Stories about Freedom of Speech from November, 2012
Iranian Blogger Sattar Beheshti Tortured to Death
Iranian netizens have launched a major online storm after the shocking news of a blogger's death in custody was first posted by opposition websites. Sattar Beheshti was arrested on October 28, 2012 and announced dead some ten days after his arrest.
Sudan: Nuba Mountains Activist Detained for 8 Months
In the middle of the night on 14 March 2012, the Sudanese National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) abducted a woman named Jalila Khamis Kuku from her home and took her into custody. Denied access to a lawyer and even a change of clothes, Jalila was dragged into a pickup truck in her night gown accompanied by a dozen NISS officers in civilian clothes.
A blogger's lament over the 18th Party Congress in China
Stan from China Hearsay lamented about 18th Chinese Communist Party Congress in China: boring official news, internet connection disrupted, unproved rumors and speculations.
#8N: New Massive Protest in Argentina
Organized through social media under the hashtag #8N, Argentinians protested across the country against the current government of Cristina Fernández de Kirchner.
Japan's New Copyright Law Creates Confusion
Japan’s revised copyright law was partially enforced on October 1, and now penalizes the act of illegal downloading and DVD ripping for personal use. If arrested, one will be sentenced for up to 2 years in jail or fined 2 million yen, which is approximately US$ 25,680. But Japan's Internet users are confused by the new law.
Mending Japan and China Relations
Following anti-Japan protests in China, official ties between Japan and China are still at an impasse as of late October. While both governments are struggling to improve relations, some success has been seen among civil society. We take a look at some initiatives in this post.
Egypt to Ban Porn Sites
Egypt has announced [ar] today that access to all porn sites will be banned. Netizens discuss the move on Twitter, saying any kind of censorship will have dire consequences on free speech - as it opens the door to abuse by the authorities and the muzzling of voices online.
Protest in Trinidad & Tobago over Section 34 Scandal
On Friday, various sectors of the Trinidad and Tobago public participated in a protest march calling for the resignations of Attorney General Anand Ramlogan and Minister of National Security Jack Warner - part of the continuing fallout over the Section 34 debacle.
Chinese Political Joke on Beijing Weather
As the 18th Chinese Party Congress is approaching, censorship measure has been tightened. Below is a translation of a funny short story circulated [zh] in Chinese social media: Recently the imperial capital's weather suddenly changed. In the evening, a security old man said: “look! suddenly the sky has changed!” A...
Despite Threats, Macedonian Activists Fight for Fair Energy Law
Members of the grassroots civil initiative AMAN, who are demanding fair energy legislation and an end to state-controlled price hikes in Macedonia, are facing various forms of pressure, including increasing threats. On Saturday, the police averted a violent incident during a rally.
Guinea-Bissau: Citizen Frustration and Defiance in Face of Turmoil
On October 21, a violent incident occurred at an airbase outside Bissau. Six people were reported killed, and gruesome images of bodies of accused assailants circulated on the internet. While the international institutions express "concern" and conduct meetings, the people of Guinea-Bissau have little outlet for their fears and frustrations.
Macedonia: Documenting Online Protest Against Censorship
On October 9, nearly 200 Macedonian websites participated in a day-long blackout, protesting the censorship-inducing provisions [mk, en, sq] that the Government “sneaked in” within the Draft Law on Civic Liability for Defamation, presented as approved by the EU and COE. Activists from Free Software Macedonia, who provided the JavaScript...
Chinese Media's Report on the Superstorm Sandy
Jing Gao from Ministry of Tofu picks some online comments that mock at the Chinese state-run media's coverage of calamity caused by Superstorm Sandy in the West Coast of the U.S.A, saying that they are serving the interest of U.S rather than Chinese as they often ignore local protests and...
Foreign Journalists Covering Ningbo Anti-PX Protest
Chinese journalists were banned from covering Ningbo anti-PX protest in China last week while foreign journalists were standing side-by-side with the protestors at the frontline. China Digital Times translated some tweets that tell the grateful feeling of the Chinese netizens toward these group of foreign journalists.
Bolivian Radio Journalist Set on Fire in Yacuiba
Bolivian radio journalists Fernando Vidal and Karen Arce from Radio Popular in Yacuiba, a city on the Bolivian border with Argentina, were victims of an arson attack on October 29, 2012. Early theories indicate that the attack may have been related to Vidal's outspoken criticism of corruption and contraband.
BlogFest Asia 2012 Opens in Cambodia
Cambodia is hosting BlogFest Asia 2012 which is expected to gather around 200 individuals from several Asian countries. The event on November 1-5, 2012 will take place in the historic town of Siem Reap. This is the third BlogFest which was earlier held in Hong Kong in 2009 and then in Penang, Malaysia in 2010.
If Catalonia Declares Independence From Spain, Invasion?
Various people, among them four members of the European Parliament, have spoken of a possible military intervention in Catalonia, Spain, if the region attempts to secede, provoking an avalanche of commentary from netizens.
Six Month Jail for Insulting Bahrain King on Twitter
One of four Twitter users, detained in Bahrain and reportedly charged with insulting the country's king, was sentenced to six months in prison today. Bahraini lawyer Mohammed Abdulameer tweets [ar]: @wastilawyeR: One of those accused of insulting the King of Bahrain was sentenced by the Criminal Court to six months...
Madagascar: Tear Bomb Thrown into a University Classroom
Madonline reports [fr] that a tear bomb was thrown by military forces into a classroom of Ankatso University where students are protesting [fr] the delay in the disbursement of their scholarships. The same protests are currently happening at the University of Toamasina (East Coast of Madagascar).