Paris, June 17th – Updated version
The NY Times ends the publication of political cartoons in its international pages, beginning July 1st, including the disappearance of press cartoons of Patrick Chappatte and Heng, after many years of collaboration with the American newspaper.
The press cartoon of Antonio (Portugal) constitutes the triggering event: judged by some to be anti-Semitic, this drawing was published in early May by the NY Times (through an agency) and then immediately withdrawn by the newspaper following the sharp and numerous criticisms that inflamed the web.
Cartooning for Peace denounces this unfortunate decision for press freedom and regrets the fears that are seizing some redactions.
As Patrick Chappatte, vice-President of The Cartooning for Peace Foundation in Geneva, well said : “Political cartoons were born with democracy. And they are challenged when freedom is.“ Read Patrick Chappatte’s declaration.
Let’s keep in mind that numerous press cartoonists from all over the world signed the Addis-Ababa Declaration for the Recognition of Cartooning as a Fundamental Human Right.
Watch Chappatte (Switzerland) at the last TED Conference:
Download the press release:
