to receive prior approval from a 12-member committee that met twice a month before they could be released, with offences ranging from insulting Islam to “inciting unrest” and committing “immoral” acts. Related: Dostoevsky book among hundreds banned in Kuwait Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2020-08-25 13:26:49 UTC ]
News tagged with: #hundred years #books imported #insulting islam

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Missouri Schools are Pulling Books From Libraries After New Law Criminalizing “Sexually Explicit” Material

A new law has led to Missouri school districts getting rid of any graphic novels that could be seen as sexual, including The Handmaid's Tale. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2022-08-30 17:45:17 UTC ]
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The German Book Prize Releases Its 20-Title Longlist

Drawn from a pool of 233 books, this year's longlist will lead to a winner named on October 17 at the Kaisersaal of the Römer in Frankfurt. The post The German Book Prize Releases Its 20-Title Longlist appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-08-23 14:35:52 UTC ]
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S&S Launches Banned Books Promotion for Bookstores

In response to growing book censorship, Simon & Schuster has launched a “Read banned books!” promotion that provides information on challenged titles, in-store displays, and social media materials. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-06-30 04:00:00 UTC ]
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In Final Order, Court Declares Maryland's Library E-book Law Unconstitutional

The final order declares Maryland's groundbreaking, controversial library e-book law preempted by the Federal Copyright Act and blocks its enforcement, all but ending a months-long lawsuit filed by the Association of American Publishers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-06-14 04:00:00 UTC ]
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LeVar Burton Describes Book Bans With A Not-Safe-For-'Reading Rainbow' Word

The former "Reading Rainbow" host said banned books are "where the good stuff is." Continue reading at The Huffington Post

[ The Huffington Post | 2022-06-12 14:45:21 UTC ]
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Can we please make Banned Book Fairs the hot new nationwide trend?

As we’ve noted over and over again, the hottest new book trend sweeping the country is to ban them and/or burn them if they don’t align with your weird, paleoconservative, theocratic prejudices. Not great! But as ever is the case with this strange nation, when one group of Americans starts doing... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-06-10 17:01:27 UTC ]
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Massachusetts Secretary of State Candidate Platform Built on Book Censorship

A candidate for Massachusetts's Secretary of State is traveling to public libraries to secretly video their Pride displays. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2022-06-09 14:14:42 UTC ]
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Why the MLIS is a Powerful Weapon in Fighting Book Bans

The organized assault on the freedom to read has highlighted core values taught in library schools. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-05-23 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Rhode Island Advances Its Library E-book Law

On May 18, the Rhode Island Senate's Committee on Education unanimously voted to advance the state's library e-book law out of committee and to the floor for a full vote. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-05-20 04:00:00 UTC ]
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More than 25 Organizations Join ALA's 'Unite Against Book Bans' Campaign

“Our partners and supporters are critical in moving the needle to ultimately bring an end to book bans," said Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director of the ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom. “It’s time that policymakers understand the severity of this issue.” Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-05-11 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Penguin Random House, Authors Guild on Book Bannings

As book-bannings sweep the United States, two campaigns from the industry demonstrate different styles and tones of response. The post Penguin Random House, Authors Guild on Book Bannings appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-05-06 00:17:19 UTC ]
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How a Debut Graphic Memoir Became the Most Banned Book in the Country

Maia Kobabe’s book “Gender Queer,” about coming out as nonbinary, landed the author at the center of a battle over which books belong in schools, and who gets to make that decision. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2022-05-01 23:54:03 UTC ]
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Librarians Gather in Texas as Book Bans Mount

In Texas, where libraries are a political battleground, the Texas Library Association recently convened its annual convention in person for the first time since 2019—in the district of a state representative Matt Kraus eager to ban books. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-04-29 04:00:00 UTC ]
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How to Start a Banned Book Club

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[ Book Riot | 2022-04-26 10:34:00 UTC ]
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IBPA Tackles Book Bans

Last Thursday's Independent Book Publishers Association's “The Battle for Free Expression: Indie Publishers and Libraries in the Fight Against Censorship.” panel offered insights from digital media, public libraries, academic research, and online education on the rise in book banning. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-04-22 04:00:00 UTC ]
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A Picture Book About Unicorns Was Banned in an Ohio School District

A parent complained about the book because it had a rainbow on the cover, which they assumed meant it had LGBTQ content. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2022-04-14 14:03:15 UTC ]
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The New York Public Library makes four banned books free nationwide on its e-reader app

The New York Public Library made four banned books available nationwide on SimplyE, its free-reader app. The titles include Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, King and the Dragonflies by Kacen Callender, Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi and Catcher in the... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2022-04-13 23:48:05 UTC ]
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PEN America Report Documents Massive Spike in Book Bans

The new report finds an astonishing 1,586 book bans and restrictions in 86 school districts across 26 states, targeting some 1,145 unique book titles. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-04-08 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Congress Investigates Book Banning in Schools

At a three-hour hearing yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives’ Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties investigated the jump in book bans in schools and the danger these bans mean for the protection of the First Amendment. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-04-08 04:00:00 UTC ]
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