Stories about Freedom of Speech from August, 2011
Ukraine: Commentary on Tymoshenko's Arrest
Foreign Notes, Ukrainiana, and Power&Politics World weigh in on the Aug. 5 arrest of Ukraine's ex-PM Yulia Tymoshenko.
Cuba: Female Protesters Arrested
Reports of female political activists being “violently arrested on the steps of the old Capitol building in Havana after their demonstration in favor of freedom for the Cuban people drew support from other Cubans and tourists”, here and here.
Brazil: Brazilian Singer Censored by Politician
Brazilian singer and songwriter Tonho Crocco is being prosecuted by the State Deputy Giovanni Cherini due to a song in which he criticizes 36 lawmakers from the state of Rio Grande do Sul for the 73% pay rise they voted for themselves, writes [pt] Jefferson da silva, from the blog...
Lebanon: Protest Against Syrian Regime Attacked by Loyalists
A small protest in the front of the Syrian embassy in Beirut, Lebanon ended in violence on Tuesday, 2 August 2011, when pro-regime loyalists stormed the gathering. Syria has always had a polarising effect on its smaller neighbour Lebanon, and Lebanese politics is often divided between pro-Syrian and anti-Syrian camps.
Côte d'Ivoire: The Surprise Ousting of Pascal Brou Aka from Television Channel RTI
The CEO or RTI ( Ivorian Radio and Television), Pascal Brou Aka, has been ousted from his post by the President of the Republic Alassane Dramane Ouattare. This decision was apparently taken for reasons including the lack of coverage of the President's return from his US visit and surprises a great number of Ivorian internet users. Is Pascal Brou Aka's independence the reason for the firing ? Kanigui investigates:
China: Internet memes on Wenzhou Train Crash
George Ding from China Geeks explains the meaning behind two Internet memes derived from the Wenzhou train crash incident: “it is a miracle!” and “Whether or not you believe it; either way, I believe it.”
Chile: Police and Students Clash in Unauthorized Education Protest
Hundreds of Chilean students, fighting to overhaul their education system, clashed with an intensified police force as they protested without permission on Thursday through the center of capital Santiago. The protest sky-rocketed to the top of the city's trending topics on Twitter as students vented their growing frustrations.
Mozambique: Behind the Detention of MC Azagaia
MC Azagaia, a controversial activist musician from Mozambique, had been arrested for possession of cannabis on the same day that he was going to present his latest hip hop work. Netizens have been wondering about real motivations for his arrest while discussing the limits of freedom of expression. Azagaia has been released and the presentation took place on August 4.
China: Anger Over State TV Attack on Microblogging Platforms
Bloggers in China fear that a recent broadcast by state-controlled China Central Television (CCTV) entitled, 'Where is the moral bottom line of Microblogs?', was a direct attack on citizen media freedom. Oiwan Lam discusses the issue.
Russia: Police violence towards journalists and bloggers
Russian journalist and photoblogger Ilya Varlamov was threatened and attacked by Russian policemen when he covered oppositional demonstration in Moscow. He posted his story and photos [ru] of the attacker on his blog. Another story of police violence against a photoblogger during the same demonstration was told [ru] by Dmitriy...
Myanmar: Prison term for Facebook defamation
Francis Wade of the Democratic Voice of Burma learned that Facebook users in Myanmar found guilty of defamation could end up in prison under the Electronic Transactions Act
Morocco: Activist Website Sustains DDoS Attack
The Moroccan militant website Mamfakinch! came under a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack last Sunday which blocked access to its main platform for several hours. The website is now back online. What is Mamfakinch! and why has it been attacked?
Moldova: Attack on Journalist Causes Online Debate on “Language Issue”
An incident of violence against a Moldovan journalist has brought about active online discussions regarding the long-protracted animosities between the Moldovan majority and the small Russian minority in the country.
Brazil: The Heterossexual Pride Day is Announced
Brazilian activist Alessandra Nane (@Lessinha_nane) informs [pt] that the City Council of São Paulo has just approved the Heterosexual Pride Day, a project led by evangelical leaders, to take place on the third Sunday of December. Nane ironically wonders when the “White Awareness Day”, among others, will also be approved.
Belarus: Interpreting the Law on Freedom of Assembly
LJ user gabblgob lets [ru] a lawyer friend, LJ user redrok, take a look at the legal implications of changes in Belarus law on freedom of assembly, which are in stark contrast with the conventional meaning of the term.
Azerbaijan: Eurovision in a non-free country?
A campaign to raise awareness of the plight of political prisoners and restrictions on freedom of assembly in Azerbaijan has been launched by four non-governmental organizations ahead of next year's Eurovision Song Contest to be held in the country's capital, Baku. A video in English detailing the campaign has been...
