Stories about Freedom of Speech from May, 2015
Atena Farghadani Goes on Trial Tomorrow in Iran for Her Cartoon About Access to Contraception
The cartoon that sparked her arrest depicts members of parliament as animals. She is charged with spreading propaganda against the system, insulting members of parliament and insulting the supreme leader.
Under a Shaky Ceasefire, Yemenis Struggle to Stay Connected to the World
Frequent electricity cuts, bombings and a dire humanitarian situation could exacerbate and completely isolate Yemen should internet and telecommunications services be cut.
PayPal Blocks Donations for Printing Boris Nemtsov’s Ukraine War Report
PayPal has informed the "Putin.War" report team the service cannot be used for "collecting funds to finance the activities of political parties or for political aims in Russia.”
Facebook's Zuckerberg Responds to Ukrainians’ Complaints, But Is His Answer Enough?
Mark Zuckerberg has addressed the appeals of Ukrainian Facebook users for better content moderation and calls to create a dedicated Ukrainian office. His answers seem unlikely to satisfy them.
Bahrain Court Upholds Six Month Sentence Against Rights Defender Nabeel Rajab Over Tweet
A Bahrain court today upheld a six-month sentence for human rights defender Nabeel Rajab over a tweet. Rajab is already in custody under investigation for other tweets.
Suspended Algerian Satirical TV Show Vows to Make a Comeback Online
''Eldjazairia weekend'' an Algerian satirical TV show, co-hosted by GV contributor Abdou Semmar, was suspended from air on April 24, due to political pressure.
Human Rights Abuses in Azerbaijan: We Can’t Stay On The Sidelines Anymore
Arzu Geybullayeva calls on Western leaders to speak out on political prisoners in Azerbaijan as the country prepares to host the European Games.
Ten Years on from Andijan Massacre, an Uzbek Pleads for Freedom
"I am not a terrorist. I have never done anything like that."
Open Letter to President Obama From a Bahraini Human Rights Defender
AlMahafdah, a former political detainee in Bahrain, asks President Obama to "be the voice of the people of Bahrain" when he meets the crown prince of the kingdom on Wednesday.
Hong Kong Citizens Want Legal Protections for Their Metadata
Should government agencies really be able to look at Hong Kongers' telephone metadata without any oversight from the courts?
Ananta Bijoy Das Becomes Third Free-Thinking Blogger Killed This Year in Bangladesh
Das promoted critical thinking about religion, which sparked the ire of Islamic hardliners in Bangladesh. He was hacked to death by a group of masked people with machetes.
Fed Up With ‘Political’ Blocking, Russia and Ukraine Appeal to Facebook
Ukrainians and Russians are unhappy about Facebook allowing "politically motivated" takedowns of posts they say are being reported for violations by masses of "Kremlin supporters."
‘Their Freedom Is Their Right': A Campaign for Prisoners of Conscience in the Arab World
Three human rights organizations launch a social media campaign to raise awareness about prisoners of conscience throughout the Arab World.
Philippines Deports Thai Worker for Insulting Filipinos on Facebook
Some Filipinos in Thailand criticized the deportation: "Offensive, hateful and downright irresponsible as [the remarks] are, they were not criminal."
Ukraine Is Banning ‘Communist Symbols’ and the Kremlin Is Peeved
Ukraine has moved to restrict the use of Communist and Nazi symbols in a bid to part with the country's Soviet past. Not everyone is happy.
Singapore Shuts Down News Website on World Press Freedom Day
"The (government's) draconian measures...legitimize excessive intervention by the state and set a precedent for the diminution of our online space."
Macedonian Police Unleash Water Cannons and Batons on Anti-Government Protesters
Authorities brutally cracked down on people protesting the government's alleged attempts to cover up the murder of a man at the hands of a police officer.
Questions After Indonesia Executes Drug Convicts From Australia, Brazil and Nigeria
Debates continue about the death penalty law, the ‘war on drugs’, and the possibility that some of the convicts could be victims of injustice.
Macedonian Journalists Protest Death Threats
Macedonian journalists rally against an anonymous death threat against a prominent television news anchor.
On World Press Freedom Day, Iraqis Mourn Journalist Ammar Al Shahbander, Killed in Car Bomb Explosion
On World Press Freedom Day, Iraqis are mourning the death of journalist Ammar Al Shahbander, killed in a car bomb explosion in Baghdad, carried out by the ISIS.
World Press Freedom Day 2015: “Towards Better Reporting, Gender Equality, and Media Safety in the Digital Age”
As the planet marks World Press Freedom Day 2015, journalists the world over face more challenges than ever to deliver the truth while keeping themselves safe.
