· May, 2010

Stories about Freedom of Speech from May, 2010

Russia: Another Top Blogger Hacked

Site of one of the top Russian bloggers Maxim Sviridenkov [RUS] (#16 in Yandex rating [RUS]) had been hacked today, Vladimir Pribylovski reported [RUS]. The site was defaced and the content deleted. This is the second [EN] top blogger hacked this year.

Russia: Hosting Providers Sign Charter Against Illegal Content

Five hosting providers that allegedly control more than 25 percent of the Russian hosting market plan to sign a charter against ‘illegal content’, Vedomosti newspaper reported [RUS]. The charter implies more active involvement of hosting providers in filtering and blocking child porn, materials that break copyright or ignite hatred as...

Egypt: Crackdown on the Egyptian Da Vinci Code

Dr Youssef Zidane's 2008 Azazeel created a stir, followed by resentment, when it was first published. Today, Dr Zidane is being accused of blasphemy and defaming Christianity and as insulting any of the 'heavenly faiths' is illegal in Egypt, he could face up to five years behind bars. Bloggers react to the development.

Georgia: The Tehran-Tbilisi Connection

Matthew Collin in Georgia comments on news that the government of the former Soviet republic has entered into an agreement with Iran on cooperation in the media sphere. The Frontline Club blogger says that given the situation with freedom of the press in Iran, the move hardly fits in with...

Cuba: Monitoring Arrests

  21 May 2010

Ever since the February, 2010 death of Orlando Zapato Tamayo, the first Cuban hunger striker to perish in 40 years, the situation in the island appears to have become even more tense.

Pakistan: Banning Social Media Sites

  21 May 2010

“It is unfortunate that the government is taking staunch steps in banning social media websites across Pakistan in response to a campaign,” comments Sana Saleem Malik at Mystified justice.

Bermuda: More on the Media Bill

  21 May 2010

Wishful Thinking says “it's really hit the fan over this Media Council Bill”, while Politics.bm adds: “So, the PLP during the election were against locking up violent criminals but are apparently for locking up the press.”

Russia: Another Web site Closed For Extremism

Alleng.ru, one of the largest educational portals in Russia, has been turned off by the provider Peterhost due to the hosting of the electronic copy of the book “Basics of the Muslim Creed,” which is acknowledged by the Orenburg city court as “extremist,” blogger r_li reported.