Stories about Freedom of Speech from March, 2015
After the Charlie Hebdo Attack, Can We Laugh About Anything?
"Freedom of speech must be complete. However, freedom of conscience and worship must be protected too."
Bahrain Court Postpones Human Rights Defender Nabeel Rajab's Case to April 15
A Bahrain court today [March 15, 2015] postponed its verdict in an appeal made by leading Bahraini human rights defender Nabeel Rajab against a six-month prison sentence until April 15. The case concerns comments he made about ISIS on Twitter. Rajab was initially convicted of “denigrating an official body” in tweets that...
Myanmar Student Protesters Attacked by Police Gain Global Sympathy
Myanmar student protesters - marching for education reforms since January - were violently attacked by police on March 5 and March 10.
Inside the Kremlin Troll Army Machine: Templates, Guidelines, and Paid Posts
A new cache of documents on the inside operations of the Kremlin's troll army provides a list of LiveJournal accounts operated by employees and talking points provided to the commenters.
Bahraini Human Rights Defender Awaits Sentence
Nabeel Rajab is scheduled to be sentenced in a case brought against him by the Bahraini government on March 15, concerning comments about ISIS that he made on Twitter. Convicted of “denigrating an official body” in tweets likening Bahrain's security apparatus to an “incubator” for ISIS fighters, Rajab was initially sentenced to six...
Ukrainian Journalist Detained, Questioned by Russian Security Services in Crimea
Crimean FSB officials detained and questioned a journalist from Simferopol's Center for Investigative Journalism in connection with a criminal investigation on "public calls to separatism."
Access to Grani.Ru and Other Censored News Websites Restored by Digital Activists
As part of Operation Collateral Freedom, activists used the technique known as mirroring to duplicate the nine censored sites and place their copies on the servers of large Internet companies
Russia's Internet Ombudsman Advocates for Storing User Data Abroad
Internet Ombudsman Dmitry Marinichev has proposed allowing foreign Internet companies to store Russians’ personal data abroad with the permission of the owners.
A Dialogue About Communication — Not Political Change — in Iran
Iran Internet experts gather to talk about how Iranians can easily access information communication technologies that connect Iranians to each other, and to the rest of the world.
Leaked Wiretaps Appear to Confirm Election Fraud Suspicions in Macedonia
As Macedonia's wiretapping scandal develops into a full political saga, newly leaked conversations among government officials have revived allegations of fraud during the 2014 election.
Russian Journalist Crowdfunding New Media Project on Kickstarter
The project's description on Yakovlev's Kickstarter page claims the goal is to create a media outlet to counteract the Russian "state propaganda machine" and help “turn zombies back into people.”
Roscomnadzor Threatens Complete Block of RuNet Encyclopedia
Russian telecom watchdog Roscomnadzor wants to block pages about "drugs and child porn" on RuNet culture encyclopedia Lurkmore.ru, but will instead block the entire website, because it uses https encryption.
Diary of Journalist Pedro Canché Herrera, ‘Prisoner of Conscience’ in Mexico
Pedro Canché Herrera is awaiting sentencing on sabotage charges, after recording video and interviewing protesters. He describes his experience and thoughts on free expression on social media.
International Women's Day: One Date, Billions of Contexts
Although International Women's Day was first spearheaded by socialist groups, and focused on working women, the day has now taken on distinctive forms in different locations all over the world.
Singapore Blogger Who Criticized Court Case of Anti-Gay Sex Law Fined for ‘Scandalizing the Judiciary’
"The prosecution of Alex Au for speaking out is just one more example of Singapore’s willingness to misuse law to gag its critics."
Nemtsov's Son Studies at a University Where the Vice Dean Welcomed His Murder
A vicious reaction on VKontakte to Boris Nemtsov's murder has cost the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology's vice dean his job.
Macedonia’s Massive Illegal Wiretapping Operation Allegedly Monitored Journalists and Diplomats
As a four-year-long wiretapping scandal unravels in Macedonia, online users draw attention to the lack of media coverage and the history of the characters behind the story.
More than 200 Academics Sign Statement Supporting Anti-Junta Professor in Thailand
More than 200 academics from all over the world have signed a statement expressing support to historian and college professor Dr Somsak Jeamteerasakul who was recently fired by Thammasat University. The Thai scholar, who has been teaching for two decades, is critical of the junta government which grabbed power last...
#FragaWantsToPost: A Brazilian Activist Has Been Forbidden From Protesting for Two Years
Ricardo Fraga’s right to protest has been legally suspended for the last 728 days. He cannot post or mention anything about the high-rise construction project that is changing his neighborhood.
Blogger Law Violations Go Unpunished in Russia
Since the infamous 'blogger law' came into power in Russia seven months ago, Roscomnadzor documented 67 violations, but not a single blogger has been punished for swearing or religious offenses.
‘Eat My S***, Mother****ers!': A Newly-Elected Councillor Causes a Stir in Tajikistan
A city councillor who struggles in Tajikistan's state language, Tajik, has used the language to hit back at her critics in a rather rude way.