Stories about Digital Activism from September, 2009
Oman: Online Activists Questioned
The Initiative for an Open Arab Internet [Ar] reports that a number of online activists have been summoned for questioning by the security and military forces and made to sign declarations that they will refrain from discussing Omani public affairs and the ‘symbols of the Sultanate’ online.
Morocco: A Dangerous Flu
At least five Moroccan independent journalists will appear before a judge later this month in Rabat, after having published articles challenging the official announcement about King Mohammed VI's health. It is believed the monarch has contracted "a viral, benign disease." Bloggers have been debating this issue, mostly denouncing the attacks on journalists.
Belarus: Many Blogs, Few in English
Andrei Khrapavitski writes that there are many blogs about Belarus out there, but very few of them are in English.
Uganda: Blogs, Twitter Keep World Informed as Kampala Riots Continue
As riots shook Kampala, the capital of Uganda, for the second day, bloggers and other netizens rallied to keep the world informed.
Hong Kong: TVB's beaten journalists and brave new voice
The strong condemnation delivered by Cantonese-language channel TVB Jade of the way its journalists were treated in Xinjiang spurred certain criticism and ridicule online, and the antagonistic stance taken towards the mainland Chinese authorities in recent days struck some as such a shift in character as to seem hypocritical.
Martyrs of Iranian protests remembered online
On Neverforget.us photos and short biographies of more than 70 Iranians killed as a result of the 'green' protests against the presidential election have been published.
Video: Caring about Congo
Videos showing different ways in which people are trying to make a difference in the situation faced by those living in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Egyptians React to the Sudanese “Sin”
Sudanese UN female employee Lubna Hussein faced threats of imprisonment and flogging for the “sin” of wearing trousers in Khartoum - and her saga is far from over. Marwa Rakha sums up the reactions of Egyptian bloggers in this post.
Arab Women… Minors Until They Die
Though blessed with inner strength that enables them to deal with the shackles of their culture, some Arab women are dealt with as minors who will never reap the fruits of adulthood. Marwa Rakha brings us the voices of two bloggers who dared to speak up.
Russia: Okhta Tower
St Petersblurb posts an update on Gazprom’s Okhta Tower controversy.
Russia: Scott Anderson's GQ Article
Conde Nast management chose not to run Scott Anderson’s article “Vladimir Putin’s Dark Rise to Power” – which appeared in the Sept. 2009 issue of GQ – in the magazine's Russian edition. Gawker.com posted the original article and a Russian translation – “as a public service.” LJ user vadda has...
Egypt: Cairo Airport Security Strikes Again
Bikya Masr reported: “First, an American citizen was barred from entering the country last week and sent back to London. Now, a Palestinian-Norwegian mother of two was stopped by security as she attempted to board her flight to Amsterdam on Monday morning, being told she was a “national security risk”...
Trinidad & Tobago: No Justice
“There is no love for innocence in this gory time. Protect your heart from the hurt, because they think they are right and they in their putrid tabloid righteousness will do this crime again. And get away with it”: Trinidadian blogger Attillah Springer shares her views on the decision of...
Cuba: Antúnez Arrested
“No one should be surprised that Antúnez is again in jail,” writes diaspora blogger Uncommon Sense, as he blogs about the most recent arrest of the Cuban human rights activist.
Indian Bloggers Confront Street Harassment
“Eve-teasing” is a term that is used in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh for sexual harassment or molestation in the street. The Blank Noise Project, which was started by an art student six years ago, aims to confront street harassment and change public perceptions of it.
Morocco: Happy Ninepercent!
Larbi, blogging on Comme une bouteille jetée à la mer, writes a post [FR] on Wednesday 9/9/2009 at 9 hours 9 minutes PM, congratulating the “Ninepercenters,” a group of Moroccan bloggers created last August in protest against the banning of a poll showing 9% Moroccans unhappy of the first decade...
Hungary: Budapest Gay Pride Parade Protected
Marietta Le reports on the blog coverage of the 14th Gay Pride March, which took place in Budapest on Sept. 5 under increased police protection.
Palestine: Travelers Say Israel is Illegally Denying Access
Travelers to the Palestinian West Bank are now facing new restrictions. Visas obtained from Israeli consulates for their visit are stamped "Palestinian Authority areas only" in violation of the 1995 Oslo II Accords which allow unhindered movement for foreign travelers to Israel. Jillian C. York reports.
Egypt: Bad Boys Who do not Moderate Blog Comments
Journalist and blogger Khaled El Balshy has recently been subpoenaed by State Security and charged of slander because he did not delete a “bad” comment that was left on one of his blog posts dating back to 2007.
Egypt: Prison Awaits Those who don't Fast in Ramadan
For the first time in Egypt, the Ministry of Interior arrests Muslims who eat and drink in public during the fasting month of Ramadan. Marwa Rakha has the story.
Hong Kong: Journalists accused of incitement
Last Friday (Sep 4), three Hong Kong journalists were beaten up and detained by Xinjiang armed polices when they were covering the protest in Urumqi. Yesterday, the authorities in Xinjiang claimed that the three journalists were under the suspicion of inciting public disorder by making hand gestures. The director of...
