Stories about Human Rights from May, 2008
Serbia: “The Other Serbia”
Gray Falcon writes on “the Other Serbia.”
Russia: Circassians
Window on Eurasia writes about Circassians’ “100-year-long resistance to Russia’s southward advance.”
Russia, Latvia: Young Russia vs Edvīns Šņore
Latvian Abroad writes about Young Russia's protest against The Soviet Story, a documentary by a young Latvian director Edvīns Šņore.
Estonia: Arnold Meri's Trial
Itching for Eestimaa writes about the trial of Arnold Meri: “On Voice of America he's an ‘ex-officer.’ On Russia Today he's a ‘war hero.’ And on the BBC, he's a ‘Soviet war figure’.”
South Africa: What can bloggers do about the Xenophobia crisis?
Stii suggests what South African bloggers can do about the xenophobia crisis in South Africa: “My idea is to have like a trust fund, NGO or something to which bloggers/technology people can contribute to financially. I’m more than willing giving money to any organization, but it would be nice to...
South Africa: Bloggers, let's do something
Mike calls on South African bloggers to do something about the violent attacks against foreigners: “It’s on that note that I’d like to encourage you, my fellow bloggers and business people, to join me in doing something about it. We know we have the collective influence to make a big...
Xenophobia Plagues South Africa
Extremely violent attacks on foreigners in South Africa in the last days have stirred the entire South African media and of course… blogs. Individual bloggers question whether the government is right to call these attacks "xenophobic", and criticize the media for being too event driven to address the causes behind the violence.
Armenia: Human Rights Activist Attacked
Unzipped: Gay Armenia reports that a local human rights activist was verbally and physically assaulted in Yerevan today as well as shot at with a gas pistol. The assault was reportedly carried out by the former leader of a pro-establishment party who accused the activist of being a “CIA agent...
Russia, Lithuania: Knight News Challenge Winners
Oleksandr Demchenko writes about the Russian and Lithuanian winners of the Knight News Challenge 2008.
Russia: Documentary on Politkovskaya
Sean's Russia Blog writes about a new documentary “on the life, work, and death of Anna Politkovskaya.”
Russia: Oleg Kozlovsky Update
Political activist Oleg Kozlovsky blogs about his release from jail: “I look a little worse for wear because I refused to eat while in prison as a way of protesting against the obviously illegal nature of my arrest and trial.” LJ user ivansim reported (RUS) that Kozlovsky was hospitalized shortly...
South Africa: Is xenophobic South Africa ready for 2010?
Bomseh, a Kenya blogger in South Africa, asks, “Is xenophobic South Africa ready for 2010?”: “It is therefore with much shock and disbelief that I watched unfolding events on the news last night about the recent wave of xenophobic attacks in Johannesburg and neighbouring towns within the province of Gauteng....
Zimbabwe: The plight of Zimbabweans in South Africa
Xenophobic attacks in South Africa are felt in Zimbabwe: “The xenophobic attacks against migrant workers in South Africa is having its inevitable knock on impact on people here in Zimbabwe too.”
Cuba: Warnings from Sanchez
Uncommon Sense links to a post that Havana-based blogger Yoani Sanchez has written, which suggests that she may soon be arrested, saying: “Please pray for this brave woman, and for her continued safety.”
Cuba: Dissidents & Independence
Child of the Revolution blogs about claims by Cuba's Ministry for Foreign Affairs that “the top US diplomat in Havana…is handing over money from Cuban exiles to some dissidents on the island”, while El Cafe Cubano adds: “Today is May 2oth, Cuba's date of Independence. Who would know from all...
Sudan: Sami al-Hajj Released, Khartoum Attacked
This round-up highlights the two most talked about recent topics in the Sudanese blogosphere. We will start with the release of the Sudanese al-Jazeera journalist Sami al-Hajj from Guantanamo Bay where he was held for six years without trial.
South Korea: Links to Kwangju Uprising
Matt puts up very informative links to essays and studies on Kwangju Uprising.
Ukraine: Crimean Tatar Deportations; “Tercuman”
Window on Eurasia writes about the 64th anniversary of the Crimean Tatar deportations by Stalin – and about Tercuman, a newspaper launched by Ismail Gaspirali, a Crimean Tatar educator and publisher.
Poland: Homophobia
Raf Uzar reports that the Polish president “has managed to get himself inaugurated into the infamous HRW Hall of Shame for being homophobic.”
Cuba: International Day vs. Homophobia
“It'd be churlish to criticise Ms Castro's work on behalf of one of the most marginalised minorities in Cuba. But her ability to essentially whitewash the atrocious treatment of Cuban homosexuals over the past 50 years…is, well, breath-taking”: Child of the Revolution blogs about recent celebrations in Havana to mark...
Saudi Arabia: Flogging for Professor
“A Saudi University professor is facing flogging and imprisonment for breaking the law. He was caught having a cup of coffee with a lady who was not related to him in a coffee shop. He is actually facing an eight month prison sentence and 150 lashes!” explains Saudi blogger Rasha.
