Stories about Freedom of Speech from March, 2020
COVID-19 diaries from Wuhan: When humans are turned into objects
"It is all about control. We need to deprive their power... and turned them into objects."
COVID-19 pandemic adversely affects digital rights in the Balkans
Digital rights NGOs warn about increase of cases of violation of privacy of people under quarantine, spread of disinformation and internet scams in Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
After being kidnapped and threatened, Mozambican YouTuber has his channel suspended
In early February, he was kidnapped for 24 hours, before he was freed by the police. A self-proclaimed prophet named Joe Williams is suspected of ordering the kidnapping.
An interview with Afgan Mukhtarli, abducted Azerbaijani journalist who now walks free
In May 2017 journalist Afgan Mukhtarli was abducted in the Georgian capital Tbilisi and reappeared in a jail cell in Azerbaijan. Recently released, he reflects on his ordeal.
Kosovo government first to fall in worldwide coronavirus crisis
Recent emergency measures against COVID-19 exposed tensions in the fragile ruling coalition, culminating in its demise.
COVID-19 diaries from Wuhan: Looking for human connection in isolation
Global Voices will publish Ai and Guo's diaries from Wuhan in a series. The following words were written in the second week of the lockdown between January 29-February 4, 2020.
Digital activism, paintings, and a national strike—how Mexican women protest gender-based violence
The staggering levels of violence against women are front and center in Mexico's feminist movements.
Maldives: Can a country so dependent on tourism afford a lockdown?
The President of Maldives banned all tourist arrivals in the country from March 27, 2020. This will impact the country's economy due to a serious shortfall in foreign currency earnings.
COVID-19 diaries from Wuhan: ‘…not only a city being locked down, but also our voices’
In these Wuhan diaries, the lives of ordinary people living under top-down control and surveillance, show how people are atomized and reduced into a collective.
Quarantine woes in Bangladesh amid coronavirus fears
The government has ordered Bangladeshis who are returning from affected COVID-19 countries to home-quarantine. But a lack of monitoring has led to concerns that the disease may spread rapidly.
Outrage as Zimbabwe’s military declares social media a ‘dangerous threat’
The military's declaration that social media is a "dangerous threat" has angered Zimbabweans concerned over the increasing deterioration of freedom of expression in the country.
Malaysian journalist targeted by hate speech and racist attacks on Facebook
"Timely action by Facebook and other social media platforms is crucial in curbing online attacks, which commonly include trolling and doxing."
Pakistan claims COVID-19 under control amidst rising figures
People on social media are wondering if measures taken by the government are adequate and whether there is a proper infrastructure to stop the spread of Covid-19 in Pakistan.
The mother of detained blogger Le Anh Hung speaks out about prison abuse in Vietnam
The 88 Project interviewed Ms. Tran Thi Niem about her imprisoned son, blogger Le Anh Hung, who has been placed in and out of mental health facilities since his 2013 arrest.
‘Being an activist is just a side-effect of being an artist': An interview with Chinese-Australian cartoonist Badiucao
Badiucao made headlines in 2019 when he revealed his identity in a documentary released on the 30th anniversary of the Tiananmen Massacre. Filip Noubel caught up with the artist in Prague.
New call for the release of Kurdish poet İlhan Sami Çomak jailed in Turkey for 26 years
Recently, a new campaign has been gaining ground to draw attention to one of the country’s longest-serving political prisoners.
Islamabad's Women's Day march was met with violent opposition from conservative agitators
Right-wing agitators attacked participants in the peaceful Aurat Azadi March in Pakistan's capital on March 8, pelting marchers with stones, beating them with sticks and throwing chilli powder into their eyes.
Groundswell of support to free Julian Assange around February extradition hearing
"Don’t be fooled: Julian Assange is a journalist, not a hacker, and the US wants to make his work—national security journalism—a crime"
Women successfully stage ‘Aurat March’ in Pakistan despite threats
On International Women's Day, thousands of women, transgender people, children and men participated in the annual Aurat March in different Pakistani cities to highlight the plight of women.
Media coverage of Delhi riots muzzled in India
On March 6, the Indian government banned two Malayalam news channels for 48 hours for their coverage of the violence in North East Delhi; the decision was reversed the following day.
Sexism and misogyny in Pakistan TV talk shows
A recent ugly spat on a NEO TV Channel talk show exposes the prevailing misbehaviour, sexism, misogyny and abusive language targeting women panellists and anchors in Pakistan media.