The regime’s Ministry of Information announced on Tuesday that it has banned four more LGBTQ+ themed books and has taken legal action against four women who owned two publishing companies for distributing content deemed “obscene.” Last month, it banned 10 LGBTQ+ themed books.
“The ministry is continuously monitoring publishing items and taking legal action against these printing and distribution services in January and February for violating the Printing and Publication Law,” regime media reported on Feb. 11.
The four recently-banned books include: “Personal stylist” and “I am your baby’s father” by Hnaung, “Nyo” by hAnn, and “AhMoon” by North Star.
The authors are accused of misleading Myanmar’s youth, but no details were included by the regime on whether they would face any legal repercussion or criminal charges.
“The industry is no longer able to operate as it used to,” an anonymous source from a publishing house in Yangon told DVB.
Section 8 of the amended Printing and Publication Law stipulates that anyone who publishes, prints or distributes “obscene content” can be punished with a fine of up to three million MMK ($659 USD).
The regime has now revoked the publishing licenses of at least 13 book houses, 10 printing services, one magazine, and 15 media outlets, since the 2021 military coup.
