Portugal: Police Union File Criminal Complaint Over Satirical Cartoon by Award-Winning Cartoonist Cristina Sampaio
The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns this decision. Satirical cartoons are not criminal. We urge the union to drop its complaint.
Location: Portugal, Lisbon
Date: July 10, 2023
Police union files criminal complaint against cartoonist Cristina Sampaio and public broadcaster over cartoon critiquing racism within police forces. The Coalition For Women In Journalism strongly urges the union to withdraw its complaint and allow Sampaio to express herself freely.
On July 10, the National Union for the Career of Chiefs (SNCC) of the Portuguese Public Security Police (PSP) took legal action against public broadcaster RTP and illustrator Cristina Sampaio, an award-winning illustrator and press cartoonist with a career spanning over three decades.
The SNCC alleges that Sampaio’s cartoon depicting a policeman shooting at targets — symbolizing the theme of racism in the security forces — contained false information that could damage the credibility and trustworthiness of police. The cartoon was aired on RTP's program Spam Cartoon on 7 July.
The police union argues that the cartoon portrays police officers as xenophobic and racist, filing a criminal complaint with the Public Ministry. They also raised concerns with the Regulatory Entity for Social Communication (ERC) and the Professional Journalist License Commission (CCPJ).
André Carrilho, illustrator and co-founder of Spam Cartoon, expressed bewilderment at the criminal complaint, stating that it lacks merit. Carrilho contends that the cartoon was created in response to the recent protests in France following the shooting of a young man by French police.
In a statement defending the cartoon, RTP said Spam Cartoon is a show created by well-known Portuguese cartoonists to promote dialogue and understanding rather than inciting violence against anyone. The program, hosted by RTP since 2017, is described as a platform for free expression and commentary on current events, both domestic and international.
Satirical cartoons play an important role in journalism. These cartoons can capture public attention, promote critical thinking, and provide social commentary. Due to their ability to provoke, particularly those in power, political cartoonists often face backlash. In June 2023, award-winning Iranian artist Atena Farghadani was arrested again for posting political cartoons on her Instagram account.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism believes the action the police union (SNCC) has taken against Sampaio’s satirical cartoon is extreme and disproportionate. Satirists have a right to express their ideas and offer commentary on social and political events through their art. To deem Sampaio’s cartoon criminal is incredibly concerning and limits freedom of expression. We urge the SNCC to withdraw its complaint against Sampaio and allow the illustrator to express herself without legal reprisals.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
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