Stories about Law from October, 2015
Indian Scholars Return Their National Awards to Protest Rising Intolerance
"We have never seen an atmosphere like this in India before. There never was any fear to freely voice one’s opinions."
Ukrainian Official Dismissed for Using Russian Email Service for Official Correspondence
Ukrainian authorities believe that using Russian email services could potentially "jeopardize the country's information security" in view of the ongoing information war between Ukraine and Russia.
Netizen Report: US Tech Companies Grapple with EU Data Rules in a Post-Snowden World
Ukraine rolls out Russian-style Internet blacklist, Cuba releases artist-blogger "El Sexto" after 10 months in prison, and Bahrain jails Zainab Al-Khawaja for insulting the king.
How Poor Service Turned Into Slut Shaming in Trinidad & Tobago
"The victim (and yes, she is a victim) is a grown woman who has every right to use her personal property in any legal way she saw fit."
Social Media Help Trinidad and Tobago Police Arrest Child Abuser
Trinidad and Tobago used its social media powers for good this past week, when Internet users circulated video of a child abuse incident that led to two arrests.
From Okinawa to the UN, the Protest Against a US Military Base Continues
Okinawa Governor Takeshi Onaga went to the UN to address human rights violations he says the Japanese and American governments have committed.
Free Alaa Campaign Takes Social Media by Storm on the First Anniversary of His Imprisonment
Alaa Abd El Fattah has spent a year in prison for his activism. He has four more to serve. Netizens are making noise on his first year anniversary calling for his freedom.
Jailed for Anti-Monarchy Graffiti, Thai Musician Gets Support on Social Media
Opas C, a 68-year-old Thai, is serving a three-year jail term for writing an anti-monarchy graffiti in a mall toilet.
The Story of an Ethiopian Girl Who Fought Abduction, and the Lawyers Who Saved Her Life
"Difret" means "courage" in the Amharic language. A new film by that name tells the story of an Ethiopian girl who was kidnapped by men to enforce a "traditional" marriage.
Overturning Lower Court, Maldives Supreme Court Saves Convicted Adulteress From Being Stoned to Death
The Maldives' Supreme Court has acted swiftly to overturn an island court's decision to execute a woman for adultery. The woman had been sentenced to be stoned to death.
Trinidad and Tobago's Oddly Overlooked—and Totally Legal—Fix for Marijuana
With marijuana cases clogging up the courts, cannabis legalisation advocates in Trinidad and Tobago are looking to an overlooked section of the law to help their push for decriminalisation.
The US is No ‘Safe Harbor’ for Citizens’ Data
The European Court of Justice struck down the data transfer agreement between the EU and the US. Privacy advocates are smiling while US tech companies are unsure of what's next.
Two Tanzanians Accused of Posting ‘False Information’ Face Charges Under New Cybercrime Law
According to the state, both men have violated Section 16 of Cybercrimes Act, which prohibits "publication of false information." Little more is currently known about their cases.
Sex Never Stops Selling. Even in Conservative Tajikistan
"To avoid arrest sex workers and their clients will look for remote places, which will in turn endanger these women."
Myanmar Activist Faces 5 Years in Jail for Facebook Post Mocking Army Uniform
The Facebook post compared the color of the army's new uniform to a traditional dress worn by opposition leader and Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.
Egyptian Facebook User Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Putting Mickey Mouse Ears on Sisi
Egyptian Facebook user Amr Nohan has been sentenced to three years in prison by a military court for adding Mickey Mouse ears to President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi's image.
Political Cartoons Defy Censorship to Expose Thai-Style ‘Democracy’
A political cartoonist who criticized Thailand's military-backed government has become the latest journalist to be summoned by the army for "attitude-adjustment."
Angolan Activist's Health in Danger After Nearly Three Weeks of Hunger Strike in Prison
Luaty Beirao, reportedly in critical condition, was arrested in June with 14 others on accusations of plotting a coup. He and the others maintain they were merely discussing peaceful protest.
Netizen Report: Is Egypt Blocking Voice Calls on WhatsApp and Skype?
Lebanon arrests two over Facebook posts, Venezuela blocks Bitcoin sites in crusade against foreign currency, and the EU takes 'Safe Harbor' away from US tech companies.
Arrest and Prison Time for Journalists and Bloggers over Facebook Posts in Lebanon
Two Lebanese Facebook users found themselves sentenced to prison for posts they wrote on the social networking site.
A Letter to the Rulers of Russia, From Oleg Kashin
On October 3, Oleg Kashin published an open letter addressed to Putin and Medvedev, where he discusses his case and the significance its abandonment has for Russia as a nation.