Stories about Freedom of Speech from August, 2009
Armenia: Homophobia turns deadly
Even if homosexuality was decriminalized in Armenia in 2002, society remains largely intolerant and traditional in its values. With blogs providing LGBT activists with a medium through which to voice their concerns, such fears can now be highlighted more openly than before.
Armenia: Ultra-nationalist homophobic death threat
Unzipped: Gay Armenia comments on a death threat made against a prominent LGBT writer by an ultra-nationalist group in Armenia. The blog says that this latest development in what still remains a traditionally homophobic society marks a new move to create internal enemies and hopes that law enforcement agencies will...
Serbia: Threats to LGBT Population
Serbia's gays are facing plenty of problems - and on Sept. 20, they are planning to hold a gay pride parade in Belgrade. Sinisa Boljanovic reviews some pro and contra reactions published on Serbian blogs and in other online venues.
Russia: Flag Day Rally
LJ users daria_mas and alter-gregor post photos (RUS) from the opposition rally that took place in Moscow on Russia's Flag Day and ended with riot police detaining some of the activists.
Iran: Testimonies of torture and rape
The Iranian authorities have been accused by UN experts and the opposition of torturing protesters of the June 12 presidential election results. Iranian civil society activists have been using citizen media to highlight testimonies about the Iranian tragedy.
Azerbaijan: Eurovision scandal continues
Despite attempts by the authorities to downplay the incident, news that the names and addresses of 43 citizens who voted for the Armenian entry in this year's Eurovision Song Contest had been obtained by police in Azerbaijan continues to send out shock waves through the Internet.
East Timor: Celebrating Global Solidarity for Freedom
Ten years after the referendum, global voices are again spreading the word for East Timor, but this time celebrating the strong international solidarity that back then culminated in the country's recognized self-determination.
Haiti: A Dissident is Here
“Government authorities in Haiti face recent criticism over allegations that they continue to jail political dissidents”: Wadner Pierre says that calls are mounting for the release of Ronald Dauphin, who was an activist with the Fanmi Lavalas movement of former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.
Bermuda: The Courage to Talk
Bermuda Jewel thinks that communities could take a bite out of crime by doing “something so simple as talking out.”
Peru: Proposal Shortens Time for Media to Correct Inexact Information
The Peruvian Congress has begun to debate a bill that shortens the time for “inexact information” to be corrected by the media. Many journalists and bloggers are wondering who will decide what that term means.
China: Tan Zuoren’s Defense Statement
China Digital Times posted a translation of Tan Zuoren's defense statement against the charge of incitement to overthrow state power. Tan is a citizen rights activist who exposed the issue of bean dreg construction problem after the Sichuan earthquake last year.
China Internet blocks bad enough to chase you away?
A survey has been set up to check if China Internet blocking will chase people away from China. (via goldkorn from twitter)
Hungary: 20 Years Since the Pan-European Picnic
Hungarian Spectrum writes about the 20th anniversary of the Pan-European Picnic, which was “held on a field in the middle of nowhere on the Austro-Hungarian border on August 19, 1989″: “A memorial park now commemorates the event that allowed about 600 East Germans to cross into Austria and to freedom...
Bosnia & Herzegovina: The Mostar Cross Controversy
Bosnia Blog writes about the controversy caused by the cross erected in Mostar in 2000.
Azerbaijan: Nationalism
The Poor Mouth comments on the latest scandal surrounding Armenia and Azerbaijan in this year's Eurovision Song Contest. The blog says that the interrogation of at least one Azeri who voted for the Armenian entry reminds it why nationalism should be loathed.
Hong Kong: Media credibility score
ESWN blogs the media credibility score survey conducted by by Clement Y.K. So of the School of Journalism and Communication, Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Iran: Televised Confessions Spur Video Cyber-Activism
Video confessions are serving as a form of cyber activist protest for those against the forced confessions and political drama in Iran.
Egypt: Kareem Amer's Appeal Postponed
Egyptian Kareem Amer, who was sentenced to four years in prison for insulting Islam and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in February, 2007, will now have his appeal case heard on September 15, says the Free Kareem blog. The court was originally scheduled to hear it today.
Armenia: Newspaper promotes homophobia and hate crimes
In an extended post, Unzipped: Gay Armenia reacts in horror to an article published by one local newspaper which not only displays its own homophobia, but also appears to advocate hate crimes — including murder — against gays in the country.
Azerbaijan: Eurovision voting scandal
Although held in May, some media outlets in Azerbaijan last week reported that 43 people who voted for the Armenian entry in the Eurovision Song Contest have been identified by police and one has even been called in for questioning. Bloggers react.
Georgia, Russia: More on DDOS Attacks
More on the recent DDOS attacks – by Evgeny Morozov of Foreign Policy's Net.Effect – here and here.
