COGNICURRENT

Claudia Sheinbaum, the president of Mexico, asserts that there is freedom of expression in the country, despite acknowledging that criticisms of her government do not concern her much.

Salman Rushdie reflects on the impact of the fatwa and the recent attack on him during an event at the Fisk Building in New York.

Residents of St. Petersburg are reporting the shutdown of mobile internet services by Russian authorities.

Beatriz Gutiérrez Müller publicly criticized Elon Musk after receiving a notification about a temporary reduction in the visibility of her posts on the social media platform X.

The article discusses the tension between public expression and silence among artists, especially in the context of awards ceremonies.

A report from the Tunisian NGO Intersection highlights numerous human rights violations across Tunisia, particularly affecting freedom of expression and peaceful assembly from 2025 to 2026.

Chiqui Tapia secured a legal order against journalist Pablo Gravellone, restricting his contact after allegations of threats and harassment related to AFA investigations.

A former police officer was acquitted of charges related to desecrating the Lithuanian coat of arms after a court found he did not act with malicious intent but rather aimed to create a performance art piece.

Cultural figures in Slovakia criticize the government’s recent decision to revoke long-term grants from the Arts Support Fund (FPU), arguing it threatens artistic freedom and cultural heritage.

A Lithuanian court found R. Ščerbininas not guilty of desecrating the state coat of arms, stating he intended to critique police work, not to offend national symbols.

A court in Tartu, Estonia has ruled that expressing an honest opinion can be deemed illegal even if it is based on a real situation and presented logically as a hypothesis.

Javier Milei has launched a social media account aimed at countering disinformation from the Argentine press, which has drawn criticism for its potential to threaten journalistic freedom.

Ilya Remeslo, a pro-Kremlin blogger, has been admitted to a psychiatric hospital after recently criticizing Vladimir Putin.

Rapper Afroman was sued for defamation by police officers after using footage from their unjust raid on his home in music videos but won the case, highlighting artistic freedom in social commentary.

The head of Israel's Investigations and Intelligence Unit has been denying access to police systems to an officer appointed by National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir to investigate incitement crimes for the past three weeks.

A commentary discusses the increasing censorship in German cultural life and the perception of bookstores as political adversaries under new leadership.

The European Court of Human Rights rejected activist Valentina Jeremejev's complaint against Latvia regarding a potential violation of freedom of expression.

Afroman has been cleared of wrongdoing after a lawsuit from Ohio police over his use of footage from a police raid on his home, which they claimed caused defamation and emotional distress.

The Palestinian author Bissan Edwan faces the potential loss of her fellowship with Lund Municipality due to her social media expressions of support for Hamas, provoking significant local debate.

The author discusses their experience of being targeted as a Jew in Brazil, specifically criticizing the Confederation of Israeli Entities in Brazil for their actions against dissenters of Zionism.

During a speech on freedom of expression, Madrid's Mayor José Luis Martínez Almeida was humorously interrupted when a pigeon pooped on his head.

The Madrid Press Association has unveiled a monument honoring journalists who lost their lives for freedom of expression, created by artist Daniel Canogar.

Indian minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced a ban on the controversial song 'Sar Ke Chunar Teri' and emphasized that freedom of expression should respect societal and cultural values.

The left-wing parties in Spain have accused Vox of inciting harassment and violence against journalists, while also calling for government action to protect freedom of expression.

Germany's Minister of Culture, Wolfram Weimer, has canceled his tour at the Leipzig Book Fair due to a Bundestag debate, amidst ongoing criticism from the cultural sector.

The article discusses how the perceived military threats from Iran are merely a visible culmination of a much older ideological war against free thought, begun with Ayatollah Khomeini's fatwa against Salman Rushdie.

The successful request rate for the messaging app Telegram from Russia has reportedly dropped to nearly 80%, with some areas approaching 90%, according to the publication 'Kommersant'.

Mathias Döpfner, head of Springer Media, advocates for freedom of expression while supporting controversial opinions, including those of figures like Elon Musk and Alexander Gauland of the AfD.

Iran has arrested over 500 people on espionage charges amid the ongoing conflict, with many accused of leaking sensitive information.

Jimmy Kimmel humorously commented on Donald Trump during the Oscars, hinting at potential dissatisfaction regarding Melania Trump's lack of a nomination.

Russia has imposed a fine of approximately $432,366 on the messaging application Telegram for failing to remove prohibited content.

The Oscar-winning documentary 'Mr. Nobody vs Putin' has faced backlash in Russia, being labeled as 'antipatriotic' by critics.

A 23-year-old woman named Melia gains notoriety after burning a picture of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and lighting a cigarette with the flames.

Folha celebrated its 105th anniversary by gathering columnists and cartoonists for an event highlighting diversity and freedom of expression.

Iranian-American writer Azar Nafisi discusses the significance of literature during crises in an interview with France 24.

The Israeli Ministry of Education has suspended a teacher for two weeks, with a possible extension, following an incident where her friend spray-painted graffiti in the colors of the Palestinian flag.

Influencers in Dubai shifted from expressing fear over Iranian missile attacks to praising the safety of the city shortly afterward, amidst concerns about misinformation and restrictions on freedom of expression in the UAE.

Mozambican Minister of Communications denies allegations that new telecommunications regulations will limit Internet usage, asserting they are intended to combat cybercrime instead.

British nationals in the UAE are warned against sharing images of missile damage related to the ongoing conflict, following the arrest of a tourist for violating strict cyber-crime laws.

Experts at the London Book Fair argue that while prison and public libraries are considered a right, school libraries should be legally recognized as one to protect freedom of expression for all children.

The Press Union of Liberia expresses concerns that a proposed amendment to a key press freedom law could threaten free speech and protections for citizens.

Eritrean cartoonist Biniam Solomon, also known as Cobra, has been released after 15 years of detention without trial, highlighting issues of press freedom and human rights in Eritrea.

Cultural State Minister Wolfram Weimer has excluded three leftist bookstores from the now-canceled German Bookstore Prize 2026, raising concerns about political scrutiny in cultural funding.

Baek Geum-ryeol, a teacher who was charged for singing a satirical song about President Yoon Seok-yeol during protests, has been acquitted by South Korea's Supreme Court, prompting the local teachers' union to celebrate this as a victory for freedom of expression.

The International Broadcasting Association has voiced concerns over a Brazilian Supreme Court decision ordering the search and seizure of journalist Luís Pablo Conceição Almeida's home following a blog post about a Supreme Court minister's family's use of an official vehicle.

Luz, a survivor of the Charlie Hebdo attack, reflects on the impact of extremism and recent troubling events, including Elon Musk's controversial actions.

Dinaw Mengestu discusses the importance of defending freedom of expression as he takes on the presidency of PEN America, tackling issues of censorship and identity.

Investigations against journalist Jan Fleischhauer were dropped by the Munich I Public Prosecutor's Office, which determined his comments were protected under freedom of expression.

Ashok Gehlot expressed concern over the current state of democracy in India, likening it to an undeclared emergency due to growing pressures on the judiciary and dissenting voices.

Israeli police arrested a woman for displaying a Palestinian flag at her home, despite the absence of any law prohibiting it.