Art is a fundamental element of human expression. From the prehistoric cave paintings of Lascaux to the street art of Bansky, artists have long used their art as a means of sharing values and ideas. These values and ideas, as expressed in art, often celebrate or challenge the perceptions of the dominant culture.
The expression of these ideas should be treated as a fundamental right. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) agrees with this notion. Article 27 advocates for everyone to be able to participate in making art, to enjoy art, and for the “protection of the moral and material interests” of any art that an artist produces. It is important to note that the UDHR was signed in 1948, just three years after the establishment of the United Nations. Many nations of the modern United Nations had not yet become members.
Though the UDHR is an older treaty, it does not mean that it was the last attempt at securing worldwide artistic freedoms. Recent United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) reports highlight the difficulties modern artists face. UNESCO claims that digital censorship, increasing levels of censorship or violence against artists, and pressures from both governmental and non-governmental actors are just some of the many ways in which artists face discrimination when seeking to express themselves.
With all this in mind, when the United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced in 2021 that it would no longer censor movies shown in local movie theaters, it was rightly hailed as a bold and promising development. The Gulf region is notorious for its strict censorship of art. The UAE announcement of the end of its film censorship was widely seen as a move to attract more artists, adding to the country’s soft power diplomacy. In practice, however, censorship seems to still plague international releases within the UAE.
Thus it seems that the UAE still has a ways to go to protect artistic freedoms within the country. The supposed end of film censorship seems to have little impact on the contents of movies within the UAE. Though the easing of restrictions was allowed for films, other art forms still face censorship. Poet Abdul Rahman Yusuf Al-Qaradawi was recently deported to the UAE for criticizing the government. Art that references the UAE’s role in regional conflicts also faces censorship.
If the UAE truly wants to become a beacon of artistic freedom in the region, it must fully commit to allowing artists to express themselves. One crucial step would be for artists to be allowed in the decision making processes that govern their art. The UAE has already shown that it wants to be taken seriously as a place where art thrives, now they must follow through on their word.