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Salman Rushdie: Surviving a Fatwa and Speaking Out
Salman Rushdie’s life changed forever in 1989 when Iran’s Ayatollah Khomeini issued a fatwa calling for his death after the publication of “The Satanic Verses.” Rushdie was forced into hiding for years, but he refused to let fear silence him. Despite numerous assassination attempts and living with constant security, Rushdie continued to write and speak publicly about freedom of expression. In fact, his resilience became a symbol of resistance against censorship worldwide. Rushdie’s later works, like “Joseph Anton,” chronicle his experiences, making him a living testament to the power of literature over oppression. In 2022, he survived a stabbing attack in New York, which only amplified his resolve to speak out. His story is a reminder that words can be dangerous—but also incredibly powerful.
Liu Xiaobo: Nobel Prize Behind Bars
Liu Xiaobo, a Chinese writer, literary critic, and human rights activist, spent much of his later life in prison for criticizing the Chinese government. Despite being silenced, his essays and calls for democratic reforms—especially Charter 08—spread globally. In 2010, Liu was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize while still incarcerated, a clear rebuke to China’s censorship regime. The empty chair at the ceremony became a haunting symbol of his absence and the cost of dissent. Liu’s death in 2017 while still in custody drew worldwide condemnation and renewed calls for free expression in China. His legacy lives on through the words he managed to smuggle out and the courage he inspired in others.
Anna Politkovskaya: Reporting the Truth in Russia
Anna Politkovskaya was a fearless Russian journalist and author known for her reporting on the Chechen wars and government corruption. Despite repeated threats and harassment, she continued to publish hard-hitting articles in Novaya Gazeta that exposed state abuses and human rights violations. Her work made her a target; in 2006, she was assassinated in her Moscow apartment building. Politkovskaya’s books, like “A Russian Diary,” remain essential reading for those seeking an unvarnished look at Russia’s political landscape. Her commitment to truth-telling, even in the face of mortal danger, has inspired journalists worldwide to keep reporting despite threats.
Wole Soyinka: Nigeria’s Voice Against Dictatorship
Wole Soyinka, the first African Nobel laureate in literature, became a beacon for free speech in Nigeria. During Nigeria’s civil war in the 1960s, he was imprisoned for 27 months, much of it in solitary confinement, for attempting to broker peace. Soyinka’s plays and essays, including “The Man Died,” recount his experiences under brutal censorship and government surveillance. Even after his release, Soyinka continued to criticize corrupt leaders, using his international platform to campaign against repression. His writings have shaped generations of African writers, proving that the pen is a formidable weapon against tyranny.
Václav Havel: From Playwright to President
Václav Havel began as a dissident playwright in communist Czechoslovakia, penning works like “The Memorandum” that critiqued the absurdities of totalitarian rule. The government repeatedly banned his plays and imprisoned him for his activism, especially after the release of Charter 77. Rather than backing down, Havel’s courage inspired a movement. In 1989, he became a key figure in the Velvet Revolution, later serving as president of a free Czechoslovakia. Havel’s journey from censored writer to head of state is a striking example of literature’s power to ignite political change.
PEN America: An Organization Defending Writers Globally
PEN America isn’t a single writer, but its role in defending freedom of expression can’t be overstated. Founded in 1922, the organization has supported thousands of writers facing censorship, imprisonment, or threats. PEN’s annual Freedom to Write Index revealed in 2024 that over 300 writers were imprisoned worldwide last year, with China, Iran, and Turkey among the worst offenders. By offering legal aid, advocacy, and a global platform, PEN America has helped many writers win battles against censorship. Their campaigns have led to the release of writers like Myanmar’s Ma Thida and raised awareness of cases that might otherwise have been ignored.
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o: Writing in His Native Tongue
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, a Kenyan writer, made a bold move when he switched from writing in English to his native Kikuyu. The Kenyan government saw his use of native language in plays like “Ngaahika Ndeenda” as a threat, jailing him without trial in 1977. Ngũgĩ wrote his next novel, “Devil on the Cross,” on toilet paper while in prison. After his release, he lived in exile but continued to publish and advocate for linguistic freedom. His choice to write in Kikuyu defied colonial legacies and inspired a new generation to embrace their own languages in literature.
