Stories about Human Rights from August, 2011
Bahrain: The Plight of Unfairly Dismissed Employees
Bahraini blogger Mahmood Al Yousif sheds light on the plight of Bahrainis “unfairly” dismissed from their jobs due to the current unrest in the country.
Cuba: From the Mouths of Las Damas
Pedazos de La Isla has an account of “physical blows, shoving, threats, deportations, and arrests” against members of the Ladies in White.
Iran: A blogger was beaten up in jail
Human rights activists say [fa] Hossein Maleki Ronaghi, a jailed blogger, was beaten up in prison, after writing a letter to Iran's judicary authorities, by a guard and sent to a hospital. This blogger has been sentenced to 15 years jail.
East Timor: Students Arrested While Supporting West Papua
On August 17, a demonstration in support of West Papua in Dili ended with the detention of three Timorese students, reports the blog East Timor and Indonesia Action Network. Students were calling for the right of West Papuan to self-determination while condemning human rights violation by the Indonesian military and...
Costa Rica's ‘Slut Walk’
José Medrano [es], ‘Conejitos Suicidas’ [es] and Julio Córdoba [es], among others, blogged about the ‘Slut Walk‘ which was held in Costa Rica for the first time on Sunday, August 14.
Russia: Arresting Political Opposition
Vladimir Kara-Murza of Spotlight on Russia argues that Putin's Russia is becoming increasingly Kafkaesque as opposition leader Boris Nemtsov again – twice in two days – has been arrested for exercising political rights and freedoms, at the same time as Prime Minister Putin is seemingly becoming all the more detached...
Russia: Volga German Deportation Turns 70
Otto's Random Thoughts commemorates the 70th anniversary of the soviet deportation of Volga Germans during the Second World War.
Lebanon: Racism in Banks
The Terrorist Donkey posted a new story[Ar] about racism in Lebanon. This time it happened in a very well known bank where they refused to open an account for a man from Nepal.
Lebanon: New Migrant Center Opening in Beirut
Lebanese blogger and Nasawiya activist Nadine shares some exciting news for the migrant communities in Lebanon: their Migrant Center is in the final stages of opening and it needs your help. Read all about the details in her post.
China and Hong Kong: Citizen Arrested for Wearing Political T-Shirt
A Hong Kong man was dragged off and detained yesterday because of the T-shirt he was wearing. The incident happened during a visit to the city by China's future premier Li Keqiang. Today, local bloggers are demanding answers to several questions, starting with concerns over the sanctity of Hong Kong's laws.
Hungary: Hate Crimes and Double Standards
Hungarian Spectrum writes about the Hungarian authorities’ dubious ways of dealing with what by all accounts appear to be hate crimes against the Roma.
Russia: 20 Years Since the Putsch
Putin Watcher writes about the Putsch that dealt “the fatal blow to the Soviet Union” 20 years ago.
Ukraine: Politics, Economy, Euro 2012 and Relations With the West
At OpenDemocracy.net, Sergei Zhadan writes in depth on how Ukraine's political and economic situation affects the ongoing preparations for the Euro 2012 football championship, which is less than a year away. Earlier this month, Iryna Solonenko and Peter Rutland wrote about Western policy towards Ukraine.
The ‘New Latin America’ Faces its Past
The Council on Hemispheric Affairs Blog is posting a series “that will explore the concept of the New Latin America by focusing on recent developments that highlight how the region contrasts with its past.” So far COHA research associates have written about the Dos Erres trial in Guatemala, Venezuela's Hugo Chávez and Simón...
India: RTI and Wildlife Activist Killed in Broad Daylight
Indian Right To Information activist and NGO worker Shehla Masood (39) was shot dead in front of her residence in Bhopal on Tuesday morning. She was also known for campaigning on wildlife conservation. Indian Twitter users react to this tragic death.
Iran: Blogger Freed After 25-Day Hunger Strike
Dr. Mehdi Khazali, a blogger, publisher and son of a leading conservative cleric and former Council of Guardians member, Ayatollah Khazali, was released on bail from prison on Sunday after a 25-day hunger strike. The blogger has raised his voice against the Iranian government for the last two years.
Jamaica: No Love for Gays?
“The situation in Jamaica concerning the status and well-being of its homosexual citizens continues to evolve in a one step forward-two steps backward manner”: Active Voice explains.
Lebanon: Checkpoint Detention
Danielle at This is Beirut writes about her experience during the detention and release of her friend (for a couple of hours) at a security checkpoint, as they were returning to Beirut after a day at a winery in the Bekaa Valley.
Missing Dutchman Returns Home after Detention in North Korea
Robert Neff from Marmot's Hole posted about Van der Bijl, a Dutchman who went to North Korea to buy stamps and painting and ended up missing. He has returned home after being detained in North Korea on charges of anti-state activities. The charges appear to be related to the photos...
Russia: “On the Eve of Collapse”
To mark the upcoming 20th anniversary of the August 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union, OpenDemocracy.net publishes two excerpts from Susan Richards’ 1990 book, “Epics of Everyday Life: Encounters in a Changing Russia.”
Cuba: First “Gay” Marriage
This past weekend, a gay man and a trans-sexual woman, got married. In Cuba - on the same day that Fidel Castro turned 85. Bloggers weigh in on the landmark event, including Cuba's most well-known netizen, Yoani Sanchez, who acted as matron of honour.
