Stories about Human Rights from January, 2010
Turkey: Third anniversary of Hrant Dink assassination
Three years ago today, Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink was gunned down outside the office of the Argos newspaper he edited in Istanbul, Turkey. Often ignored, loathed or detested when he was alive by nationalists on both sides for his message of tolerance and peace, one blogger compares Dink to Martin Luther King Jr.
China: A policeman shot two farmers dead
ESWN collected and translated a local news story about two farmers in Pogongpai town, Guizhou province, shot dead by local police station vice-director on January 12.
USA: Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was born on January 15, 1929 and became arguably the American Civil Rights Movement's most prominent advocate and speaker. In the United States, he is honored by a national holiday, observed the third Monday in January of each year. Today, many bloggers in the United States are honoring his memory with dedicated posts, linking his legacy of social justice with issues of today, demonstrating that 42 years after King's assassination, his words are just as relevant.
Syria: Journalist Maen Akel Still Detained
Maen Akel, a Syrian journalist, was arrested on November 11, 2009, by the Syrian Intelligence Department (State Security) in Damascus. Within 48 hours of his arrest he was also dismissed from his work at Al-Thawra, a state owned newspaper. The reason for his arrest remains unknown.
Canada: Aboriginal Youth Suicides Hit Crisis Rate
Suicide rates have declined in Canada but not in Aboriginal communities, particularly among the youth. Suicide among Aboriginal youth continues to occur at alarming rates, leading to crisis-like situations in some communities
Saudi Arabia: Ban men from selling lingerie
Eman Al Nafjan writes about the second phase of a campaign that started in February 2009 by Reem Asaad, who is asking all women to boycott all lingerie shops that employ men, starting from the 13th of February, 2010, and continuing for two weeks.
Mexico: The Choir of Acteal Sings for Peace and Justice
Soon after the Massacre of Acteal in Chiapas, Mexico in 1997, the Choir of Acteal began to use their song to demand peace and to call for justice for those killed by paramilitary forces.
Algeria: Indigenous March for Autonomy
Indigenous Algerian Kabyles took to the streets demanding more autonomy from the central state. Amidst a media blackout imposed by the authorities, supporters of the marchers reported the event on the Net.
Azerbaijan: Demonstrations for imprisoned video blogging youth activists
Two demonstrations are scheduled to take place outside the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Paris, France, and London, England, on 22 January in support of imprisoned video blogging youth activists Adnan Hajizade and Emin Milli.
Morocco: Why is Tzipi Livni Welcomed Here?
A Moroccan Voice questions why Israeli opposition leader Tzipi Livni is wanted in Britain but welcomed with open arms in Morocco.
Mauritania: Hanevy Ould Dahah Remains Imprisoned
In June of 2009, Global Voices Advocacy was the first to report that Mauritanian editor Hanevy Ould Dahah, who runs leftist site Taqadoumy, had been arrested over a comment left on the site. Ould Dahah, sentenced to 6 months in prison, should have been released on December 24, however, on December 26 it was reported by blogger Nasser Weddady on Dekhnstan, that Ould Dahah was still being held.
Egypt: Bloggers arrested over Naga Hammady Visit
Egypt today arrested 20 bloggers who were visiting Naga Hammady in Upper Egypt to pass their respects to those killed in a sectarian outburst on January 7. Seven people were shot dead and several injured when an assailant gunned down Christian Copts leaving a church after the Christmas mass. The bloggers visit was to show a united front against sectarianism.
Uganda: Museveni distances himself from Anti-Homosexuality Bill
Sokari posts a YouTube video showing Ugandan President distancing himself from Anti-Homosexuality Bill: “Nonetheless it is not clear how much of the Bill he is distancing himself from so the pressure needs to be kept up as clearly it working.”
China: Proof for Google's security breach
ChinaHush translated a Chinese blog post that gave evidence on Gmail's security breach in China.
Cambodia: Bloggers discuss LGBT issues
LGBT issues are not openly discussed in Cambodian mainstream society but they are being debated in the blogosphere. Blogs have become online venues that address LGBT concerns.
China: Goodbye, Google
Following Google's announcement today that (don't snicker) if the Chinese government won't let the company's China operations stop censoring search results Google China will be shut down, netizens trekked to Google's Beijing office to lay flowers. UPDATE: more photos here, formal flowering of Google China offices scheduled for later today.
Haiti: First reactions to the 7.0 earthquake
The first blog posts written in French about the earthquake in Haiti have come from outside the country, announcing terrible news of the Presidential Palace , a hospital and other buildings collapsing and also of the threat of a tsunami. According to MetropoleHaiti, The USA have already proposed humanitarian assistance.
Russia: Details of Arrested Blogger Case Emerge on RuNet
LJ user beri_llii published [RUS] details of Irek Murtazin's [ENG] criminal case. Murtazin has been arrested last year on defamation charges when he reported on rumors about the death of Tatarstan president.
Madagascar: New Threats to Protestant Church and Free Speech
The beginning of the year in Madagascar has been marked with yet more protests where protesters have been fired upon and the harassment of those perceived as close to the former regime of Marc Ravalomanana, including several journalists and the protestant Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar.
Bangladesh: Living Dangerously
Asif Saleh and Jyoti Rahman at Unheard Voice criticizes the actions of India’s trigger happy Border Security Force (BSF), who are responsible for a number of death of Bangladeshis each year.
Trinidad & Tobago: Discussing Homophobia
Trinidad and Tobago's gspottt thinks that “2010 is off to a promising start” thanks to sociologist Linden Lewis’ addressing of the issue of homophobia in the Caribbean.