Elif Shafak: Challenging Taboos in Turkey
Turkish novelist Elif Shafak has faced both legal prosecution and public backlash for tackling controversial subjects like the Armenian genocide and LGBTQ rights. Her book “The Bastard of Istanbul” led to charges under Article 301 of the Turkish penal code, which criminalizes “insulting Turkishness.” Shafak was acquitted, but her willingness to address taboo topics has made her a lightning rod in Turkey’s ongoing debate over free speech. Despite threats and censorship attempts, she continues to advocate for pluralism and open dialogue, making her one of the most influential voices in contemporary literature.
James Baldwin: Speaking Truth to Power in America
James Baldwin’s essays and novels in the mid-20th century confronted America’s uncomfortable truths about race, sexuality, and class. While not banned outright, his works—such as “Go Tell It on the Mountain” and “The Fire Next Time”—were often targeted by school boards and conservative groups, especially during the civil rights era. Baldwin’s direct style and refusal to sugarcoat reality forced uncomfortable conversations. His influence on later writers and activists, and the resurgence of his work in today’s discussions on race, affirm that resistance through art can outlast any attempt at suppression.
Pramoedya Ananta Toer: Indonesian Novelist in Exile
Pramoedya Ananta Toer, Indonesia’s most celebrated novelist, spent more than a decade imprisoned without trial by the Suharto regime. Denied pen and paper, he famously narrated his “Buru Quartet” novels to fellow prisoners, who memorized and preserved them until they could be written down. His books, which openly criticized colonialism and authoritarianism, were banned for decades. Despite this, they have become staples of Indonesian literature and are now translated into dozens of languages. Pramoedya’s persistence in the face of harsh censorship is a testament to the enduring power of storytelling.
Maria Ressa: Journalism on the Front Lines in the Philippines
Maria Ressa, co-founder of Rappler, has become a global symbol for press freedom. She’s faced multiple arrests and legal charges in the Philippines, mainly for her reporting on government corruption and human rights abuses. In 2021, she received the Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts, which she described as a victory for “every journalist around the world.” Ressa continues to fight disinformation and government intimidation, despite the risks to her safety and freedom. Her resilience has inspired journalists across Asia to stand up against censorship.
Nawal El Saadawi: Egypt’s Feminist Firebrand
Nawal El Saadawi was an Egyptian writer and doctor whose outspoken feminism made her both a national icon and a target for censorship. Her works, such as “Woman at Point Zero,” tackled taboo subjects like female genital mutilation and women’s rights, leading to book bans and her imprisonment in 1981. El Saadawi never wavered, continuing to write and speak out until her death in 2021. She once said, “They said, ‘You are a savage and dangerous woman.’ I am speaking the truth. And the truth is savage and dangerous.” Her legacy is still felt in the ongoing fight for gender equality in the Arab world.
Boris Pasternak: Soviet Censorship and the Nobel Prize
Boris Pasternak’s “Doctor Zhivago” was banned in the Soviet Union for its critical portrayal of the Russian Revolution. Despite the government’s efforts to suppress the novel, smuggled copies were published abroad and it won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1958. The Soviet authorities forced Pasternak to decline the prize under threat of exile, but his work continued to circulate underground. Today, “Doctor Zhivago” is celebrated as a classic, and Pasternak’s struggle with censorship is a defining chapter in the history of literary defiance.
Aslı Erdoğan: Turkish Novelist Jailed for Journalism
Aslı Erdoğan, a Turkish novelist and columnist, was imprisoned in 2016 after the failed coup attempt, accused of supporting terrorism through her columns in the pro-Kurdish newspaper Özgür Gündem. Erdoğan’s writing, focused on minority rights and state violence, was deemed dangerous by authorities. After months in prison and an international outcry, she was released, but she continues to face legal battles and lives in exile. Her courage in continuing to write and speak out, even when facing jail time, highlights the risks writers still face in many parts of the world.
Arundhati Roy: India’s Unflinching Critic
Arundhati Roy, best known for her Booker Prize-winning novel “The God of Small Things,” has become one of India’s most vocal critics of government policies. Her essays on Kashmir, Hindu nationalism, and environmental issues have led to calls for her arrest and hate campaigns. Despite this, Roy remains undeterred, continuing to publish and speak at international forums. Her commitment to truth-telling, even when unpopular, has inspired a new wave of Indian writers and activists to challenge censorship and injustice.
End.
Besides founding Festivaltopia, Luca is the co founder of trib, an art and fashion collectiv you find on several regional events and online. Also he is part of the management board at HORiZONTE, a group travel provider in Germany.
