Stories about Freedom of Speech from June, 2010
Czech Republic: Dr. Milada Horáková's Death 60 Years Ago
The Reference Frame writes about the execution of Dr. Milada Horáková 60 years ago: “Many people were killed by the communists but she has clearly been the brightest woman ever murdered by them.”
Club of Cambodian Journalists
The website of the Club of Cambodian Journalists seeks to provide information to promote press freedom and media rights in Cambodia.
Lebanon: No to The Rule of Dinosaurs
A new Facebook group named No to Dinosaur Rule: So that Lebanon Doesn't Turn into a New Arab Prison (Ar) has been formed. The group advocates freedom of speech.
China: The end of Google.cn redirect
Kai Pan from China/divide comments on the end of Google.cn's redirecting of search engine to Google Hong Kong.
Cuba: On Journalism
Iván's File Cabinet says that “being a journalist in Cuba is like performing black magic. Investigating a story or getting reliable data is like trying to catch hold of a mirage.”
Cuba: Spotlight on Fariñas
“In the wake of the death of political prisoner Orlando Zapata Tamayo, Cuban independent journalist Guillermo Fariñas started a hunger strike to demand the release of some two dozen seriously ill political prisoners”: As his condition worsens, Uncommon Sense applauds his bravery.
Egypt: The Ministry of Interior Seeks Revenge
Egyptian activists have utilised citizen media to the fullest in exposing police torture and corruption. Marwa Rakha writes about their newest initiative and uncovers the case of an Egyptian activist held in neighbouring Libya in this post.
Italy: Large protest against “gag” rule bill on local media
“No Bavaglio” (No Gag) is a large protest movement in Italy against a proposed privacy law that would impose heavy fines on newspapers (and blogs) that publish transcripts of phone calls. The law is suspect, because wiretapping has played a key role in media investigations that have led to mafia...
Lebanon: Letter to the President
Lebanese blogger finkployd writes a letter to the Lebanese President Michel Suleiman after three people were arrested for insulting him on Facebook.
Lao44 website
Lao44 or Coalition for Lao Information, Communication and Knowledge is the largest repository of documents in Lao language. The number 44 in Lao44 refers to Article 44 in the Constitution which says that Lao citizens have the right and freedom of speech, press and assembly.
Thailand: First country to block 100,000 websites
Twitter user leosia congratulates Thailand for being the first country in history to block more than 100,000 websites.
Russia: New Initiatives Indicate Government's Fear of the New Media
Alexey Sidorenko writes about the Russian government's attempts to control cyberspace - and its apparent fear of the new media.
Serbia: Mufti Zukorlic vs Blic
Belgraded writes about the conflict between the mufti of the Serbian Islamic community and the Blic newspaper.
Peru: A Bill on Obscene Content
A few days ago the news broke of a bill that had been approved by the Justice Comission in Congress, proposing an amendment to section 183-B of the Penal Code, which sanctions the media publication of obscene and pornographic displays. As a result, opponents of the bill raised the banners of "Freedom of the Press" and "Freedom of Speech." Bloggers and internet media users are debating whether this bill really gets rid of these freedoms, or if it serves as a protection for minors and others who don't want to see that content.
Pakistan: What Is Blasphemy?
“What is Blasphemy?” This question has been drawn in numerous discussions after the the recent banning of certain websites in Pakistan. Shaista Kazmi & Azhar Aslam at Teeth Maestro has details.
Peru: Scientist is Charged for Criticizing Investigation
In the blog Blawyer.org [es] Miguel Morachimo says [es] that a judge in Lima has declared biologist Ernesto Bustamante guilty of defamation for questioning a colleagues conclusions of a study on two media outlets.
Croatia: 9th Annual GLBT Pride Parade
The Daily Seyahatname/Blogging Balkanistan writes about Zagreb's ninth annual GLBT Pride Parade and notes that “President Ivo Josipovic became the first Croatian president to publicly support” the event.
Rwanda: Worrying signs in Kigali
Worrying signs in Kigali: “Jean-Leonard Rugambage, the editor of the Umuvugizi newspaper in Kigali, was gunned down in front of his home on Thursday. A man came up to his car as he was driving into his gate and shot him in the head and chest, killing him immediately.”
Pakistan: Banning The Internet
Reacting on the recent court verdict of Lahore High Court, which may lead to banning of an entire range of websites, Adil Najam at All Things Pakistan explains “why banning the Internet in Pakistan may actually be a good thing”.
Rwanda: A Journalist for Umuvugizi Killed in Kigali
Jean-Léonard Rugambage, a journalist for the suspended bimonthly magazine Umuvugizi, was killed on June 24, 2010, Jeune Afrique reports [fr].
D.R. of Congo: The Murder of Human Rights Activist Floribert Chebeya
Floribert Chebeya, the leader of a human rights organization in D.R. of Congo, was found dead on June 2 under suspicious circumstances. Protests against his murder and other killings and rapes are planned by the Congolese diaspora this week.
