Stories about Human Rights from August, 2006
Russia: Deportation of Volga Germans
J. Otto Pohl translates a decree that ordered deportation of the Volga Germans to Kazakhstan and Siberia in 1941.
Egypt: 300 Egyptians who seek asylum in the Czech Republic
Ibn ad Dunya writes about the 300 Egyptians who seek asylum in the Czech Republic. He said: “Who can blame them for wanting to go to Europe, to leave Egypt is a dream for many young Egyptians, and only to achieve the goal of getting a visa to America, Canada,...
Ethiopia: 16 Days
Ato G may not be corrupt. But he lives in a society ruined by corruption. He may be honest and hardworking. Yet the law will always make an enemy of people like him. ET Wonqette powerfully plays on words, satirising Ethiopia, which he says, “is ruinously, unrelentingly peaceful. Better days...
Iran: Jahanbegloo free on bail
Shahram Kholdi, UK based blogger & academic reports that Ramin Jahanbegloo, researcher & philosopher, was released on bail. According to the blogger, Ramin Jahanbegloo visited ISNA's (Iranian Students National Agency) office immediately after he was released. The source said he looked much thinner than the last time he had seen...
Kurdistance…
The most horrible of things has just happened to me….my RSS feed for the Kurdish blogs, well for lack of a better term..hiccupped…and all of my feeds are gone. So in dealing with this crisis, today's post probably will leave a few people out. Thankfully all of my work is...
Iranian Women's campaign demands changes to discriminatory laws
Iranian women continue their struggle for equal rights beyond all governmental obstacles. A few days ago, a group of tireless Iranian women activists launched another campaign against discrimination entitled “One Million Signatures Demanding Changes to Discriminatory Laws.” This demonstration was backed by personalities such as Nasser Zaarafshan, writer and human...
Russia, Ukraine: “Managed Oligarchy,” Lazarenko Case
Moscow has more billionaires than NYC, but in Putin's era, they are no longer “oligarchs” but “mere tycoons,” writes Vilhelm Konnander. In another post, he discusses the trial and the verdict of Ukraine's Pavlo Lazarenko.
Poland: On Migrant Labor, Again
The beatroot writes about “free movement of labour” and responds to a “deranged” commenter who, among other things, is “favorably comparing the Nazi invasion and the Holocaust to the influx of a few hundred thousand Poles and others to the UK.”
Poland: Suing the Homophobes
The beatroot writes that Polish gay rights activists are taking the wrong cases to court: “But going to courts over the two pieces of infantile nonsense […] is not the right way to go about challenging officially sponsored homophobia in Poland.”
Iran: Broken Promises & Satellite Dishes
Aknoun says that one year ago, the cultural advisor to the Iranian President said everybody is free to have a satellite dish and government will reduce pressure on people [Fa]. The blogger says that now we shall see how government cracks down on satellite dishes.
Iran: Student activist arrested
According to Kuy, another student activist, Jamal ZaherPour was arrested a couple of days ago [Fa]. ZaherPour had been a leading student in Islamic Association of Khajeh Nasir University where he graduated as an engineer. The blogger adds that recently, several student activists have been arrested.
Russian-Language Blogs: Miscellanea (3)
Israeli blogger pilka writes (RUS) about a surreal experience of eating next to three clowns at a hospital in the wartime Haifa: […] I had breakfast with clowns today. I work at the children's department, okay? So strange, a clown on the right, a clown on the left, a vegetable...
Africans in France: Riots’ First Anniversary
Senegalese blogger Semett worries that (Fr) not much has changed for communities of color in France since last year's summer riots: “Despite the temporary emotions, we don't get the impression that anything has changed since. Our brothers and sisters continue to live in unsanitary and dangerous conditions. Whether it is...
Lebanon: Blogging Back to Normality
This week the Lebanese blogosphere witnessed a sluggish move away from posts about destruction and death caused by the war to posts that reflect patriotic passions, politics and personal accounts. Photos of how ads, weddings and cartoons were affected by the war can also be found. Life in the blogosphere seems to be trying hard to go back to the way it was.
Caribbean: Licensing sex workers
Barbados Free Press has some questions for the government officials who are considering licensing prostitutes (or is it “sex workers”) for the duration of next year's Cricket World Cup tournament.
Ukraine: Maidan Now
Robert Mayer of Publius Pundit visits Kyiv's Maidan, takes pictures and talks to its current inhabitants, nearly two years after the Orange Revolution.
Iraq: Wearing t-shirt with Arabic script, in America, means you are a suspected terrorist
On a trip back from the Middle East, Iraqi blogger and activist Raed Jarrar was not allowed to board a flight at JFK airport because he was wearing a t-shirt that said “We will not be silent” in English and Arabic. Airport security forced him to change his t-shirt saying...
Iran: Nuclear Crisis, Broken Satellite Dishes & Jailed Students
According to the media, Iran has delivered its formal response to the demand by world powers that it suspend uranium enrichment in exchange for a package of incentives. World media and bloggers, once more, are talking about the Iranian nuclear crisis and its outcome. Let's look at a few Iranian...
China: Patron saint of activist-bloggers?
How to describe twenty two-year old MSN Spaces blogger Zeng Jinyan? A threat to national security? An AIDS activist who brings support, joy and hope to countless AIDS orphans? A young wife radicalized after her husband was kidnapped by the state for over a month? Patron spokesblogger for otherwise voiceless...
Guinea: Police brutality
Black Star Journal on Human Rights Watch Report detailing police brutality in Guinea.
Ukraine: Chornovil Monument
Stefan of Dykun strolls around Kyiv and walks into the opening ceremony of the monument to Vyacheslav Chornovil.