Stories about Human Rights from October, 2014
It's Blog Action Day: Let's Talk About Inequality
Global Voices is an official partner for the event, which tackles the issue of inequality this year.
Will Ayotzinapa Case Become Mexico's Political Firestorm or Will It Be Forgotten?
If a mass grave turns out to contain Ayotzinapa's missing students, the tension now in the air might be enough to cause a large-scale political firestorm.
An Indian Photoblogger's Lone Fight Against Plagiarism
Indian photoblogger Anirban Saha points to a growing problem in India — plagiarism of intellectual property online. A number of his photos were used in a poster for a theatre festival, on a cover of a book, in an advertisement by the state government, in political banners, in magazines in...
Journal from an Ethiopian Prison: The Maekelawi Ceremony
"We could not carry on surviving the hell of Maekelawi. We ended up telling our interrogators what they wanted to hear."
As The Kremlin's Media Crackdown Continues, Blogs Might Be The Final Casualty
With independent online media closing down or moving abroad, Russian bloggers may now be facing even greater pressure from the Kremlin, as their freedom has shrunk dramatically.
Journal from an Ethiopian Prison: Testimony of Befeqadu Hailu
Original testimony from Befeqadu Hailu, one of four Global Voices members currently jailed in Ethiopia.
Six Hong Kong Police Officers Kick and Punch a Handcuffed Protester in a Dark Corner
Last night at 9:30pm, around 300 hundred protesters attempted to set up new barricade in Long Wo Road, near the government headquarter at Admiralty. Riot police took action to disperse protesters and arrested 45 of them. The process was brutal. The TV news showed that one of the protesters, identified...
Protesting Students and Teachers in Myanmar Reject Law They Claim Will Strengthen Junta-Era Schooling System
Students, teachers, and over 200 civil society organisations have joined forces against the proposed National Education Bill of Myanmar.
Macedonian Civic Sector Starts Fundraising to Aid Independent Fokus Magazine
The Association of Journalists of Macedonia (AJM) appealed in October 2014 to all journalists and citizens to show solidarity with the journalists of Fokus magazine, who are subject to what has been deemed by many as harsh punishment due to a lost defamation law suit for some of the investigative...
Remembering Mahsa Shekarloo, Iran's Internet Pioneer and Women’s Rights Activist
Mahsa Shekarloo, Iranian women’s rights activist and founder of the online feminist journal Bad Jens, died Friday September 5, 2014, surrounded by family. We celebrate her life in this post.
Mexicans Demand Safe Return of Students “Taken Alive”
Protests against the disappearance of Ayotzinapa students sweep Mexico City and elsewhere, following the discovery of mass graves.
Bahrain Joins US Air Strikes, but Still Tortures Americans and Silences ISIS Critics
Bahrain, along with four other Arab countries, has joined the coalition against the militant group ISIS, as it silences its own critics.
Lebanon’s Palestinian Refugees Step into the Limelight With ‘Humans of Al Rashidiya’
A New Humans of New York-type project hopes to dispel stereotypes plaguing Lebanon’s Palestinian society. Many think their camps are security time bombs, while others haven’t even heard of them.
UK Court Revokes Immunity of Bahraini Prince Accused of Torture
Bahrain's Prince Nasser Bin Hamad AlKhalifa, who often travels to Europe for equestrian competitions, was the target of a recent Twitter campaign #torturePrince.
Macedonian Appellate Court Confirms Defamation Verdict for Independent Magazine
Freedom of media suffered another blow in Macedonia when the appellate court confirmed that Fokus magazine must pay almost 9,000 euros to a high government official in a defamation suit.
Iranians protest in solidarity with Kobane
Iranians held several protest rallies in different cities including Tehran,Tabriz and Mehabad to support Kobane‘s people on Tuesday.Fighting continues to rage in the Syria-Turkey border town of Kobane Iran protest in solidarity with #Kobane Photos: @NasimMohammadi_ pic.twitter.com/QHu1k1szxB — Negar Mortazavi (@NegarMortazavi) October 7, 2014
With Ayotzinapa Attack, Have Violence and Corruption Reached a Tipping Point in Mexico?
Authorities have discovered a mass grave, and some believe the bodies were those of student teachers missing since their bus was attacked by Mexican police and members of organized crime.
In Latin America, Discrimination Pits Neighbour Against Neighbour
For some, there is always a reason to discriminate, whether because of socioeconomic level, race, background, or housing accommodation. Here are some examples of the current situation in Latin America.
US President Obama Honors Global Voices Author for Her Human Rights Work in Cambodia
Sopheap Chak is executive director of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights. Obama praised her campaign for justice in Cambodia in light of the country's worrying human rights situation.
#FreeSaeed: An Iranian Web Developer's Sixth Year in Prison
Saeed Malekpour was originally sentenced to death as a "corrupter of the earth" for his open source software that others used to download pornographic images.
Bahrain's Prominent Human Rights Activist Arrested for Criticizing Police Defectors Who Joined ISIS
Bahrain's most prominent human rights defender Nabeel Rajab is back in jail for his tweets, for the third time.