Stories about Freedom of Speech from September, 2023
Cambodia’s Ministry of Agriculture threatens legal action against CamboJA news
"In this system, journalists are expected to conform to the contours of power rather than challenging them."
Young people attempt to build the city of the future in Russian province, while residents seek the past
Artists have come back to Chaykovsky, a small town in Russia, and have established a public cultural center there. They now face resistance from officials and a lack of understanding among local residents.
In China, questions remain ahead of Huawei’s launch of the Mate 60 phone series
As China's Huawei launches its new phone brand, Mate 60, questions over the origins of their processing chips and the timing of the launch remain.
The government of Bangladesh quietly passed the new Cyber Security Act 2023
The Bangladesh parliament passed the new Cyber Security Act 2023 after scrapping its predecessor, the controversial Digital Security Act, 2018. The new law poses similar threats to the freedom of expression.
Pakistani movie ‘Zindagi Tamasha’ is finally made available online after injunctions on its release
Pakistani Punjabi-Urdu film Zindagi Tamasha, originally scheduled for release in theatres in 2020, but halted after receiving threats from religious hardliners, was finally made available to viewers on Youtube.
Why do ‘Bart Simpson’ and ‘Monkey D. Luffy’ have registered SIM cards in the Philippines?
"The SIM registration law cannot be “fixed” without having serious implications on our right to privacy and communication."
In Russia, it's the state against the internet
What a sovereign Runet is, no one still really understands. In the view of the Russian authorities, it apparently means destroying all the bad guys and rewarding all ‘our guys’.
Death of young man raises debate on police violence in Mozambique
Massacar Abacar, known as "Cebolinha," died after being arrested by the police in the centre of the capital, Maputo. Some claim that he was beaten by the police.
Arrested humor: Comedian Nour Hajjar detained in censorship case
Comedy in Lebanon has always served as a means to find relief in challenging circumstances, but now, the tightening grip of censorship on creative freedom and satire could challenge this.
Without the ability to renew their passports abroad, Belarusians in exile are left in limbo
Belarusian leader Lukashenka signed a decree saying Belarusians living abroad will not be able to renew their passports at consulates abroad.
The story of Qatari women’s rights defender Noof Al-Maadeed
Human rights defender Noof Al-Madeed disappeared after releasing a series of videos in March providing evidence of violations of her civil and human rights by the Qatari State security apparatus.
Malaysian government told to stop playing ‘Big Brother’ to media
"What is more worrying is the fact that much of the so-called 'offending' content is mere reports and opinion pieces deemed critical of the government."
How Kurdish language divisions hinder access to information
The ongoing disputes among Kurdish languages and their lack of standardization create obstacles to accessing online information, impedes the flow of information, and curtails active participation in the digital realm.
Russian art critic: “Street art cannot be killed or destroyed”
Since the war began, the street art capital of Russia status of Yekaterinburg has come into question: some artists have left Russia, while others have been imprisoned for their anti-war works
India or China: the upcoming Maldives Presidential elections will determine future foreign policy
The pro-India incumbent president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih is likely to face intense competition as seven other candidates have challenged him in the upcoming presidential elections in Maldives.
Military officers seize power in Gabon following disputed elections
Gabon's military officers seize power after a disputed triple election, thus bringing an end to the Bongo family's 55 years in power.
One traitor a day: The state of treason cases in Russia
"Holod" magazine has exposed a record number of criminal cases of treason and espionage, which are now being initiated more frequently than during the post-Stalin era in the USSR
The Taliban's devastating effect on journalists and press freedom in Afghanistan grows worse
Over half of 600 media outlets have ceased operations. A significant number of journalists and media personnel, particularly women, have either lost their jobs or been coerced into leaving the country.
The West’s Belarus policy: Does it make sense?
By damaging Belarus’s ability to act on its own and not achieving any positive results, the blockade of Belarus by its Western neighbors has been manifestly counterproductive, leading to excessive dependency on Russia
