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Plymouth Law Review

Emma Whetnall

Document Type

Graduate Article

Abstract

Spanning over time and nations, this article explores the censorship of literature over three main themes: censorship through a religious lens, the censorship of journalism, and censorship in schools. By delving into a case study for Permual Murugan’s One Part Woman and Salman Rushdie’s The Satanic Verses and analysing Hindu and Islamic approaches to censorship and the extremities they will go to to censor, Eastern religious tolerance of free speech and unorthodox views is exposed. Further, it explores the freedom for journalists, particularly in Islamic countries where said freedom is restricted, and the threat that censorship has on democracy. It offers nuanced reflections on legal ramifications, or lack thereof, for journalistic integrity in certain countries. Additionally, by comparing Republican American states, such as Florida, to Democratic states and countries, such as Sweden, varying approaches to censoring literature for students are analysed as well as the impact that censorship has on educational development and marginalised communities. It examines the role of technology in bypassing censorship and its implications for access to diverse content, providing strategic recommendations for fostering a more inclusive literary landscape in alignment with legal principles. By traversing these diverse dimensions of censorship, this article aims to contribute to a nuanced understanding of the complexities inherent in regulating literary expression. It concerns the intersectionality of censorship across religious, journalistic, and educational domains, emphasising the urgent need for further scholarly inquiry and action in this evolving field of law

Publication Date

2024-01-01

Publication Title

The Plymouth Law Review

Volume

17

Issue

1

First Page

186

Last Page

219

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