Stories about Freedom of Speech from September, 2024
Russia’s hybrid book censorship and propagandistic agenda
The Song of Achilles by Madeleine Miller and A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara, among other books, are suspected of spreading “LGBT propaganda.”
Censorship in the modern world
Communication expert from Bosnia and Herzegovina warns that "censorship through noise" blurs the distinction between fact-based reporting and completely fabricated information.
Alaa Abdel Fattah, a symbol of resistance, must be released on time
Alaa Abdel Fattah’s plight is not an isolated case. Thousands of others remain behind bars in Egypt for crimes as trivial as expressing dissenting opinions on social media.
Ghanaians rally online demanding justice for citizens arrested in protests against illegal gold mining
"[I]llegal gold mining is destroying the environment, making people ill, adding to water scarcity and damaging farmlands and crops such as cocoa."
Ex-editor of Hong Kong’s Stand News Chung Pui-kuen jailed for 21 months for sedition in landmark case
Kwok Wai-kin, the designated judge for national security trials said the defendants were not conducting genuine media work, but participating in the so-called resistance then.
Iran’s new president must address repression of artists, dissidents at UN Assembly
"Forced confessions, work bans, and restrictions on mobility as lesser-known tactics of the Iranian regime, which nonetheless have powerful effects on victims."
GV webinar: The ABCs of digital repression in Venezuela
In this webinar, we explored the Venezuelan regime's "package" of digital repression instruments, how they have evolved, and analyze how they have been used after the last presidential.
Ecuador: Two journalists who revealed corruption and drug trafficking forced into exile
Journalists of the digital media platform La Posta accuse the National Police and the Attorney General's Office of planning to "assassinate" them while they receive criticism concerning their journalistic ethics.
Hong Kong Article 23: Three jailed over a seditious T-shirt, bus graffiti, social media posts in six months
At least 14 people have been arrested on suspicion of violating Article 23 since the law was enacted on 23 of March, 2024.
‘Truth deserves to be seen’: Artists decry film censorship in the Philippines
Two Philippine films were given X-ratings, and therefore banned from airing in theaters, angering cinephiles and free-speech activists alike.
‘Power belongs to the people’: New wave of protests in Tunisia as elections approach
Demonstrators called for the return of democracy and an end to state repression and intimidation tactics used against candidates in the upcoming presidential elections.
Samoan journalists balk at planned restrictions during Commonwealth meeting
"Stifling the media is never a good thing and trying to control them is even worse."
Hong Kong journalists are under systematic and organized attacks
Threatening messages were sent to family members, landlords, employers and associated organisations of 15 journalists, hateful contents were posted on Facebook targeting 36 journalists.
How can Moldova unite the country amid Russian pressure?
The report’s authors called on Western partners to support Moldova’s struggling independent media and encourage the creation of trustworthy Russian-language media outlets
‘Crisis and revival of the Tatar national movement’: An interview with opposition media editor
Tatar publicist and editor-in-chief of the magazine Poistine, Ruslan Aysin is facing criminal charges in Russia for “rehabilitating Nazism.” This is retaliation for his opposition to the invasion of Ukraine.
Georgian lawmakers inch closer to final approval of anti-LGBTQ+ law
Critics have pointed out that laws like the one adopted by Russia in 2013 to “protect children from information advocating a denial of traditional family values” have also increased hate crimes.
What you need to know about the X (formerly Twitter) situation in Brazil
Elon Musk challenged justice Alexandre de Moraes withdrawing X's legal representation in Brazil to avoid complying with legal orders. Now, Brazilians are finding a new heaven on BlueSky.
The election dance in Azerbaijan: Carousel voting and ballot stuffing
Independent election observers and journalists documented voter violations throughout the day, proving that Azerbaijan's most recent elections were staged just like elections in the past.
New Russian-style law censors mentioning LGBTQ+ in the Bulgarian school system
Recent legislative changes forbidding “propaganda, promotion, or incitement” of LGBTQ+ “ideas and views” in Bulgarian school system mirror similar legislation passed in Russia and Hungary, civil society activists warned.
