"What is new, however, is that censorship is no longer the exclusive preserve of the state. Society has taken to supporting the state in muzzling creative voices. Today, culture in the Arab world struggles under the burden placed on it by two authorities: the authority of the ruling, mostly unelected political elites, and the authority of the religious movement and its supporters on the street. This undeclared alliance has pushed Arab culture and intellectuals towards one of two choices: to agree to a long list of political, religious and sexual taboos, or to rebel against them and see their writings or artistic works banned from publication or exhibition in the Arab world." (thanks Maryam)