Stories about Human Rights from February, 2009
Poland, Pakistan: Piotr Stanczak's Death
The beatroot writes about the death of Piotr Stanczak, the Polish engineer who was kidnapped four months ago in Pakistan and beheaded last week.
Russia: The Washington Post Coverage
The Ivanov Report reviews and critiques the coverage that Russia received from the Washington Post in January.
Belarus: The Army
Belarusan American Blog writes about the problems of Belarusian army.
Egypt: Posts on Feb 6 Pro Gaza March Police Crackdown
From Egypt, 3arabawy links to blogs posts and articles covering his country's crackdown on a pro-Gaza march.
Cuba, U.S.A.: True Colours
Diaspora blogger Uncommon Sense thinks that the powers that be in Cuba have shown their true colours this week by rejecting international calls for the release of political prisoners.
Iran: Four Bloggers Sentenced to Prison, Floggings
Tehran's Judiciary Court sentenced four Iranian bloggers and journalists to prison terms of up to three years and three months, and to be flogged.Only one of these bloggers lives inside Iran.
Japan: Threats to freedom of speech and freedom to protest
On the 16th of January a group of protesters gathered outside Shinjuku station (one of the most crowded stations in Tokyo) to denounce Prime Minister Aso and his cabinet. The protesters were questioned by police and the protest eventually stopped, with all events caught on camera. Bloggers discuss implications for freedom of speech.
Russia: “Russianwitness” vs “Da Russophile”
A debate on life in today's Russia between “Russianwitness” and “Da Russophile” – at Streetwise Professor‘s blog.
Egypt: More activists and bloggers arrested
Two more Egyptian bloggers and activists have been detained by authorities, sparking calls and campaigns by bloggers and human rights activists for their release, in the latest series of arrests targeting online activists. Lasto Adri reports from Cairo.
Uganda: Behind The Mirror
Sokari writes about the documentary Behind the Mirror, which investigates and advocates for responses to the many challenges faced by the LGBTI community in Uganda.
Cuba: Human Rights
Diaspora blogger Child of the Revolution calls “shameless” the Cuban justice minister's suggestion that all is well when it comes to human rights, while Uncommon Sense links to the trailer of a new documentary about Cuban political prisoner Oscar Biscet.
Armenia-Azerbaijan: LGBT roundup
With the traditional media in the South Caucasus rarely reporting on sexual or religious minority rights maturely, blogs have stepped in to fill the gap and Unzipped: Gay Armenia continues to post LGBT news from the region. Following recent homophobic remarks from local politicians and civil society activists as well as in articles in the local press, the blog says there is actually some good news for a change.
Egypt: Philip Rizk ‘Kidnapped
From Egypt, blogger Sarah Carr narrates the events of the To Gaza campaign march and the events leading to the disappearance of journalist/masters student/filmmaker/blogger Philip Rizk, who was grabbed by State Security and taken to an undisclosed location.
Russia: Tension in Dagestan pressures Moscow
LJ user sunlike77 writes about [RUS] rising tensions in Dagestan as violence and human rights’ concerns increase, making it a major hotspot in the north Caucasus.
Russia: Reflections on Recent Murders in Moscow
An Anglophone blogger writes about high-profile murders that took place in Moscow this past week. A Russophone blogger describes the situation in the Russian capital in a morbid mock letter to "out-of-town relatives."
Russia, EU: Barroso's Criticism of Russia
George Iulian Jiglau writes this about Jose Manuel Barroso's criticism of Russia's human right record at Th!nk About It: “Do you risk the energetic safety of several EU member states for the sake of presenting yourself as the defender of human rights? Shouldn’t this kind of ‘concerns’ be left in...
Iran: Iranian blogger, Mirsayafi was jailed
OmidReza Mirsayafi, an Iranian blogger and journalist was jailed on Saturday.Read more here and here.
Cambodia: Report accuses elite of theft
Global Witness, a non-governmental organization based in London released a report which warns that Cambodia risks descending into a kleptocracy, alleging that large sums of monies paid to the government are benefiting the ruling elite instead of the people of Cambodia
Russia: Notes on the Protests
Sean's Russia Blog compares the protests in Russia to those taking place elsewhere.
Russia: EU and Human Rights
Following “a notable exchange between PM Vladimir Putin and EU Commission President José Manuel Barroso,” Robert Amsterdam writes: “In my opinion, it was about time that Europe woke up to the fact that it is not OK, it is not normal for the leadership of any country to say nothing...
Russia: Unemployment and Law Enforcement
RFE/RL's The Power Vertical writes: “Some 5.8 million Russians are currently out of work. By the end of this year, that figure is expected to rise as high as 7 million. One area that will not be hit by job losses, however, is law enforcement.”