MALAYSIA

Kuala Lumpur newspaper pressured into apology (1995)


Prophet Muhammad was portrayed recently in a Kuala Lumpur newspaper riding an animal resembling a horse with a human head. It is forbidden in Islam to use images of the Prophet, and The Sun was pressured into an open apology over the picture. According to The Straits Times, Information Minister Datuk Mohamed Rahmat said that "The Sun's act was a big sin because illustrations could not be made of Allah and the Prophet." He further described the picture as an insult. The paper was instructed to apologize and when it was published only in small print, Minister Datuk Dr. Abdul Hamid asked for a second, more extensive and better publicized apology. This second apology appeared in advertisements in all leading Malaysian newspapers.

SUPPRESSION INCIDENTS BY COUNTRY

ALGERIA
Flag mockery (1996) - Artist forced to go underground (1995-96) - Cartoonist murdered (1995)
ARGENTINA
Cartoonist abducted, beaten, intimidated (1996) - Cartoonist murdered (1970s)
BOSNIA
Cartoon show blown up along with spectators (1992)
CAMBODIA
Prohibition of animal depiction in symbolizing politicians (1994)
CHINA
Cartoonist fired over his strip (1995) - Comic book sparks riots (1992)
CROATIA
Repressive law is basis for trial of satirical newsweekly (1996)
CYPRUS
Cartoonist sued and prevented from receiving awards (1989-96)
EGYPT
Law curtails freedom of expression (1995)
ENGLAND
Veteran Palestinian political cartoonist assassinated in exile (1987)
INDIA
Activists storm exhibition (1994) - Editor arrested over a cartoon (1987)
IRAN
Cartoonist gets ten years for a cartoon resembling the late Ayatollah Khomeini (1992-93)
ISRAEL
Palestinaian cartoonist gets it from both sides (1996) - Clinton cartoon censored (1994) - Israeli arrested (1993) - "Shoe in the mouth" cartoon causes Palestinian publisher to disappear (1973)
JAPAN
Politician takes own life over a missing stroke in a cartoon that changed the name of his party (1992)
KUWAIT
Cartoon ignites riot against a major newspaper (1996)
LIBERIA
First political cartoonist threatened into leaving his country (1984)
MALAYSIA
Kuala Lumpur newspaper pressured into apology (1995)
MONGOLIA
Cartoonists punished for Western connection (1988-93)
RUSSIA
Outrage, threats, and investigation by the Russian Parliament over a Zlatkovsky drawing (1992)
SAUDI ARABIA
Saudi anger sends Indian editors to jail over American comic strip (1993)
SERBIA
Criminal proceedings for picturing statesmen in a "degrading position" (1993)
SOUTH AFRICA
Stronger controls over the press (1987)
SINGAPORE
A threat by the prime minister (1995)
TURKEY
Two cartoonists arrested (1996) - One burned alive (1993) - Editor sentenced to jail term for cartoon (1990-93) - Leading political cartoonist tortured (1970)
USA
Oliphant censored (1993) - Szabo on a Russian spy's list (1987) - Racial sensitivity in Philadelphia (1985)