Stories about Politics from April, 2018
Media censorship surrounds the Pashtun rights movement in Pakistan
"There was complete media blackout. But journalists were there [to] tell the story [through] social media. Self censorship sign of oppression"
The chilling effect of officials discussing Telegram's imminent ban in Iran
Some officials say Telegram is set to be blocked at the end of April. Although the app remains technically unfiltered at the moment, usage among Iranians is down.
Armenia's leader resigns amid peaceful mass protests
Protestors expressed long-held resentment toward Sargsyan, who has led Armenia through a period of economic stagnation and high-level corruption.
Angolan authorities bring journalist Rafael Marques back to court, for investigating corruption
A journalist best known for exposing human rights violations in the diamond trade, Marques is not the only target of the Angolan regime.
Armenian civil society spreads its feathers in #YerevanProtests involving up to 100,000 people
The country's old president and new premier is the main focus of the country's biggest protests in at least two decades.
Troll farm takes aim at American audiences in new web campaign
RIA FAN, a Russian news outlet with known connections to the Saint Petersburg "troll factory", announced its latest project: a website called USA Really, aimed at a U.S.-based audience.
8-year-old Asifa's heinous rape and murder in India fans the flames of nationalism
"Asifa is not 'just the face of a child'; she symbolizes the violence her community faces."
The Philippine government's plan to shut down Boracay resort island threatens to displace thousands
"Thousands upon thousands of real people will be affected by a complete closure of the island. Real, breathing humans, not statistics."
Will Singapore's plan to combat ‘deliberate online falsehoods’ stifle free speech?
"…the biggest threat to the stability and growth of the democratic process in Singapore is the government’s control of the media and information."
Liberian journalists detained, slapped with US 1.8 million lawsuit amid political feud
Only weeks after FrontPage Africa reported on the LEITI scandal, the newspaper was slammed with a crippling libel civil lawsuit. Press freedom activists believe FrontPage Africa has been targeted.
#KnowYourDictator: Political Emigres and Their Hashtags Haunt Azerbaijan's Re-elected Strongman
Having largely suffocated opposition at home, newly-elected President Ilham Aliyev is finding ways to hurt activists living abroad.
Ugandan Government Plans to Tax Social Media Users for Too Much Gossip
"Uganda wants to profit where it did not invest. Social media owners gave it out for free and you wanna tax it?"
Brazil's Black Population Dominates Popular Politics, But Remains Left Out From Government
Brazilian scholar Flávia Rios reflects on achievements and challenges in the struggle for racial and gender equality.
No Laughing Matter: China Shuts Down Popular Joke-Sharing App
"A country, a government, a supervision department. They are all scared of a joke-sharing application."
Trinidad & Tobago's LGBT Community Speaks Out as Court Decision on ‘Buggery’ Law Approaches
"Religion must not trump reason when it comes to basic human rights."
By Attempting to Curb Disinformation on Slain Politician Marielle Franco, a Brazilian Judge Hands Facebook Censorship Powers
The order could set a dangerous precedent for freedom of speech online in the country.
Amid Crackdown on Dissent, Six Vietnamese Human Rights Activists Are Dealt Long Prison Sentences
“I will continue the struggle and if I must sit in jail, others on the outside will fight on for me and they will never stop.”
Russian Newspaper Closes After Years of Tense, Often Violent Confrontation with Security Services
In an op-ed announcing the newspaper’s closure, the acting editor Yuri Grozmani said he had little hope for domestic prosecution of FSB officers complicit in the act of censorship
A Rural-Born Peace Movement Turns Heads Amid the Carnage of the Afghan War
"The only aim of the sit-in is to stop fighting from both sides. The Taliban should not send bombers and the government should not drop bombs on them."
With the Election of Its First Afro-Descendant Vice President, Costa Rica Takes a Step Forward in the Fight Against Racism
“It is a way of reclaiming not only the Costa Rican black community, but the entire black community of Latin America."
Why Spring Brings Both Joy and Pain to Afghanistan
"Happy Nawroz to all. May this year be a year of peace, harmony and an end to suffering. Peace will prevail. We are optimistic for it."
