Stories about Law from December, 2013
9 Things the Russian Government Says Are “Gay Propaganda”
Russian state censors have revised the criteria for identifying information online that supposedly endangers minors. One new report tries to clarify the definition of "gay propaganda."
China's Southern Media Group Turns Back on Anti-Censorship Supporters
The newspaper issued testimony that supports the prosecution of activists who took part in an anti-censorship protest in support of the paper.
Vladimir Milov “On Khodorkovsky”
Vladimir Milov is an energy sector expert and former Deputy Energy Minister of the Russian Federation. RuNet Echo translates his reaction to Mikhail Khodorkovsky's release from prison last week.
Brazilian Ruralists Hold ‘Auction for Resistance’ Against Indigenous Land Claims
An auction in Mato Grosso do Sul raised one million Brazilian reals for armed security on farms "against indigenous occupations. Ruralists claimed the funds would not finance a militia.
Pussy Riot Free to Tweet at Last!
Maria Alekhina and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova are already micro-blogging up a storm.
Sri Lanka's Census On War Dead – A Step Towards Transparency and Reconciliation
The Government of Sri Lanka has started a census on the deaths, missing people and damage to property in the conflict with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam affecting the Tamil minorities from 1983 to 2009. Serendipity blog hopes that the counting would be done properly: Whilst the press and...
Will Pussy Riot Fight Putin's Amnesty and Remain in Prison?
The manner in which Mikhail Khodorkovsky was freed seems to differ from what awaits Pussy Riot's Tolokonnikova and Alekhina, who have signaled some unwillingness to leave prison early.
Despite Passage of India's Anti-Corruption Lokpal Bill, Public Mistrust Remains
The bill in its current form is disputed as toothless and has serious loopholes, which puts the complainant in a disadvantageous position.
The State Of Freedom Of Religion in Maldives
The Maldives ranks high on the list of governments that restrict religious freedom. Maldivian citizens have to be Muslim and cannot practice any religion other than Islam. Non-Muslim foreigners cannot vote, worship publicly, obtain citizenship, and hold public positions. Journalist Hilath Rasheed notes that Maldives perhaps will not be able...
Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Bill Would Jail Gays and Lesbians for Life
The bill would also jail anyone who did not report gay people to authorities.
South Korea: Class-action Suit Against Key Players of Election Manipulation
Marking a year after the latest presidential election tainted with allegations of political tampering, attorney Han Woong, together with 610 plaintiffs, filed a civil lawsuit [ko] against those who are allegedly responsible for the election manipulation scandal. Han accused ex-President Lee Myung-bak, former head of the NIS (National Intelligence Service), ex-Commissioner of the Seoul...
Pashto Singer Ghazala Javed's Ex-Husband Sentenced to Death for Her Murder
During her lifetime, Ghazala Javed bravely defied Taliban pressure to stop singing and spoke up against creeping Talibanization in her hometown Swat.
China: Online Annihilation of Dissent
China Media Project translated veteran journalist and former Southern Weekly commentator Xiao Shu's comment on the Chinese authorities’ online annihilation tactics against Chinese liberal opinion leaders: In early August this year I was abducted by state security police. Under orders to bring me in for questioning, state security from Guangzhou...
Indian Diplomat Devyani Khobragade's Arrest, Strip Search Earn Apology from US
US Secretary of State John Kerry reportedly expressed regret in a phone call to India's National Security Advisor Shiv Shankar Menon over how the arrest of Devyani Khobragade was handled.
New Version of Brazil's Marco Civil Submitted to the House of Representatives
On December 11, congressman Alessandro Molon (PT-RJ) submitted to the Brazilian House of Representatives the new version of the Marco Civil.
Documentary: Mining's Terrible Consequences for Brazil's People and Environment
On the eve of the vote of Brazil's new Mining Code, a documentary produced by collective Mídia NINJA appeared to give voice to the communities in regions affected by mining.
Refuse to Pay Pension Premium? Japan Could Seize Your Assets
The Japan Pension Service has announced that people who refuse to pay the national pension premium could have their assets seized if they still refuse to pay. Japan's young population have been reluctant to pay for national pensions mostly because they believe the system will be broken by the time...
Saudi Arabia Passes Criticized “Anti-Terrorism Law”
Calling for political reform in Saudi Arabia is now considered terrorism, according to a new law which came into effect today.
A French Version of NSA Electronic Surveillance Program?
Etienne Papin, a Paris-based lawyer expert in internet rights, explains the details of a bill that was approved by the French Senate on December 10: La loi de programmation militaire (Military Planning Act). He describes the bill as the French version of NSA mass electronic surveillance data mining program [fr]...
Russia's Government Might Block Websites for Calls to Unsanctioned Rallies
The Russian parliament will soon vote on a law that would empower the Prosecutor General’s office to close any website that hosts content encouraging people to attend unsanctioned rallies.
Saudi Political Dissident to Be Flogged, Judge Rules
Saudi human rights activist Umar al-Saed has been sentenced to four years in prison and 300 lashes for his peaceful activism, in a secret trial.
