Stories about Freedom of Speech from August, 2010
Cuba: Same Old?
As U.S. President Obama prepares to reconsider the travel ban on Cuba, Uncommon Sense says: “Before he does so, he might want to consider the assessment of the three prisoners who were released this week.”
Russia: Independent Regional News Portal Blocked by Internet Provider
“Center-Telekom,” the state-controlled Internet provider in the Tula region [EN] blocked “Tulskiye Pryaniki” [RUS], an independent website known for its critical articles towards regional authorities, blogger publikator-s reported [RUS]. The website had already launched a mirror at blogger.com [RUS].
Russia: “67” – New Flashmob in the Defense of Khimki Forest
LJ user May_Antiwar posts pictures of people with number “67” written on their faces. The number, May_Antiwar explains, represents the share of Khimki, a city in Moscow region, citizens who voted in the recent poll against the new speedway that will divide the Khimki forest park.
Cuba: Walking a Fine Line
“Although there is some level of tolerance towards the independent press and the opposition, permissiveness should not be confused with impunity”: Iván García attends his meeting with the Cuban authorities and reports that when it comes to independent journalists, “there is a fine line that cannot be crossed.”
Brazil: Gay Kiss Prejudice
Rafael Ximenes writes [pt] about the controversy in a university within the state of Minas Gerais, where the promotion poster for the 3rd Congress on Public Policy / Social Services depicts two women kissing. The teacher who decided to use the image has been fired and the case ended up...
UAE: Censorship is a Myth
UAE's Vice-President and Dubai Ruler Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said the UAE does not “impose any restrictions on information or news about economic and financial issues.” The Gulf Blog reacts here.
Jordan: Big Brother is Watching You!
Jordanian netizens had a rude awakening when news surfaced about the sentencing of Imad Al-Ash to two years in prison - for insulting the Jordanian monarch in an instant message (IM) he had sent to a friend. Bloggers and their readers have their say here.
Iran: One of Mayor's sites was filtered
According to Kalmeh news site, and several bloggers, Iranian authorities filtered “Khbargozarieh Shar” (means city's news agency). This site belongs to Tehran's Mayor. No information about the reasons for this filtering was released.
Angola: Hard Days for Freedom of Press
Isabel Bordalo, a portuguese journalist working in Angola, in her blog, says that the press in that country is going through hard days [pt]. She refers to an episode that happened last week with the newspaper A Capital which was impeded to go out allegedly due to an article about...
Cuba: Marching in Memory
Cuban bloggers discuss the harassment of Reina Luisa Tamayo, as she makes attempts to organise commemoration marches to the grave of her son, political prisoner Orlando Zapata Tamayo.
India: The Blackberry Debate
The Acorn discusses in details about the current dispute with RIM, provider of Blackberry’s messaging system, and the Indian government over encrypted messages and intercepting the communications for state security.
Blogger questions Fiji spokesperson on lifting media regulations
Blogger Crosbie Walsh interviewed Fiji's Permanent Secretary for Information on why the government has not lifted the Public Emergency Regulations after the country passed new laws governing the media.
China: I am Liu Xianbin
Liu Xianbin is 42 years old and has spent almost one third of his life time in jail. He has been under arrest again since June and activists are campaigning for him under the slogan: "I am Lui Xianbin".
Iran: Hamed Saber is out of jail
Aftab News reported on 9th of August that Iranian photo-blogger, Hamed Saber, was released on bail.
Egypt: Youth using social media to close the gap
Thirty young Egyptians joined hands to produce 10 social advertisements, aimed at social reform. Marwa Rakha takes a closer look at the “Closing The Gap” project, and shares some of the videos produced in this post.
Hungary: Proposed Media Law Threatens Freedom of Expression
Hungarian Spectrum writes about the proposed new media law and wonders whether PM Viktor Orbán “doesn't understand democracy and has no idea of the meaning of the freedom of expression” – “or perhaps he understands them all too well and simply doesn't want them for Hungary.”
Hungary: The New President
Hungarian Spectrum writes about the inauguration of Hungary's new president, Pal Schmitt; about Albert Wass, a Transylvanian-Hungarian author whose work Schmitt quoted in his inaugural speech; and about Schmitt's first few days in office: “Since his inauguration the not too sympathetic Hungarian public has been watching Schmitt's every move.”
Russia: Anothr Kemerovo Blogger Charged With Libel
A criminal case has been started against Alexander Sorokin (aka LJ user commentator40), Echo Moskvy reported [RUS]. He is charged with libel against Kemerovo governor Aman Tuleev [EN] for the post [RUS] in which he compares Russian regional governors to Latin American dictators. It is the second famous case [EN]...
Cuba: Same Old?
“Following the release of 21 political prisoners, the Cuban government insists on reminding the dissidents and independent journalists that they will continue their repressive policies”: Laritza Diversent blogs about the summoning of “independent journalist Iván García for an interview.”
Russia: Temporary LiveJournal Block in Ingushetia
Kaloy Akhilgov (aka LJ user kaloy), a press secretary of the president of Ingushetia [EN], confirmed [RUS] the block of LiveJournal.com in the republic [RUS]. He later wrote [RUS] that the block had been removed. The first news about regional block of LiveJournal [RUS] appeared on July 23rd, 2010 but...
Cuba: Prisoner of Words
“I am a man who writes. Being a journalist in a closed society is the task of either an adventurer or a lunatic”: Iván García learns that he is “of interest” to Cuban State Security, buts says, “I don’t keep any secrets. I have not committed any crimes. In the...
