The Iranian Foreign Ministry has closed a Tehran-based French archaeological and historical institute in protest against a French magazine’s insult to Islamic sanctities.

South Korean president Yoon Suk-yeol was caught on a hot mic insulting American lawmakers for failing to pass the additional $6 billion (£5.3 billion) in aid to the United Nations Global Fund.

A military court sentences Tunisian MP Yassin Ayari to prison for insulting the president and army for describing the suspension of parliament as a coup d’état.

Saudi Arabia orders the Lebanese ambassador to the country to leave over the “offensive” remarks made by Lebanese Information Minister George Kordahi regarding the Saudi-led coalition against Yemen.

The latest court cases have raised concerns over freedom of expression in Turkey.

Russian President Vladimir Putin supports a proposal by a leading mufti from the country’s North Caucasus region to call on other United Nations (UN) member states to pass laws protecting the feelings of religious believers.

Religious intellectuals strongly refute the French president’s claim that support for sacrilege amounts to protection of free speech.