Amnesty International works with partners during Banned Books Week/Month to draw attention to writers, editors, librarians, publishers, poets, musicians, and readers who suffer human rights violations because of their work.
Banned Books Week 2024
From September 15 through October 15, 2024, Amnesty International USA will spotlight six cases highlighting individuals or communities whose human rights are under attack because of their work as writers (authors, journalists, bloggers, filmmakers, poets, novelists, musicians), or the publishers and librarians who distribute their work.
The Cases
Click to sign a petition for the case, see further below for other ways to advocate for them.
Ana da Silva Miguel (also known as Neth Nahara), Angola, a 31-year-old TikToker and digital influencer.
In August-Sept 2023, she was convicted to 2 years in prison for the crime of ‘outrage against the state, its symbols, and bodies’ for recording a live video on TikTok criticizing the president.
Rapper and hip hop artist Toomaj Salehi was arrested in October 2022 in relation to his participation in protests during the “Women Life Freedom” uprising and his criticism of the Iranian authorities’ human rights violations
He was sentenced to death after being convicted of “corruption on earth.”
He is facing new charges including “spreading propaganda against the system,” “insulting religious sanctities,” and “spreading lies with the intention of disturbing public opinion”.
Authorities dismissed his complaints of torture, including electric shocks, death threats and repeated beatings resulting in bone fractures and vision impairment in one eye.
Human Rights defenders in India collectively known as the BK16 have used their professional and creative voices to advocate for human rights, against the caste system, and for cultural, religious, and linguistic freedom.
Artists swept up in the BK16 arrests include a poet, a cartoonist, an actor; and members of the Kabir Kala Manch cultural group. They are all currently being held in prison for their words supporting marginalized communities.
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