Concerns raised after exiled Turkish publisher Ragıp Zarakolu appears in national agency reports as being the subject of an extradition request as part of compromise between Turkey and Sweden over Sweden’s membership of NATO. Zarakolu, the 2008 IPA Prix Voltaire laureate, has lived in exile in Sweden since 2012.
Mr. Thanapol Eawsakul, the editor-in-chief of Same Sky Books (Fah Diew Kan) was arrested on 30th June 2022. The Prix Voltaire shortlisted publisher was subsequently released on bail but IPA remains concerned about the future of the serially harassed publisher and his prospects for a fair and open trial.
Following reports in the New York Times and The Guardian on the filtering of LGBTQ+ related search results, affecting books among other products, Kristenn Einarsson, Chair of the IPA’s Freedom to Publish Committee said: A global business like Amazon should not be pressured to introduce this filtering of search results which is essentially censoring books in the UAE. Following the terrible attack in my own country, it is clear that we need books about LGBTQ+ issues to foster understanding, dialogue, tolerance and ultimately progress. I urge the UAE authorities to reconsider this heavy-handed approach.
The final day of this SCCR began with the Chair recognising a cloud of fatigue in the room and encouraging delegates to press on through the day to finish the week.
Day 4 of this 42nd meeting of the SCCR picked up exactly where Day 3 left off, with discussions on exceptions and limitations and observer organisations continuing their statements.
Day 3 of SCCR 42 opened with further discussion and analysis of the new text on the broadcasting treaty with the afternoon reserved for discussions on exceptions and limitations.
