Arts, letters and intellectuals

Algeria · Science / intellectuals / activism

Louis Althusser

Documented profile covering 6 controversies, including “Posthumous L'Avenir dure longtemps: Autobiography conceived as response to trial that never took place” and “Death of Hélène Rytmann: Strangulation, murder investigation and case dismissed (non-lieu) on grounds of insanity”.

6 controversies · 7 sources

No. 0452

Turkey · Culture / literature

Arts, letters and intellectuals

Orhan Pamuk

Documented profile covering 6 controversies, including “Nights of Plague: investigation into alleged insults to Atatürk and Turkish flag” and “2014 press campaign portraying him and Elif Şafak as instruments of the West”.

6 controversies · 11 sources1 formal charge

No. 0310

Japan · Culture / media / celebrities

Film, television and entertainmentArts, letters and intellectuals

Takeshi Kitano

Documented profile covering 6 controversies, including “Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony: "give the money back", shame and scathing attack on organisers” and “2021 pickaxe attack on his car: armed suspect arrested, Kitano unharmed”.

6 controversies · 12 sources1 conviction1 formal charge

No. 1174

United States · Science / health / intellectuals + Law / institutions

Arts, letters and intellectualsScience, medicine and health

Cass Sunstein

Documented profile covering 5 controversies, including “'Nudge' and libertarian paternalism: criticism over manipulation, autonomy and transparency” and “Rules delayed before 2012 election: accounts of political obstruction, denied by administration”.

5 controversies · 7 sources

No. 2666

Germany · Spirituality / New Age / personal development / meditation

Religion, sects and spiritual movementsArts, letters and intellectuals

Eckhart Tolle

Documented profile covering 5 controversies, including “2010s: criticism of retreat prices and commercialisation of teachings centred on detachment” and “2011: academic study criticises Tolle's reinterpretation of religious traditions through Theosophy and New Age”.

5 controversies · 8 sources

No. 2640

Ireland · Literature / theatre / censorship / justice / LGBT history

Arts, letters and intellectuals

Oscar Wilde

Documented profile covering 5 controversies, including “2017: posthumous pardon under “Turing Law” for conviction involving now-lawful homosexual acts” and “1895–1897: prosecution for “gross indecency”, first jury unable to reach verdict, then two years' hard labour”.

5 controversies · 6 sources1 conviction1 formal charge

No. 2592

Brazil · Religion / sects / ideologues

Arts, letters and intellectuals

Paulo Coelho

Documented profile covering 5 controversies, including “Ban on several Paulo Coelho works in Iran” and ““Pirate Coelho”: online availability of digital copies of his own books despite publishing industry's reservations”.

5 controversies · 11 sources

No. 0510

Saudi Arabia · Culture / media / celebrities

Arts, letters and intellectualsCelebrities, influencers and social media

Raif Badawi

Documented profile covering 5 controversies, including “Release followed by ten-year travel ban” and “Ten-year prison sentence and 1,000 lashes for online writings”.

5 controversies · 10 sources1 conviction1 formal charge