Introducing the theme of the current issue of Index on Censorship (UK), Rachael Jolley writes that anonymity 'protects from danger, and it allows those who wouldn't be able to speak or write to get the words out. ... From the early days of Index on...
CATEGORY: About Index

Turkey: State of emergency provisions violate human rights and should be revoked
We, the undersigned organisations, recognise that the Turkish government has the right and responsibility to investigate the violent events of the July 2016 coup attempt and to bring all those responsible to justice.

Joint letter to the Sultan of Oman on human rights and press freedom
We, the undersigned organisations, write to you regarding the systematic targeting of journalists, human rights defenders and online activists by the Internal Security Service (ISS) in Oman.
UK condemned for seizing Syrian journalist’s passport (Aljazeera)
The British government has been condemned by press freedom groups for seizing an award-winning Syrian journalist’s travel documents upon her arrival at London’s Heathrow airport. Read the full article
Syrian journalist whose passport was seized at Heathrow at Assad government’s request speaks out (The Independent)
An award-winning Syrian journalist who had her passport confiscated in the UK at the request of the Syrian Government says she fears she may not be reunited with her family if the document is returned to Damascus. Read the full article
Journalists Behind Bars (Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso)
Killings, imprisonments and other methods to silence journalists happens all too often, in Europe as elsewhere in the world. In this editorial, the importance of being on the side of those who are threatened Read the full article
Free speech groups warn against legal crackdown on social media (Heat Street)
Free speech advocates have warned about new prosecuting guidelines which open the door to social media users being jailed for “offensive” and “sinister” posts. Experts from the Index on Censorship and English PEN both voiced unease that moves in...
Whose name is on the frame? (Fountain Ink)
Kaya Genç's Index on Censorship magazine piece runs in Fountain Ink. Artists in Turkey have been hiding their real identities with increasing frequency for more than a decade, creating innovative and subversive art works in the safety of anonymity....
Murder in Moscow: Anna’s legacy (Eurozine)
Eurozine syndicates Andrey Arkhangelsky's Index on Censorship magazine piece. Ten years after the murder of Anna Politkovskaya, investigative journalism in Russia continues to be made impossible by the state. Having taken control of traditional...
Why did the UK government act against a journalist on behalf of Syria? (The Guardian)
It is 12 days since the British authorities confiscated the passport of the Syrian journalist, Zaina Erhaim, a prominent critic of Bashar al-Assad. And it is four days since press freedom and human rights groups launched a joint protest over a...
Index Awards 2017: Celebrating defenders of free expression
Index on Censorship is a nonprofit that campaigns for and defends free expression worldwide. We publish work by censored writers and artists, promote debate, and monitor threats to free speech. We believe that everyone should be free to express themselves without fear of harm or persecution – no matter what their views.
Index’s aim is to raise awareness about threats to free expression and the value of free speech as the first step to tackling censorship.
Index relies entirely on the support of donors and readers to do our work.
We work in four ways:
Informing
Index on Censorship publishes an award-winning quarterly magazine that has featured some of the world’s best-known writers. We publish original creative writing and articles about free expression from across the globe.
Our website offers additional information to help people understand the current threats to free expression globally. And we reach a wider audience through social media.
Influencing
Each year, Index on Censorship identifies some of the greatest threats to free speech around the world and develops advocacy campaigns to push for change in legislation or public attitudes. We choose topics where our work can make a significant impact – and deliberately choose areas where others might not be focused. You can see our current areas of focus on our Campaigns and Projects work.
We use a mixture of research, reporting, direct advocacy and media campaigning to achieve our goals.
Debating
Index on Censorship believes that free expression encourages more open and tolerant societies. We actively promote debate with an exciting series of events each year to help people better understand the value of free speech. This includes performances, exhibitions, talks and concerts. We are also regularly quoted in international media on free expression issues. Read more about our current events programme here.
Supporting
Index on Censorship directly supports groups and individuals facing censorship through our Freedom of Expression Awards Fellowship. The fellowship offers a year-long programme of tailored support to a small group of fellows selected for their outstanding work in the fields of journalism, arts, campaigning and digital advocacy. Read more about this innovative work here.