Author Fined for ‘Offensive’ Graphic Novel

Bikya Masr reports that Magdy el-Shafee and his publisher have been fined 5,000LE for the publication and distribution of Egypt’s first graphic novel, Metro.

Apparently it offended public morals.

You can nonetheless still read a portion of it at Words Without Borders. A few images are also still on Magdy’s website.

So, there is the upside to being a writer in Egypt in 2009 (more money! more conferences! fabulous bookstores! more prizes!) and the downside (public morals, interior ministry, censorship).

More on the ruling from Egypt.Com news.