· May, 2013

Stories about Freedom of Speech from May, 2013

Macedonian Journalist's Arrest Stirs Protest

Macedonian journalists gathered [mk; video and text: sq, mk] in front of the Criminal Court in the capital Skopje today to protest against the arrest of their colleague, Tomislav Kezarovski, according to this note [en] posted in the Macedonian Facebook group titled “Journalists and citizens in defense of the right...

Taiwan Copyright Bill Worse Than SOPA

  31 May 2013

It said the U.S Stop Online Piracy Act demands IP blocking requests to be determined in court while the Taiwan copyrights amendement filter list will be managed by a government administrative body.

Brazil: Petition for Slander-Accused Journalist

  28 May 2013

There is a petition out, in the Brazilian federal state of Bahia, in support of the journalist Emiliano José. Accused of slander by the preacher Átila Brandão for reporting the preach involvement with torture against students during the military dictatorship in Brazil, José published a text in the press in...

Amnesty Publishes 2013 Report on Angola

  27 May 2013

Amnesty International annual report on Angola is available online. The NGO highlights cases such as the problem of police repression against the opposition parties during the presidential election last year, the abduction of the activists who organized protests demanding the payment of salaries and pensions to former war veterans in...

President of Mozambique's Medical Association Under Arrest

  26 May 2013

After a week-long strike by medical professionals in Mozambique, Dr. Jorge Arroz, the President of Associação Médica de Moçambique, was arrested on Sunday night, May 26, 2013, under accusation of “sedition” (incitement of discontent or rebellion against a government). On Twitter and Facebook, @verdademz, @canal_moz and other netizens report.

Chinese Social Web Defends US Vice President Biden

  26 May 2013

United States Vice President Joe Biden has faced a firestorm of criticism from Chinese international students after he referred to China as a nation that cannot "think different" or "breathe freely" during his commencement speech at the University of Pennsylvania. But mainland Chinese Web users have hit back, reproaching the students abroad for their behavior and defending Biden's speech as worthy of reflection.

Outrage over Arrest of Two Photojournalists in Spain

  24 May 2013

The news of the arrest of photojournalist Raúl Capín, in Madrid, was widely shared under the tag #RaúlLibertad on Twitter. Photojournalist Adolfo Luján was also arrested. Many online messages of indignation and against the repression of journalists who report on social protests are circulating.