SINGAPORE, Nov 2, 2021 (AFP): Singapore has banned a book on censorship over \"offensive images\" including controversial cartoons of the Muslim Prophet Mohammed, authorities had said on Monday (Nov 1).<\/p>\n
The city-state is majority ethnic Chinese but has a sizeable Muslim minority, and has strict laws to curb hate speech and actions promoting ill-will between religious or racial groups.<\/p>\n
The book, \"Red Lines: Political Cartoons and the Struggle Against Censorship\" is banned from distribution in Singapore, the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) said on Monday.<\/p>\n
It has been deemed \"objectionable\" because it contains reproductions of cartoons published by French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo, which led to violence and protests overseas, the regulator added.<\/p>\n
\"The offensive Charlie Hebdo cartoons first appeared in 2006 and have been widely labelled as irresponsible, reckless and racist,\" it said in a statement.<\/p>\n
The book also contained denigratory references to Hinduism and Christianity, the IMDA said.<\/p>\n
Anyone convicted of importing, selling, distributing, making or reproducing an objectionable publication faces a fine of up to 5,000 Singaporean dollars (US$3,700), imprisonment of up to a year, or both.<\/p>\n
\"Red Lines\" is by Cherian George, a Singaporean media professor now based in Hong Kong, and Sonny Liew, an award-winning Singaporean cartoonist.<\/p>\n
Published in August by MIT Press, it features interviews with censored cartoonists around the world and explores censorship in graphic form.<\/p>\n
The French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo first joined some other European titles in publishing cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed in 2006.<\/p>\n
In 2015 a massacre at its office killed 12 people, after it reprinted some of the controversial images.<\/p>\n
A French teacher was beheaded by an extremist last year after showing his class Charlie Hebdo's cartoons of the Prophet.<\/p>\n
After French President Emmanuel Macron defended the right to publish cartoons, angry protests erupted in Asia and the Middle East. - AFP<\/p>\n
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