Stories about Human Rights from February, 2010
Haiti: Why All The Stories About Orphans?
A month after a seven-point earthquake destroyed much of southern Haiti, the fate of children, and particularly orphans, has become the main story in many corners. But Haitian voices on the topic have been few...
Jamaica: Prison Riot
“The Jamaican government and society think that they have more important things to worry about, rather than looking after its prisoners and criminals”: Jamaica Salt blogs about a prison riot...
Iran: Protesters ask for referendum
While President Ahmadinejad spoke to a crowd of thousands at Azadi, or Freedom Square, in central Tehran on the anniversary of the revolution, anti regime protesters demonstrated and called for...
Japan: When forced confessions lead justice astray
The recent Ashikaga case [en] saw a man acquitted after serving 17 years in prison after being convicted of murdering a child because of inaccurate DNA tests. It has once...
Cambodia: Mixed Views on Freedom of Expression
GV author Sopheap Chak writes about the human rights situation in Cambodia focusing on the state of freedom of expression in the country.
Hungary: Report on Acceptance of Right-Wing Extremism
Hungarian Spectrum reports that, according to the recent findings of a Hungarian think-tank, “in Turkey, Ukraine, Bulgaria, and Hungary the impulses toward the acceptance of right-wing extremism are the strongest.”
Ukraine: From “Street Children” to “Adult Bums”
Scenes from the Sidewalk writes about the situation with street children in Ukraine: “It is even worse if they are over seventeen as at that point they are no longer...
Belarus: Cartoon on New Internet Regulations
A cartoon commentary on the newly-introduced Internet regulations in Belarus: “On the Internet, nobody knows you are a dog… unless you live in Belarus.”
Russia: Interview With Nina Khrushcheva, Part 2
A second installment of the video interview with Dr. Nina Khrushcheva – at Robert Amsterdam's blog. (Part 1 is here.)
Iran: Green Movement Readying for February 11 Protests
Iran's Green Movement is ready to defy the Iranian regime with protests once again - this time during the 31st anniversary of the Islamic Revolution on 11 Februrary (22 Bahman).
Pakistan: PTA Blocks President's ‘Shut-Up’ Video
YouTube.com recently faced intermittent reports of irregular inaccessibility across various ISP's in Pakistan. It turned out that Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) had placed an URL-specific ban on one particular video of the President's speech in a rally.
China: Photos from outside the Tan Zuoren trial
Media, diplomats and even a monk were present at activist Tan Zuoren‘s trial yesterday where he was sentenced to five years in prison. Media activist Yang Licai today uploaded his...
China: Ai Weiwei on Tan Zuoren
C. Custer from ChinaGeeks translated prominent blogger Ai Weiwei's comments on Tan Zuoren's trial and 5 year imprisonment sentence.
Mozambique: Have African people been ‘Cursed'?
Custódio Duma wonders whether Africans have been ‘cursed’, leading to servitude of black people worldwide. He mentions biblical perspectives and says [pt]: “It's from Africa that most resources that keep the capitalism...
Sri Lanka: Another Blunder
A Voice In Colombo thinks that the victorious Mahinda Rajapaksa's government had “created another chance for opposition to gain public sympathy” by arresting general Sarath Fonseka.
China: Let Feng Zhenghu come home, to jail time
After 92 days in Narita Airport, activist Feng Zhenghu has returned to Japan and is preparing for his ninth attempt to return home to China. Should he go? Illiberal members of Anti-CNN.com think jail time for leaders in China's exiled democracy movement could give it a fresh start.
China: #Tanzuoren – to be human
Chinese activist Tan Zuoren was sentenced to 5 year imprisonment and 3 year deprivation of political rights this morning (Feb 9) under the charge of inciting subversion of state power....
Arab World: Should the New York Times Reassign Ethan Bronner?
Over the past couple of weeks, a much-discussed topic in the broader Arab blogosphere has been a news story that broken by a member of the blogosphere itself. On January 25, the Electronic Intifada (EI) reported that the son of Ethan Bronner, New York Times' Jerusalem bureau chief, had recently been inducted into the Israeli Defense Forces. Arab bloggers discuss the case.
Venezuela: The Interrupted Hunger Strike of Franklin Brito
Venezuelan farmer Franklin Brito had been on a hunger strike, when he was taken to a military hospital against his will, while the government is questioning his mental state. His family is calling for his release and say that the label was placed on him because of his opposition to the government.
Trinidad & Tobago: Water Noir
“I find it baffling that, decades later, we have not figured out this whole water issue as yet. Water is, after all, essential for life. And while not strictly speaking...
China: Liu Xiaobo's final statement
China Law Prof blog posts Prof. David Kelly's translation of Chinese human rights dissident, Liu Xiabo's final statement: I have no enemies in his blog.
