Stories about Freedom of Speech from August, 2011
Russia: Memories of 1991
Kim Green of The Greenery shares her memories of living in Russia in 1991 as a student, right after the August Coup 20 years ago.
Russia, Libya: RT's Coverage of the Conflict
Democratist writes about Russia Today's coverage of the situation in Libya.
Iran: “Tonight, the Islamic Regime's Generals will Have Nightmares”
Several Iranian cyber activists celebrated the victory of anti-Muammar Gaddafi forces in Libya, and compared it with the situations in Iran and Syria. They shared in the joy of liberation with Libyans, but also expressed their anxieties for the future.
Russia: Police Refused To Start the Criminal Prosecution Against LiveJournal DDoS Attackers
Russian police acknowledged the DDoS-attacks against LiveJournal blogging platform in April 2011, but refused to start a criminal prosecution against the attackers, gazeta.ru reported [ru]. Police wrote to the source that it was ‘unable to identify attackers.’ Aside from paralyzing the Russian blogosphere, DDoS attacks against LiveJournal led to nearly...
Russia: “Democracy Without Balls”
Oleg Klimov writes [ru] that Mikhail Gorbachev, speaking on the 20th anniversary of the Soviet Union's collapse, said that “Putin is no dictator – he has just castrated democracy by depriving citizens of the democratic right to choose.”
Russia: State News Agency Calls PM Putin “Increasingly Autocratic”
Siberian Light notes that RIA Novosti, a Russian state-owned news agency, has called the Russian PM Vladimir Putin “increasingly autocratic” in an article on the visit of North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-il to Russia.
Libya: Bloggers Between Dictatorship and War
It's been six months since the Libyan uprising began. How was the Libyan blogging scene before the February 17 revolution and how has it evolved over the last few months? Fozia Mohamed takes a closer look at the Libyan blogosphere to bring us the story.
Iran: Regime called Google+ dangerous
Head of internet unit in the Iranian Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance called Google+ is one of the most dangerous social networking for Iranian users.
Spain: Brutal Police Repression Against Journalists Covering “Secular March”
Pope Benedicto XVI's recent visit to Spain sparked a civil "Secular March" in protest against the use of public funds for religious acts in a secular state. The encounters between secular and religious individuals resulted in a wave of police repression against the journalists covering the events. Global Voices presents a selection of videos of the protests.
Costa Rica: Slut Walk Reactions, Religion and Women's Rights
Last Sunday 14 August, 2011, the Costa Rican Slut Walk took place in the capital city of San Jose causing both a media and religious backlash due to allegedly violent anti-church chants and performances. The ongoing debate has been covered on both citizen and mass media outlets as people react to the Costa Rican version of this worldwide protest.
Cuba: From the Mouths of Las Damas
Pedazos de La Isla has an account of “physical blows, shoving, threats, deportations, and arrests” against members of the Ladies in White.
Iran: A blogger was beaten up in jail
Human rights activists say [fa] Hossein Maleki Ronaghi, a jailed blogger, was beaten up in prison, after writing a letter to Iran's judicary authorities, by a guard and sent to a hospital. This blogger has been sentenced to 15 years jail.
East Timor: Students Arrested While Supporting West Papua
On August 17, a demonstration in support of West Papua in Dili ended with the detention of three Timorese students, reports the blog East Timor and Indonesia Action Network. Students were calling for the right of West Papuan to self-determination while condemning human rights violation by the Indonesian military and...
Global Voices Partners With Ashoka on Citizen Media Competition
Global Voices is proud to be partnering with Ashoka Changemakers on its ‘Citizen Media Innovation Competition' with Google. Four winners will be awarded US$5,000 each for citizen media projects that make the world a better place.
Tunisia: More Protests, More Police Violence
Protesters are back on the streets of Tunis and other Tunisian provinces calling for immediate reforms and the establishment of an independent judiciary capable of bringing corrupt officials and the killers of the “Revolution Martyrs” to justice. Afef Abrougui summaries citizen media reactions in this post.
China and Hong Kong: Citizen Arrested for Wearing Political T-Shirt
A Hong Kong man was dragged off and detained yesterday because of the T-shirt he was wearing. The incident happened during a visit to the city by China's future premier Li Keqiang. Today, local bloggers are demanding answers to several questions, starting with concerns over the sanctity of Hong Kong's laws.
Vanuatu: Concern on Media Independence
The Pacific Freedom Forum released a statement expressing concern about the reported visit of a politician in a state-owned media station in Vanuatu demanding the censorship about his arrest on the eve of Vanuatu Independence day celebrations
Vietnam: Blogger Pham Minh Hoang Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison
On August 10, 2011, Pham Minh Hoang, a math teacher and political blogger, has been sentenced to 3 years in prison and an additional 3 years of house arrest; he was charged with “attempt to overthrow the [vietnamese] goverment” reports Reporters Without Borders [fr]. Hoang, who has been in pre-trial...
India: RTI and Wildlife Activist Killed in Broad Daylight
Indian Right To Information activist and NGO worker Shehla Masood (39) was shot dead in front of her residence in Bhopal on Tuesday morning. She was also known for campaigning on wildlife conservation. Indian Twitter users react to this tragic death.
Ecuador: President Correa's Tumultuous Relationship With the Media
Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa recently won a libel case against newspaper El Universo, for an article in which journalist Emilio Palacio gives an account of Correa's actions during the September 30, 2010 police uprising. The ruling has caused a greater breach between Correa and the press, raising concerns about freedom of expression in Ecuador.
Iran: Blogger Freed After 25-Day Hunger Strike
Dr. Mehdi Khazali, a blogger, publisher and son of a leading conservative cleric and former Council of Guardians member, Ayatollah Khazali, was released on bail from prison on Sunday after a 25-day hunger strike. The blogger has raised his voice against the Iranian government for the last two years.
