A book on political cartoons has been banned by Singapore because of its offensive content. The government of Singapore on Wednesday shared the thought process behind the decision saying that the book had material that humiliated many religions and religious figures. Social and Family Development minister Masagos Zulkifli who also works as the minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs said to the Parliament on Wednesday that the photos used in the book are insulting to the Muslim community even if they are released on the basis of free speech, academia, or otherwise. The book is titled Red Lines: Political Cartoons And The Struggle Against Censorship.
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The book also has images that are quite insulting to other religious groups, said the minister. Although the writers may have the opinion that they do not aim for the publication to be demeaning or insulting and their aim is to educate, the government does not support that. The book has been released by Hong Kong Baptist University’s professor of media studies Cherian George and graphic novelist Sonny Liew. It has already been distributed in other countries such as the US. The media officials said in November that the book that has been released in August last year will not be allowed to be having sales or distribution in Singapore because it has been categorized to be objectionable under the Undesirable Publications Act for having content that offends religions.
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The higher officials are of the view that if the government has control over the content that is consumed by the common people and keeps a check on not allowing any religious group to attack or insult others and also avoid hate speech in the country then it will not have deep social divisions. The move has been taken to protect racial and religious harmony in Singapore and a firm stand on such content has been taken irrespective of any publishing house or its purpose.
