Stories about Freedom of Speech from November, 2012
Mauritania: “Don't Touch my Nationality” March Broken by Police
On November 28, 2012, Mauritanian police dispersed [ar] a march organized by “Don't touch my nationality” movement and arrested their coordinator Birane Wane [en]. The opposition group was asking for the trial of all those involved in the killing of black officers in the Mauritanian army in the 90's during...
Tajikistan Blocks Popular News Website
The higher the walls they are building, cutting people off from the outside world, the more willing people are to destroy the walls and bury those who build them under the bricks.
Syria Protest Videos Online Despite Internet Cut
With the Internet cut across Syria, videos of protests are still finding their way online. On Twitter, Hivos reports: @Hivos: While #internetcutinsyria @ANA_Feed continues to bring the news: video from large demonstrations today in Aleppo: http://ow.ly/fHVhx
Will China's New Leadership Bring More Freedom of Press?
China Central Television (CCTV) has always been considered as government propaganda. However, the past week has seen progress in its news coverage, including that of Ren Jiayu, a young man who was sent to labor camp for Internet speech. Chinese netizens are wondering: will the new leadership bring more freedom of...
Syria Plunges Into Total Info Darkness
On Thursday, the US-based internet connectivity monitoring firm, Renesys, reported that internet was cut off in Syria. All of Syria's 84 IP address blocks were inaccessible, “effectively removing the country from the Internet.”
“My Vote Under Arrest” Support for Iran's Opposition Leaders
Iranian former presidential candidates and Green Movement leaders, Mir-Hossein Mousavi, and Mehdi Karroub have been under house arrest for around 650 days. A group of Iranian netizens have turned to social media to raise awareness and push for their release.
Tortured Sudanese Female Journalist Speaks Up
Sudanese journalist Sumaya Ismail Hundosa, 34, was abducted from near her house on October 29, 2012, later to be found thrown inside a mud pit in a remote area in Khartoum on November 2, 2012, five days after her abduction. As the details of Hundosa's unprecedented torture unfolded, Sudanese netizens largely responded with shock and outrage, showing sympathy and solidarity with the journalist, writes Usamah Mohamed
Tunisian Police Use Shotgun Shells Against Protesters
Over the last two days, Tunisian security forces fired shotgun shells at protesters in Siliana (north-west of the country), injuring 265 persons. Clashes erupted in this impoverished interior province, when police clashed with protesters calling for the departure of the local governor.
Life Sentence for Qatari Poet for Insulting Amir
The poem is said to praise the Arab Spring, drawing comparisons to other countries living in repression and under dictatorship. According to Qatari journalist Abdulla Al Athbah, Al-Deeb's poem was seen as insulting to the Qatari Amir, and called for overthrowing his rule.
Egypt: Down with The Tyrant – Take Three!!
In what is being described as the third wave of the Egyptian revolution, Egyptians across the country and not only Cairo took to the streets again to make a strong message that they are more than willing to take down another tyrant in the making.
Hundreds Rally Against Anti-Semitism in Hungary
On Nov. 27, hundreds of people gathered in front of the Parliament in Budapest (photos) to protest a Hungarian far-right MP's call “for Jews to be registered on lists as threats to national security.” Some of the protesters wore yellow Stars of David. The rally took place despite the removal...
Spotlight on China's ‘Re-education Through Labour’
Ren Jiayu, a former village official in Chongqing, who was sentenced to re-education through labour for criticizing the government was released and put under the spotlight of state-controlled media. Many believe it is a showcase for upcoming reform in China after the 18th National Chinese Communist Party Congress.
Television Network Telecinco Sues Blogger in Spain
Pablo Herreros, the blogger who a few months ago successfully got sponsors of a television show to pull their advertising until TV executives committed to more ethical behavior, was sued by the TV channel Telecinco. After an uproar surfaced mainly through social media networks, Telecinco has withdrawn their suit.
Angola's Sophisticated Censorship
The 37 years of independence of Angola don't translate into more press freedom. Rather, the model of Angolan censorship is getting increasingly sophisticated. The most recent attack was against the "Semanário Angolense" (Angolan Weekly), condemned to the fire for reproducing a critical speech by Isaias Samakuva, the President of the opposition party, UNITA.
China: Top 10 horrible figures of 2012?
This week, Chinese internet users come up with their own list of the “10 Most Horrid People of 2012.” The list was shared on Sina Weibo by “Weekly Commentary” [zh] (每周评论), but was deleted on Nov 26. China Media Project translated the deleted post.
In Russia, Fake News Sounds Real
A Russian version of The Onion wreaks havoc on unsuspecting bloggers. Could it be a Kremlin plot? That's probably a hoax!
Ukrainian Football Fans Rally in Support of the Pavlichenko Family
Dmytro Pavlichenko and his son Serhiy, fans of FC Dynamo Kyiv, were found guilty of the murder of a Kyiv judge. In the past few months, Ukrainian and European football fans have organized a series of unprecedented actions in their support.
A South Korean Received 10 Month-Jail Term for Retweeting North Korean Tweets
Park Jung-geun, a South Korean photographer/activist, was arrested for retweeting North Korean official Twitter account's messages back in January. He received a suspended 10 month jail term last week.
Spain: Minor Beaten by Catalonia's Police, Call for Minister to Resign
The use of force by Catalonia's police force, during November 14, 2012's general strike has brought about a wave of online condemnation. The events, which took place in the middle of an historic electoral campaign, has caused four of the region's political parties to petition for Catalonia's Interior Minister Felip Puig, to resign. One of the more controversial cases is of two minors who were attacked by the police.
Spain: Catalan Newspaper Censors Blog for Reporting Hunger Strike
Catalan journalist and Global Voices contributor Lali Sandiumenge recently decided to disassociate her blog on digital activism, Guerreros del teclado or "Keyboard Warriors" from Catalonia's leading daily newspaper, La Vanguardia . The decision came after the publication's editorial staff decided to delete a post explaining a hunger strike in Barcelona by six workers of Telefónica, a telecommunications company in Spain.
United Russia MPs Object to Online Satire
United Russia MPs threaten to take humorous website to court for libel. The outrage, however, was likely provoked by an internet tabloid.
