Stories about Human Rights from June, 2009
Iran: Protesters break a taboo and defy Khamenei
One day after Islamic Republic Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei denounced protests and warned reformist leaders against taking to the streets, thousands of people demonstrated in Tehran. They were joined by others in several cities across Iran in ignoring Khamenei's order and voicing their anger against the June 12 presidential election results. They clashed with Iranian police who used tear gas and water cannons to disperse them.
Vietnam arrests prominent lawyer and writer
Vietnam ’s Ministry of Public Security police arrested Le Cong Dinh in Ho Chi Minh City for participating in subversive activities. Dinh is a prominent pro-democracy lawyer, human rights advocate and writer. Several media groups and local scholars have condemned Dinh’s arrest.
The Irony of Iran's ‘Twitter Revolution’
When the dust settles down on the Iran election crisis, we will see that Twitter was more useful as a media tool and not as an organizing tool.
Iran: Comparisons and Scenarios
Balkans via Bohemia looks at how the events in Iran “would play out vis a vis other successful and unsuccessful revolutions in the past two decades,” including those in Serbia, Czechoslovakia, Ukraine and China.
Arab World: “Iran is a Democratic Dictatorship”
Reactions continue to pour across the Arab world over developments in Iran, in the aftermath of the country's presidential elections which saw Mahmoud Ahmedinejad winning a second term, with 66 per cent of the overall votes. In this round up of reactions, Arab bloggers compare between the political scenes in their countries with that in Iran as well as offer their insights to developments on the ground.
Lebanon: Bloggers React to Iran Crisis
Only a week after its own tight elections, Lebanese bloggers have been intently watching the fallout from Iran's disputed polls. The turmoil in Iran - a key power broker in Lebanon and main supporter of the powerful Lebanese Shia group Hezballah - has received mixed reactions. Whilst many of the bloggers are resisting to choose a side in Iran's dispute, they have plenty to say on other fronts.
Cuba: Lessons from Iran
Havana-based blogger Generation Y thinks that “what is happening in Iran and its dissemination through the Internet is a lesson for Cuban bloggers.”
Barbados: Illegal Immigration
“Illegal immigrants have rights too”: Bajan Dream Diary discusses the issue in light of the country's recent move to tighten its immigration policy.
Iran: 22 Political activists arrested
Kawdess tweeted that 22 political activists were arrested in Ahwaz,in the south of Iran.
UK: Romanians Attacked in Belfast
LimbicNutrition Weblog writes about violence against Romanian immigrants in Belfast.
India: Mob Justice
I love life… so I explore thinks that “mob justice may not be correct or fair, but it is effective and efficient”, especially in the context of corruption in the judiciary and police forces of India.
Trinidad & Tobago: Smelter & Democracy
As a legal ruling causes construction on the proposed Alutrint aluminium smelter to come to a halt, This Beach Called Life comments: “This case is destined to go to the Privy Council and if the EMA (Government) should lose then the reputation of the EMA would be damaged beyond repair...
Morocco: Beacon of Freedom of Speech?
Moroccan blogger Badr Al'Hamry on Agora [Ar], expresses his solidarity with Idriss Shahtan, director of Al Mishaal weekly newspaper, and president of the Khenifra branch of the Moroccan Association for Human Rights [Ar] who will stand accused of publishing a dossier that is discourteous to a relative of the king...
Armenia: Iranian student protest
Posting photos and videos on his Frontline Club blog, Global Voices Online's Caucasus editor reports from a demonstration staged outside the Iranian Embassy in Yerevan protesting Friday's disputed presidential election.
Bangladesh: Shahidul Alam Detained By Indian Border Security Forces
Media Helping Media informs that Shahidul Alam, internationally renowned photojournalist from Bangladesh, blogger and founder of the Drik picture network has been detained by the Indian border security while working on the Bangladesh side of the border. Updates on this news are being posted in Unheard Voice Blog.
India: rights of the linguistic minorities in Mizoram
Musings of a Chakma discusses the violations of the rights of the linguistic minorities in Mizoram by the state government.
South Africa celebrates Youth Day and remembers the past
June 16, which is now referred to as Youth Day here in South Africa is day when we remember the past. On June 16, 1976 the Soweto uprising occurred sparked by laws that would force all education to be delivered in Afrikaans.
Bermuda, USA, UK: Fallout over Guantanamo
Bermudian bloggers still have not stopped talking about their government's agreement to have four detainees of Guantanamo Bay to resettle on the island. Most of their focus seems to be on the fallout that Premier Ewart Brown is facing following the controversial decision.
Trinidad & Tobago: The Outsiders
“We are all begging to be let in. For our voices to be heard. For our opinions to matter. And the father of the nation builds a big tall wall around what is for him and those who support him. Like a club bouncer he gets to say who gets...
Bangladesh: Using Child Labor In Political Processions
Ahmad Ferdous Bin Alam points to the use of child labor in political processions in Bangladesh. Can't the children be spared?” comments the blogger.
Cuba: Prisoners of Conscience
Diaspora blogger Uncommon Sense refers to a report which claims that there have already been more than 500 political arrests and detentions in Cuba for the year.
