· March, 2012

Stories about Freedom of Speech from March, 2012

Human Rights Mapping in Cambodia

Human rights advocates in Cambodia have been using online maps to document, monitor, and expose human rights violations across the country. Some of the maps track land conflicts, media killings, freedom of expression violations, and prison overcrowding

31 March 2012

Kuwait: Call to Kill the “Infidel” Twitter User

A Kuwaiti Twitter user has been detained, pending investigation, over a tweet in which he allegedly insulted Prophet Mohammed. The issue is taking a sectarian twist in Kuwait as the Twitter user Hamad Al-Naqi denies the charges, claiming that his account was hacked, while others charge that it is a Shiite attack on Sunni Islam. Meanwhile, a protest was held calling for the Twitter user to be killed for his alleged blasphemy.

30 March 2012

The Cuba the Pope Leaves Behind

Pope Benedict XVI's trip to Cuba has come to an end, a visit bookended by the Castro brothers: President Raul Castro greeting the pontiff at the airport and Fidel Castro meeting with him before his departure. But bloggers are suggesting that despite the Pope's message of change and hope for the future, it looks like business as usual on the island.

29 March 2012

Pakistan: Demand for Independence of Sindh

A freedom march organized by one of the biggest Sindhi nationalist parties, has drawn a huge crowd in Karachi city. The news was either blocked or under-reported in most of the Pakistani mainstream Urdu media channels.

28 March 2012

China: A Titanic Nation

Chinese cartoonist Perverted Pepper posted a political cartoon in which a throng of ordinary Chinese waves goodbye to a large red ship called “Titanic” at Sina Weibo. The drawing was...

27 March 2012

Syria: A Year On, From Beirut With Love

On March15, the Syrian revolution completed its first year with the same level of determination that marked its beginning. Protests in different cities around the world expressed their support to the revolution while Beirut wanted to announce its support in its own way. This post explains how activists expressed their love to the Syrian revolution on Beirut walls.

26 March 2012

Kuwait: Could a Hash Tag Send Twitter Users to Prison?

As in any country with netizens using Twitter, hash tags are created every day, every hour and somne times even every few minutes. In Kuwait, one user created a hash tag #بطارية (battery in Arabic) and all hell broke loose. Kuwaiti blogger Abdullatif AlOmar tells us why.

26 March 2012

Cuba: Pope Arrives Today; What Will His Visit Bring?

Pope Benedict XVI is due to arrive today in Cuba, even as bloggers chronicle the “wave of arrests and threats” preceding the papal visit. But top of mind for most bloggers, particularly from the diaspora, is whether or not the pontiff will decide to meet with the Ladies in White and other members of the political opposition.

26 March 2012

This Week in the Caribbean Blogosphere

Activity in the Caribbean blogosphere this week has been predominantly coming from Cuba and its diaspora, as the country prepares for the arrival of Pope Benedict XVI amidst frustration about the human rights situation on the island and dissatisfaction over the pontiff declining to meet members of the Cuban opposition during his stay.

24 March 2012

Cuba: Black Spring, Nine Years After

The Cuban Black Spring - a term that has come to describe the government crackdown on dissidents that took place in 2003 - marks its ninth anniversary this year. Cuban bloggers remember their history and wonder whether anything has fundamentally changed - especially in the context of the impending papal visit and the pontiff's inability to meet with opposition groups to discuss the country's human rights record.

20 March 2012

Hungary: An Eventful Celebration of the National Holiday

The prime minister compares the country to a frog; a rapper is elected as "the alternative president"; far-right protesters break into the IMF office; a techno party is held at Budapest's Heroes' Square, followed the next day by a paramilitary group's oath ceremony. Marietta Le reports on this year's eventful celebration of Hungary's National Day.

20 March 2012