Stories about Freedom of Speech from June, 2011
Russia: Bloggers Discuss the Fall of Russian Newspapers
A spate of firings at the nearly century old Russian daily Izvestia as well as the online news site Gzt.ru has journalist appealing to the public for their jobs, as the blogosphere questions the merits of the “old guard” journalists.
Cuba: Confronting Fate
“Death always makes you reflect. In front of the mirror you tell yourself, “You too are at the mercy of the same power that took the lives of those dissidents. What are you waiting for? What will be your fate?”: Laritza Diversent realises that her fate is “the same as...
Cuba: Farinas Ends Hunger Strike
Uncommon Sense confirms that Guilllermo Farinas has ended his hunger strike, which he began “to demand an independent investigation of the police beating death last month of dissident Juan Wilfredo Soto Garcia.”
Cuba: Activists, Bloggers on the Cuba Money Project Vimeo Channel
The Cuba Money Project has launched an impressive video archive with interviews of activists and bloggers in Cuba. Global Voices author Ellery Biddle interviews Tracey Eaton, the founder of the non-profit research and reporting initiative that aims to investigate and bring greater transparency and accountability to US federal spending on “pro-democracy” programs in Cuba.
Tunisia: Protest to Free a Government Critic
Tunisian protesters took to the streets yesterday calling for the immediate release of Samir Feriani, who has been in custody since May 29, 2011, for openly criticising the Interior Ministry. Human Rights Watch and Anonymous both addressed the Tunisian authorities and asked them to free him.
Kyrgyzstan: Revisiting the 2009 death of a journalist
Tomyris revisits the mysterious assassination of Kyrgyz opposition journalist Gennady Pavlyuk in 2009, as one former Kyrgyzstan national security service agent and two Kazakhstan citizens are facing court trial in Almaty.
Latin America: Online Freedom of Expression
Global Voices author Ellery Biddle comments on online freedom of expression in Latin America: “One of the reasons that Latin America (perhaps with the exception of Cuba) is often left out of the conversation about Internet policy and freedom of expression online is that it’s a region where technical filtering...
Macedonia: Protests Against Police Brutality/Murder Cover-Up Spread
Macedonians have been protesting for 5 days online and offline in Skopje, urging the authorities to "solve" the murder of a young man by a police officer who served as a high-ranking official's bodyguard. On Friday, youth from other cities - Bitola, Strumica, Kochani - took to the streets, too.
Kuwait: Shia Twitter User Arrested
Kuwaiti Nasser Abul, a young Shia man, has been arrested, allegedly for his posting on micro-blogging site Twitter. This is the first time a Twitter user is held for tweets in the country. The arrest has created a furour on Twitter, where many called for his release.
Nepal: Religious Intolerance?
Nepal Blogs refutes the negative news on religious freedom in Nepal and comments: “It is unfair, [..] to chastise an entire nation because of few intolerant idiots.”
Cuba: Finding Strength For Fariñas
“I have no desire to write. I scold myself. Since I learned that Coco Fariñas is on a hunger strike I have been floating above the city”: Octavo Cerco has been feeling like she's “floating in nothingness”.
Cuba: Tamayo's Arrival
Diaspora bloggers chronicle the arrival of Reina Luisa Tamayo (mother of the late Cuban dissident Orlando Zapata Tamayo) in the United States.
Cuba: Released Journalists Offer Their Testimonies
As part of the Committee to Protect Journalists series "After the Black Spring: Cuban Stories of Prison and Freedom," Cuban journalist Omar Ruiz Hernández, who was recently released from jail and exiled to Spain, tells his story.
Cuba: In Support of Artistic Expression
“Although I don’t share all of his opinions or agree with the places where he chose to publish them, I am a fervent defender of the freedom of speech”: Lazaro Gonzalez stands with artist Pedro Pablo Oliva.
Cuba: Tamayo Leaves With Son's Remains
“Orlando Zapata Tamayo was not killed because he was a slave, but because he insisted on being a free man”: As the late dissident's mother prepares for a new start in the United States, Babalu rejoices over the fact that “today, Reina Luisa Tamayo will experience what her fallen son...
Russia: 6 Months of Suspended Sentence and a Destroyed Laptop for a Forum Comment
Yuri Yegorov, blogger from Tatarstan and a former employee of the regional government, has been sentenced with 6 months of suspended sentence for a libelling, openinform.ru reported [ru]. Additionally, the court ruled out to destroy Yegorov's laptop ‘as a weapon of crime.’ Yegorov published information on corruption in the office...
Iran: Record Breaking 20-Year Jail Sentence for Blogger
Writing about Iranian bloggers offers few moments of respite. The sad stories are endless, and the threats don't seem to subside. The post explores the stories of three bloggers, Sakhi Rigi, Hossein Derakhshan, and Hossein Rongahi Maleki, who are each serving very long sentences in Iran.
Egypt: When Citizen Media Did What Mainstream Media Wouldn't
This first part of a documentary on the Egyptian Revolution tells it from the perspective of blogger and viral video producer Aalam Wassef, focusing on how online video and other media accompanied the process of civilian unrest.
Brazil: Jokes About Rape and the Limit of Humor
Rafinha Bastos, a famous Brazilian stand-up comedian, has raised significant controversy by declaring in a show that women who claim they have been raped are often ugly and should be thankful. The blogosphere has been discussing the limits of humor and political incorrectness.
Russia: Microsoft Representative ‘Would Be Glad’ To Provide FSB with Skype Source Code
Nikolay Pryanishnikov, president of “Microsoft-Russia,” said ‘he would be glad’ to provide Federal Security Service (FSB) with the source code of Skype, after the corporation finalizes the deal. Some media outlets first misinterpreted [ru] his statement, but later Microsoft had officially explained [ru]: “Within many years Microsoft had provided FSB...
Macedonia: More Anti-Police Brutality Rallies Planned
Elizabeth Flock of The Washington Post's BlogPost and Cory Doctorow of Boing Boing write about the protests against police brutality in Skopje; more reactions to the disturbing situation are at Reddit.com; GV posts are here, here, and here. In Skopje, protesters are planning to resume the rally at 6 p.m....
