Description of Incident: Al Azhar and its Dar El-Ifta issue fatwas which are followed by the Muslim. The fatwa in question, issued by Grand Mufti of Egypt Ali Gomaa, stated that Muslims cannot have statutes of living beings, especially of humans, in their homes. As a result of the fatwa, a Muslim woman destroyed some of Hassan Heshmat's statutes located at the Heshmat Museum. After being arrested, the woman said it was her responsibility to destroy the statutes.

Results of Incident: Because of this incident, Gomaa and the poet Ahmed Abdel Moeti Hagazi engaged in a debate on the Egyptian television show, El-Beit Beitak. Hagazi stated that "In Islam you are supposed to ask your heart for fatwa. No one is allowed to coerce a Muslim into choosing this or that. A Muslim must listen to the sheikhs, but is supposed to exercise freedom of choice at the end." Gomaa stated that the fatwa was based on the majority of the committee and not on his personal opinion. However, Muftis in the past have stated that statutes should not be considered haram (forbidden)which is why there was no fatwa in relation statues. The liberal intellectuals become alarmed whenever a fatwa is issued or a book is censored. In their opinion, the actions of Al Azhar should promote tolerance and moderation because of their influence on the Muslim community. The liberal intellectuals also want the Mufti to update older fatwas to reflect modern societal values. Other liberal intellectuals, such as Salah Eissa and Soliman Fayyad, believe that Al Azhar is a political institution which much power and influence.

Description of Incident: M.I.A. was supposed to come to the United States to work with producer Timbaland on her upcoming album. However, the United States refused to issue M.I.A. a visa because of the nature of the lyrics on her current album. Futher MTV refuses to play her current single, "Sunshower."

Results of Incident: On her website, M.I.A. stated "They tried to shut my door!," "Roger roger do you here me over the US immigration won't let me in!"

Description of Incident: The City of New York revoked Ecko's permit enabling them to have the graffiti art exhibition. Initially the City claimed they revoked the permit based on the commercial nature of the exhibition because a commercial event requires a different and more expensive permit than an art exhibition. The City eventually stated that the exhibition would promote criminal activities such as painting graffiti on actual subway cars.

Results of Incident: After talking the matter to the United States District Court fot the Southern District of New York, the court required the City to reinstate the permit because their actions were unconstitutional.

Description of Incident: Some parents in Hawkins County, Tennessee objected to the school's use of a reading series because of the various ideas promoted through the text. The parents were born again Christians whose religious beliefs forbade its followers from reading materials suggesting ideas contrary to their religious philosophy.

Results of Incident: The matter went to the United States Court of Appeals which held that the school district could continue to use the Holt, Rinehart and Winston reading series.

Description of Incident: Various battles existed whether evolution and creationism should be taught in science classes.

Results of Incident: In 2001, the Kansas State Board of education decided to allow evolution and creationism to be part of the science curriculum.

Description of Incident: The Chelsea, Massachusetts Board of Education removed the book, "Male and Female Under Eighteen" from the school library.

Results of Incident: The librarian of the school and a committee objected to the removal of the book and it was later replaced in the library.

Description of Incident: Throughout the years, the two dictionaries have faced multiple incidences of censorship. Recently, the NAACP requested that the dictionaries change the definition of the word, "nigger."

Results of Incident: Unknown

Description of Incident: The East Meadow School Board decided that it would be inappropriate for Pete Seeger to perform at the high school because of the potential problems that could occur. The East Meadow, Long Island Concert Association disagreed with the School Board and challenged their decision.

Results of Incident: The New York Court of Appeals decided that the concert should be held.

Description of Incident: During the 1920s, the New York Public Library engaged in self censorship where librarians would choose materials to catalogue separately. These books would only be available if patrons asked for them specifically.

Results of Incident: In the 1940s and 1950s, professional librarians created guidelines for all the librarians to follow. These objective guidelines prevented the librarians from making subjective decisions on which materials should be available only by request.

Description of Incident: Three major book clubs changed original editions of novels that they sold.

Results of Incident: The three book clubs claimed that they do not alter the editions of the novels that they sell.

Description of Incident: In December of 1968, Gil and Veloso were arrested according to the Fifth Institutional Act. They were in jail for two months where their hair was symbolically cut. Once released from jail they were under house arrest until they were forced to go into exile in London. Despite censors, Tropicalistas managed to continue making music without changing the lyrics of their songs. For example, the Os Mutantes would play music over the controversial lyrics of their songs.

Results of Incident: Gil and Veloso were able to return to Brazil in 1972. Beginning in the 1990s, there was a revived interest in Tropicalia. Also, Tropicalistas continue to make music. Tropicalia is the subject of a Cross Arts Festival at the Barbican in London. The festival will have an art exhibition, films and concerts. Gil will appear at the festival on June 26, 2006.

Description of Incident: The director of the Student Recreation Complex did not think that Adkinson's work was appropriate to display, stating that it "could bring bad comments and concerns from our customers."

Results of Incident: The Student Recreation Complex did not display Adkinson's work. A student angered by the situation wrote an editorial in the student newspaper. The student believes that Arizona State University should "promote...diverse artistic expression."

Description of Incident: After an employee of the Bayer corporation commented that the painting was distracting, the director of the conference center decided to remove the painting from the exhibition. The director placed the painting in his office.

Results of Incident: The artist contacted the local media to report the incident. After receiving publicity in Connecticut newspapers and the New York Daily News, the Bayer Corporation asked the director of the conference center to return the painting to the exhibition.

Description of Incident: After the City publicly display "The Baggage Handler" in a traffic circle in Penticton, the sculpture faced multiple incidents of vandalism including being pushed off of its base and severing his genetalia.

Results of Incident: Hermesh requested $20,000 to repair the damaged sculpture; however, the city council decided to remove the scupture and gave the artist $300 to cover moving costs. A local band, Shaker Green, wrote a song about the sculpture entitled, "Frank the Baggage Handler." The sculpture could possibly be relocated to one of numerous companies who have expressed their desire to have the scultpure.

Description of Incident: Hindu Human Rights group and Hindu Forum of Britain requested the Asia House Gallery to not exhibit Husain's artwork. The Hindu Human Rights group and the Hindu Forum of Britain asked all Hindus to join in a protest against the exhibition. They claimed Husain was "showing obscene images of Hindu goddesses." However, Hindu goddesses are often depicted in various sexual and erotic poses and the Hindu society is tolerant about to sexual practices. Both groups believe that Asia House should have consulted with them before planning the exhibition of the artwork. However, both organizations do not consist of elected representatives of Hindus living in the United Kingdom and the gallery should not be required to consult with the organizations before an exhibition. Some claim these Hindu Right Groups are attemting to deny Husain his freedom of expression because he is Muslim.

Before the exhibition opened, two of Husain's paintings were spray painted with black paint by three men. The damage equals about 200,000 pounds.

Results of Incident: The Hindu Human Rights group canceled the protest against the Husain exhibitin at the Asia House Gallery after the gallery canceled the exhibition for security reasons. Many different figures in the Hindu community have requested that the Asia House reinstate the Husain exhibit.