Stories about Human Rights from July, 2014
Bangladesh's Elite Paramiltary Unit Is Under Fire for Human Rights Violations. This Blogger Asks: What About Israel's IDF?
Brad Adams, the executive director of Human Rights Watch's Asia division, has recently written a letter to Bangladesh's prime minister suggesting that the Bangladesh government should disband the paramilitary Rapid Action Battalion (RAB). Quoting news sources, he accused the RAB of being responsible for more than 800 extrajudicial killings in...
A Documentary That Allows Transgender People's Voices to Be Heard
Though gays and lesbians are gradually gaining more acceptance in Puerto Rico, the same cannot be said yet of transgender people. That is why a film like Mala Mala, a documentary in which trans people speak freely about their stories, is so important. The film, directed by Dan Sickles (@dan_sickles) and...
The World Stands With Palestine: Protests On Every Continent
Protests have sprung up in numerous cities around the world to support Palestine and call for an end to the ongoing attacks. Here are photographs from some.
Artists Explore the ‘Melting Point’ of Art and Propaganda in Skopje
A not-for-profit, self-financed group of artists calling themselves Kooperacija (“Cooperation”, Macedonian slang for a general store in small villages) hosted an exhibition titled “Melting Point: Art as Anti-Hegemonic Propaganda” [en, mk, with photos] in Skopje recently. As reported [mk] by several news outlets that cover culture [mk], including Belgrade-based SEE...
Only Months After MH370 Disappears, Plane Crash in Ukraine Sends Malaysians Reeling
A Malaysia Airlines flight attendant highlighted on Instagram and Twitter the loss of lives on both flights: "Within 4 months I lost almost 30 friends."
Zone 9 Bloggers Charged With Terrorism in Ethiopia
The nine bloggers and journalists, four of them Global Voices members, have rejected the charges and are preparing a defense for their August 8 trial.
Archaic Laws Continue Jamaica's History of Injustice
The anti-sodomy law is not the only archaic statute up for repeal in Jamaica. Author Kei Miller is astounded that a proposal to rescind the country's “blatantly racist Obeah Laws” has met with resistance: We seem to like throwing fits whenever it is suggested that we review and correct our...
Bangladesh Has Formaldehyde to Thank for Its Short Supply of Mangoes This Season
Police are confiscating and destroying truckloads of mangoes because they are contaminated with dangerous levels of formalin, a strong solution of formaldehyde sprayed on fruit to extend their shelf life.
Jews and Arabs in Chile, Home to One of the Largest Palestinian Communities, Call for Peace in Israel and Gaza
Palestinian and Jewish communities have called on each other to speak out against human rights abuses, while politicians are urging the government to take its condemnation of Israeli shelling further.
Vietnamese Government ‘Opinion Shapers’ Target Activist Facebook Pages
The Facebook accounts of prominent Vietnamese activists have been suspended after being reported for abuse by suspected government supporters known as 'opinion shapers'.
The World Shouts #FreeAlexSodiqov During Global Vigil
Global Voices' community member Alexander Sodiqov is not a British spy. And #FreeAlexSodiqov is an international movement. This vigil - a month after his arrest - proves it.
The World Cup in Brazil Ended Just Like It Began — With Tear Gas, Stun Grenades and Police Aggression
Activists captured some police officers on film lashing out seemingly with provocation at protesters and journalists.
Chinese Activist Hu Jia Attacked
Prominent Chinese activists Hu Jia was attacked last night on July 16 in Beijing. He reported the incident in his Twitter: 今天7月16日，刚才20:12，我在北京市朝阳区草房地铁站东侧100米路北被若干便衣人员袭击受伤。他们随后驾车离去，我眼镜被打飞未能看清车号。此刻感到身体不适，靠在路边，准备报警。胡佳 #傅政华 #国保档案 pic.twitter.com/ztb1x0IzJk — Hu Jia 胡佳 (@hu_jia) July 16, 2014 Today (July 16), just now at 20:12, I was attacked by a number of plain clothes cops...
Are Black Americans More Aware of Race Than Black Caribbeans?
Blogger Aidan Neal argues that black Americans are "so grossly affected by racism that they almost lay-wait offensive behavior," while race isn't a common topic of discussion in the Caribbean.
Ex-Pussy Riot Lawyer to Defend Ukrainian Pilot in Russian Court
After the infamous Pussy Riot trial, Mark Feygin will now try to save Nadezhda Savchenko, the Ukrainian air-force pilot captured by separatists in Ukraine and now detained in Russia.
This Woman Marched Thousands of Kilometers Across Pakistan For Her Brother and Balochistan's Missing People
The news about the missing persons of Balochistan remains one of the most unheard stories in the world. Activist Farzana Majid has dedicated her life to make these voices heard.
Need a Primer on What's Happening in Israel and Gaza Right Now? These 5 Videos Can Help
AJ+, Al Jazeera's new online news channel, offers a series of short explainer videos on the conflict between Israel and Gaza, which has killed nearly 200 Palestinians so far.
This Russian Journalist Fears ‘Spy Scares’ May Migrate North from Tajikistan
It is nearly a month since Global Voices' Alexander Sodiqov was wrongfully arrested by Tajik authorities on espionage charges. This "Tajik precedent" should concern Russians, too, argues journalist Igor Rotar.
Jamaica's Anti-Gay Protesters Don't Want to Be Called Homophobic
Groups protesting a possible repeal of a colonial-era anti-sodomy law have tried to distance themselves from being labeled "homophobic." Caribbean bloggers insist on calling a spade a spade.
Leading Muslim-American Activists Boycott the Official White House Iftar, Refusing to Break Bread with Obama
The boycott comes as Israel continues to bomb Gaza, and recent reports prove that the US government has been spying on key Muslim-American community leaders.
These 7 Cases Prove That Online Activism is Under Siege in Saudi Arabia
Learn about Gulf Center for Human Rights efforts to raise awareness about online activists facing harassment and legal challenges in Saudi Arabia.
