Stories about Freedom of Speech from April, 2012
Azerbaijan: Free Bakhtiyar Hajiyev
NetProphet comments on the case of Bakhtiyar Hajiyev, a young activist in Azerbaijan who was sentenced to two years in prison on what international human rights groups consider politically motivated charges, and a new campaign to have him freed.
Syria: Safana Baqleh, the “Freedom Harp”, Arrested in Damascus
When Rima Dali was arrested on April 9 for holding a banner reading “Stop the killing. We want to build a country for all Syrians”, musician Safana Baqleh was the first person who rushed to defend her and try to stop the security forces from taking her with them. For this attempt she too was arrested.
Colombia: Approval of “Lleras Law 2.0″ Ignites Netizens’ Indignation
The approval by the Colombian Congress of a law popularly known as 'Lleras Law 2.0,' which reforms the framework to legislate and regulate copyright and intellectual property, sparked indignation among Colombian netizens.
Armenia: Support for Georgi Vanyan
Following the cancellation last week of a festival of Azerbaijani films in Armenia amid threats of violence, alternative voices online comment on the campaign targeting the organizer, peace activist Georgi Vanyan.
This Week in the Caribbean Blogosphere
It has been another interesting week in the Caribbean blogosphere, with netizens discussing everything from crime to upcoming elections…
Tunisia: Relief at Lifting of Protest Ban
Tunisian netizens have expressed their relief at the lifting of the ban on protesting on Habib Bourguiba Avenue, but some have vowed not to let the matter rest. Salah Almhamdi reports.
Colombia: Photo Exhibit Creator Denounces Attack on Freedom of Expression
In the blog El Salmón [es], Carlos Alberto Castaño denounces [es] the confiscation by Bogotá police of his photo exhibition, “Realities, because the eye and the lens do not lie.” Castaño writes about violation of freedom of expression and political persecution due to the content of the gallery, where he denounces “the...
Armenia: Nationalist Threats Against Local Activist
Just weeks after one example of censorship in Armenia comes another with local peace activist Georgi Vanyan receiving abuse and death threats from nationalists opposed to screening Azerbaijani films in the country.
Colombia: Congress Approves “Lleras Law 2″
The Colombian Congress approved yesterday, April 10, the proposed Law 201 (2012) on author rights and intellectual property. This has generated many reactions, becoming a local Trending Topic on Twitter under the hashtags #LeyLleras2 [es], #SoyDelincuente [es] (“I'm a criminal”) and TLC [es] (Free Trade Agreement). Anonymous blocked [es] Government websites, and a march has been...
Cuba: No Calm After Papal Storm
“The visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Cuba left a storm of arrests, blocked phone lines, and beatings against non-violent dissidents”: Cuban bloggers note that dissidents are suffering in the aftermath of the papal visit.
China: Bo Xilai's Scandals
Former Chongqing leader Bo Xilai's corruption scandal and his wife's suspected murder of Neil Heywood topped today's news headline. Yet Chinese authorities still forbid netizens to discuss about the incident by blocking out a long list of sensitive words. One question that netizens asked was what if the murder case...
Beating China's Book Bans in Hong Kong
Lam Li from Asia Sentinel explains how Hong Kong has turned into a center for distributing China banned books.
Topics of Interest in the Caribbean Blogosphere
The Caribbean blogosphere has been talking about an array of different issues over the last week or so. Here's a look at some of them…
China: An Insider's Reflection on Keyword Filtering Programs
A reflective article written by a computer programmer about his experience in developing a program for keyword filtering on mobile devices .
Thailand: Internet Freedom Threats and Violations
Aim Sinpeng reports that internet censorship has continued in Thailand despite the victory of the opposition in the last elections. The government continues to block thousands of websites for violating the local laws. Several bloggers were also arrested for allegedly insulting the Royal Family.
Cuba: Unholy Actions
Pedazos de la Isla reports on the “wave of terror” that plagued the island's dissidents over Holy Week, here and here.
Grenada, Barbados: The Fallout over Journalist's Firing
Rawle Titus -veteran journalist and president of the Media Workers Association of Grenada since 2008- was dismissed from his post as editor of the Grenada Advocate after he refused to retract or apologize for a front-page story. As yet another regional journalist pays the price for standing by his story, bloggers are wondering about the state of press freedom in the Caribbean.
Portugal: Police Prevents Workers From Writing a Banner for the General Strike
Francisco da Silva, on his blog Artigo 58, shares a video [pt] that shows a group of domestic workers in Lisbon preparing a banner for the general strike (March 24, 2012). The police enter the scene and put an end to the freedom of expression in a public square, preventing...
Iran: Electronic Curtain in Animation
Here is a video cartoon, portraying what Iranian users face in Iran for connecting to the Internet. The video invites online users around the world to follow #ConnectIran tag on twitter.
Myanmar: Continuing Press Freedom Violations
The International Freedom of Expression Exchange lists five concerns that highlight the continuing press freedom violations in Myanmar
China: Struggle to Remember Fang Lizhi
Chinese intellectual Fang Lizhi, who inspired a whole generation of student activists during the 1980s, passed away on April 6, 2012 in the United States, at the age of 76. Authorities were quick to ban the news from the Internet and Chinese netizens now have to struggle with web censors to remember Fang.