· November, 2009

Stories about Freedom of Speech from November, 2009

UAE: .il unblocked?

  29 November 2009

samuraisam, from the UAE Community Blog, asks: “Has anyone else found the Israeli TLD to be unblocked from the UAE? On my Etisalat connection it seems to be open.”

Cuba: Call to Respect Human Rights

  27 November 2009

As four Cuban dissidents are reportedly arrested in Havana, Uncommon Sense profiles political prisoner Oscar Biscet's call for his compatriots “to join an international campaign set for next month to demand that the Castro dictatorship respect human rights.”

China: Dwelling Narrowness

  27 November 2009

A popular Chinese drama “Dwelling Narrowness” was “re-scheduled” without explanation recently. ESWN translated various reports and discussions about the drama. A recent development of the drama is that one of the main characters becomes the mistress of a government official in order to help repay her older sister's mortgage.

UAE bans Talk Show On Request From Pakistan

  24 November 2009

Teeth Maestro informs that on request from Pakistan UAE has imposed a ban on the airing of Geo TV program ‘Meray Mutabiq’ by Dr. Shahid Masood. The blogger comments: “I’m sure he may have been touching on some sensitive topics which more-or-less will most likely have to do with the...

Russia: Mansion of The President Has A Lot To Offer

  24 November 2009

The Russian president's mansion became a topic of discussions on the Internet when people found a bidding offers invitation for services at the government Web site [RUS] dealing with different types of tenders. Giving the coordinates identical with the ones of the most important residency in the country, the government...

Egypt: Alaa Mubarak for President?

  23 November 2009

Several names have been thrown in the pool of candidates for Egypt's 2011 presidential elections. Now a new name is being floated. Find out why Alaa Mubarak, the Egyptian President's eldest son, is a current favorite among some Egyptians...or maybe not.

Morocco: War on Press Continues

  20 November 2009

The Moroccan authorities are ratcheting up their attacks on independent journalists. A week rarely passes without the authorities hitting hard on the press for alleged infractions, cracking down on printed as well as online media. Bloggers have been reflecting on this state of affairs.

Western Sahara: Aminatou Haidar Deported

  18 November 2009

Aminatou Haidar is a leading activist for independence of the Western Sahara (from Morocco). On Friday, November 13 when, upon returning to Laayoune (a city in the Western Sahara region), she was arrested and subsequently deported. Jillian C. York rounds up the reactions of bloggers.

Cuba: Courting Change

  18 November 2009

“There are a good number of ministers still under sixty, but the largest share of power is concentrated in the hands of septuagenarians and octogenarians”: Cuba's Generation Y suggests these veterans are unable “to hear the new generation knocking at the door, coming like a whirlwind to dismantle everything.”

China: Obama, censored or not?

  18 November 2009

Fool's Mountain pointed out how the Chinese propaganda machine has successfully played tricks on foreign media in reporting the censoring of Obama's Q & A session with Shanghai youth.

Trinidad & Tobago: Banned from Parliament?

  17 November 2009

A journalist may be banned from Parliament, prompting Nicholas Laughlin to post a statement by the Media Association of Trinidad and Tobago and Edmund Gall at KnowTnT.com to post his perspective.