Stories about Human Rights from December, 2010
Azerbaijan: Adnan and Emin are back… and say thank you
In Mutatione Fortitudo posts the first YouTube video by Adnan Hajizade and Emin Milli since their release. In the video, the two video blogging youth activists in Azerbaijan say thank you to all those who followed their case and contributed to international pressure calling for their release. From world leaders...
Sri Lanka: Tamil Version Of The National Anthem Scrapped
Raja Basu at Potpourri informs that “the Sri Lankan government has scrapped the Tamil version of the island nation’s national anthem – ‘Sri Lanka Matha'”.
Brazil: Recognition of the Palestinian State
On December 3, 2010 Brazil officially recognized [pt] the Palestinian state within the 1967 borders. The Brazilian blogsphere reaction is an analysis of the meaning of the recognition for the Brazilian government and it's practical effects.
Ukraine: Donbass Coal-Miners’ Miserable Working Conditions
@Matteush comments (UKR) on the Ukrainian segment of an Al Jazeera documentary (YouTube video, in Russian, with English subtitles) about inhumane working conditions all over the world, including the coal-mining region of Ukraine, Donbass.
Indonesia: Flogging for extramarital kiss
Ross from Indonesia condemns the flogging received by a couple in Aceh after being caught of engaging in an extramarital kiss.
Bangladesh: The Trigger Happy Indian BSF Exposed
Jyoti at Unheard Voice highlights the recently published report of Human Rights Watch chronicling the situation on the India Bangladesh border. The report documents indiscriminate killing and torture by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) against both Bangladeshi and Indian nationals in the border area.
Armenia: Police target Emos
Although understood to be a fairly conservative and traditional country, reports that police in Armenia were targeting Emos, a stereotypically melancholic sub-culture associated especially with teenagers, caused alarm and outrage among bloggers and Facebook users.
Serbia: The Controversy of the Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony
Sinisa Boljanovic writes about Serbia's initial decision not to attend the Nobel peace prize ceremony and the controversy it caused.
China: “the person I most admire has the surname Liu.”
Danwei has translated a range of Chinese microbloggers’ tweets and posts celebrating their heroes. Those mentioned are all surnamed Liu, and share similar traits with Liu Xiaobo, this year's imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize winner.
Saudi Arabia: Free Saudi Scholar Dr Mohammed Alabdulkareem
Saudi Dr Mohammed Alabdulkareem was arrested after publishing an article on the effectiveness of the political regulation among the royal family. Using blogs, Facebook and Twitter, netizens stand up to call for his release.
India: Sari Is Not A Terrorist Outfit
The Indian ambassador to the United States Meera Shankar was pulled from a security line at the Jackson-Evers International Airport in Mississippi, USA, and was subsequently forced to undergo a pat-down body search on grounds that she was wearing a sari. The incident sparked strong protests from India and the blogosphere reacts.
Lebanon: Blogger Farfahinne's First Arrest
Lebanese human rights activist and blogger Farfahinne shares her story of getting arrested by the Lebanese security forces when she tried to enter the Palestinian refugees camp "Nahr al-Bared" in north Lebanon to meet friends.
Bangladesh: On US, Where Liberty Is A Statue
“It is about time the Statue of Liberty started minding its own business and oiling its own recession-afflicted machine,” comments Maskawaith Ahsan at E-Bangladesh while discussing contemporary issues like Wikileaks and the frisking of Indian ambassador to the US, Meera Shankar, at the Mississippi Airport.
Kenya: Kenya and the ICC: Setting the record straight
Why is the Kenyan government doing a u-turn on its promise to cooperate with the International Criminal Court?: “Now that the investigations are done the Prosecutor has announced that he is ready to take the next step and will be requesting the International Court to issue summons against 6 high...
Kenya: The case of Kenyan born with both male and female genitalia
Kenyan Jurist discusses the case of Richard Muasya in Kenya who was born with both female and male genitalia and therefore unable to secure a birth certificate, identity card or any travel documents.
Cuba: UN Vote on LGBT Rights Sparks Controversy
During the UN General Assembly, Cuba supported the amendment to remove the explicit reference to sexual orientation from the periodic resolution condemning the extrajudicial, arbitrary or summary executions. The vote has sparked a debate in the Cuban blogosphere that has reached the governmental sphere.
Cuba: International Human Rights Day
Uncommon Sense explains why today, International Human Rights Day, is important to him.
Russia: Assange for Nobel Peace Prize?
Siberian Light writes that “Russia seems to be having great fun with the whole wikileaks affair”: “And the latest – Russia has gleefully seized the opportunity to suggest that Assange has done such a service to the world that he should be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. […] Next...
Russia: Political Implications of Kushchevskaya Massacre
A Good Treaty and The Power Vertical write about last month's Kushchevskaya massacre and its political implications.
India: Exploitation Of Contract Laborers
Rashmi Singh at Kafila highlights the plights of the contract laborers who are constructing a new hostel building for Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, India.
Haiti: Unrest Takes Hold
As the debacle over election results continues, Haitian bloggers discuss the mounting unrest in the country, which further complicates efforts to deal with the cholera epidemic.
