International Association of Art Critics (AICA) Announces Statement Calling for Abolition of Japan's Flag Desecration Law
AICA released a statement calling for the abolition of Japan's Flag Desecration Law.Summary
The International Association of Art Critics (AICA) issued a statement on August 3 calling for the abolition of Japan’s Flag Desecration Law, which was passed by the Diet on July 17 and will take effect on August 13. The statement argues that the law threatens freedom of expression, that its definition of “desecration” is vague, and that it could be used to censor artistic works that use the flag as a symbol of dissent. AICA president Malgorzata Kazmierczak and censorship‑committee chair Niilofur Farrukh signed the declaration, which also cites Japan’s obligations under UNESCO’s Convention on the Protection and Promotion of Cultural Diversity to allow artists to express themselves without persecution. The organization urges lawmakers to repeal the law to uphold Japan’s constitutional guarantee of free expression.
(Source：Tokyo Art Beat)