Signatories:
PEN America’s Artists at Risk Connection adds: The arrest and detention of Munawar is indicative of the poor protection currently being afforded to the freedoms of speech and expression in India. Every citizen in India has the constitutional right to free speech and expression, albeit with reasonable restrictions. However, through instances like this, it is obvious that most arrests and forms of censorship carried out against artists are founded on arbitrary grounds and are greatly damaging to artistic and creative freedoms in the country.
1. Rajmohan Gandhi, Historian, India
2. Arundhati Roy, Writer, India
3. Mallika Sarabhai, Artist & Dancer, India
4. Swara Bhaskar, Actor, India
5. Pooja Bhatt, Filmmaker, India
6. Shonali Bose, Filmmaker, India
7. Kalki Koechlin, Actor, India
8. Kunal Kamra, Stand-up Comic, India
9. Sanjay Rajoura, Stand-up Comic, India
10. John Greyson, Film Director, Canada
11. Anand Patwardhan, Filmmaker, India
12. Darab Farooqui, Writer, India
13. Anuvab…