PAST EVENT: 19 Nov: The Poetry of Free Expression: Celebrating 40 years of Index on Censorship

19 Sep 2012 | Events

Date: Monday 19 November, 7pm
Venue: Kings Place, Hall One (map here)
Tickets: £9.50 (available here)


To mark our 40th birthday, Index on Censorship is partnering with Poet in the City for a special celebration of Index’s remarkable literary heritage and the continuing role of poetry in free expression.

This evening’s event features poems read by some of Index’s supporters, including acclaimed actors Simon Callow, Janet Suzman and Roger Lloyd Pack, and broadcaster Jonathan Dimbleby, Chair of Index on Censorship. It will also feature contemporary poets Sasha Dugdale and Sarah Hesketh discussing their work in the context of censorship and threats to free expression.  This is set to be a very special celebration of both Index on Censorship and the power of poetry.

UAE blogger and activist beaten

19 Sep 2012 | Index Index, Middle East and North Africa, minipost

Prominent UAE blogger Ahmed Mansoor says that he was beaten by an unidentified man on 17 September. Mansoor was attacked as he was approaching his car at Ajman University of Science and Technology, where he studies law. The attacker knocked Mansoor to the ground and began punching him, but ran away once people entered the parking lot. Once Mansoor was free, he tried to follow him, but was quickly blocked by another unidentified man, who drove off with the attacker. Mansoor says this is the second time that he has been beaten. The United Arab Emirates has been cracking down on political activists and groups, most recently arresting 13 activists tied to Islamist group al-Islah on 16 July. Mansoor was imprisoned and released last year for posting messages critical of political figures in the now-banned UAE Hewar forum. The blogger has been active in speaking out against the crackdown, which has also resulted in the arrest of prominent human rights activist and lawyer, Mohammed al-Roken.

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