Stories about Human Rights from September, 2015
Resentment Against Hungary Grows After Serbia Border Clashes Injure Refugees and Journalists
Many expressed anger at Hungary and the European Union for their handling of the refugee crisis, including the closure of the Hungarian-Serbian border, without consulting their non-EU neighbors.
Russian Court Fines Google for ‘Reading Private Correspondence’ on Gmail
A Yekaterinburg academic has convinced Moscow city court to fine Google 50 thousand rubles ($765) for violating his "secrecy of correspondence" on Gmail with its targeted ads.
Refugees Met with Generosity and Suspicion in France
Despite enduring fear and suspicion towards refugees, many citizens initiatives have been launched or scaled up in France to meet their needs.
Iran's Hardline Supreme Council on Cyberspace Consolidates Power Over Internet Policymaking
Iran's Supreme Leader is strengthening his hold over Internet policy through the Supreme Council for Cyberspace.
Veteran Thai Journalist Detained After ‘Attitude-Adjustment’
"Freedom can't be maintained if we're not willing to defend it," Pravit tweeted on the day of his detention.
Turkey’s ‘Kurdish Question’ on Fire Again
The AKP-led peace between Turkey and Kurdish militants brokered in late 2012 seems like a distant memory amid an upsurge of violence.
Hungarian Journalist Kicking Syrian Refugees Rouses Disapproval and Outrage Worldwide
In the video, the journalist can be seen kicking two children and tripping up a refugee carrying a child in his arms, causing him to drop the child.
#NoVatOnEducation Student Movement Is on the Rise in Bangladesh
“Constitution requires free universal education, but government proposes tax on education.” A new value-added tax on private university tuition meets with disapproval and mass protests in Bangladesh.
Umida Ahmedova оn the Burden of Censorship and Being a Female Artist in Uzbekistan
"There was a girl there who did not want to jump from a bridge into the water. We used this image as a metaphor."
Indonesian Activists Remember Slain Human Rights Defender Munir Said Thalib
September marks 11 years since Munir Said Thalib, a human rights activist who exposed government abuses during the last years of President Suharto, was killed by suspected military agents.
Preteen Mother’s Dangerous Labor Revives Concerns About Abortion Rights in Paraguay
Outrage in the wake of an 11-year-old raped by her stepfather being refused an abortion by authorities in Paraguay.
Facebook Activist Details How She Received a Seven-Year Prison Sentence in Iran
One of the eight Facebook activists sentenced to long prison sentences in 2013 for social and political commentary posted on their Facebook pages, has asserted that she was denied access to a lawyer during her detention, interrogated about private matters, and charged with crimes she never committed.
A Year Away From Syria
What happens to a Syrian activist and her ideals when she takes refuge outside her war-torn country?
Minority Women Communicators Conference Looks To ‘Occupy the Media and Internet’ in Mexico
The official announcement has been made for the Second Conference of Women Communicators of Indigenous and African Descent. The conference, whose slogan is “We occupy the media, we occupy the...
Grand Theft Auto and More: The Grim Reality of Life in ‘Donetsk People's Republic’
Documents leaked this summer by 'Anonymous International' depict a living hell for civilians in the separatist-controlled territories of eastern Ukraine.
Iraqis on the Streets to Protest Corrupt Government and Lack of Basic Services
Thousands of Iraqis have been demonstrating every Friday against their government's corruption and lack of basic services for the sixth week in a row, writes Anne Koopman
Volunteer Initiatives a Key Part of Welcoming Refugees in Germany
Volunteer projects for refugee aid are making an important contribution towards building a caring and peaceful community, though in many respects they are left unaided by German state policy.
Inside the Trial of Zone9 Bloggers: 16 Months and Counting
The Zone9 bloggers' trial continues, with relatives prevented from documenting the proceedings, and frequent adjournments in court obstructing the progress of justice. Read Endalk Chala's latest report.
An ‘Appeal to Affection and Empathy’: Barcelona's Mayor Wants Spain’s Cities to Welcome Refugees
Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau's idea to create a network of refuge-cities for refugees has become a real-life plan after a Facebook comment went viral.
The Privilege of My Canadian Passport Weighs Heavy As the Refugee Crisis Unfolds
Passport privilege is perhaps the most valuable thing in the middle of the unfolding refugee crisis. Should a document be able to determine life or death in this world?
GV Face: How Volunteers in Europe Are Opening Their Hearts and Homes to Refugees
As governments are struggling to address the growing refugee crisis in Europe, ordinary citizens in Greece, Germany, and Hungary are organizing and even offering their homes to help refugees.
