Stories about Politics from September, 2019
Censorship and online threats against the press spell trouble for the future of Pakistani journalism
The Committee to Protect Journalists says as many as 61 journalists have been killed in Pakistan since 1992; in most cases, the perpetrators could not be identified.
Press freedom watchdog dismisses China’s '70 Years of Progress on Human Rights’ as ‘smokescreen’
Reporters Without Borders slams China's white paper on human rights as "a smokescreen" to mask the country's "horrendous record" with regard to human rights and press freedom.
Global rally to urge U.S. congress to vote for the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act
'This is a plea for universal human rights, for democracy and for the freedom to choose…'
How was Pope Francis’ visit to Mozambique?
Pope Francis visited Mozambique from 4 to 6 September.
A snapshot of climate strikes across Southeast Asia
The protest actions in Southeast Asia highlighted various issues such as the impact of large-scale mining, haze pollution, and continuing dependence on fossil fuels.
Russia's return to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe: Diplomacy or defeat?
Amending the Council of Europe’s (CoE) sanctioning rules to restore Russia’s voting rights in its Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) has divided democracy and human rights advocates.
Broken bones, internal bleeding: Hong Kong police used ‘reckless, indiscriminate’ tactics during protests, says Amnesty
"...police officers meted out violence prior to and during arrests, even when the individual had been restrained. The use of force was clearly excessive, violating international human rights law."
Serbian journalists expose a ruling party bot application used to manipulate readers’ comments on media websites
Investigative journalists discovered that a mobile application linked to their country's ruling party IP address was used for automatic voting on user comments on websites of popular media outlets.
Azerbaijanis wary of new ‘morality police’
Progressive Baku residents see "morality police" as immoral, and experts say the move will ultimately be ineffective.
Yale-NUS college draws criticism in Singapore after canceling a class on ‘dialogue and dissent’
"If we cannot make space and listen to the person that says no, then democracy dies. It’s that fundamental."
China Central Television urges netizens to doxx Hong Kong protesters and reporters
The state-run TV helped publicise doxxing site hkleaks.ru, which targeted pro-democracy lawmakers, student activists and journalists in Hong Kong.
Cameroon on a path to ‘national dialogue’ as Anglophone crisis continues
Cameroon's national dialogues were announced amidst ongoing violence and a new surge of refugees fleeing insecurity — including intimidation, lockdowns and school closures — in the Anglophone northwest and southwest regions.
Street-side vendors of Zanzibar’s iconic ‘kanga’ textiles forced to close up shop after 30 years
Kanga sellers in Stone Town, Zanzibar, were told their street-side stalls are "unauthorized informal businesses" that clutter passageways, impinge on Stone Town's original charm and reduces its value.
Internet shutdowns and the right to access in Sudan: A post-revolution perspective
In response to a five-week long shutdown, a court ordered telecommunications companies to apologise to customers.
Filipino community radio stations struggle to survive amid attacks and difficulties
"If the marginalized are underserved by the mass media establishment, they must be allowed to be their own voice."
Jamaica remembers Hurricane Gilbert, but is the island prepared for a Dorian?
As the climate crisis worsens and the islands of the Caribbean often bear the brunt of the storms' wrath, the time for talk is over.
New finance minister of North Macedonia faces sexist attacks online
The spokesperson of the main opposition party wrote a Facebook post about the new minster's appointment that was filled with misogynistic language.
Locked down in Kashmir: A traveler's view
It's been more than a month since the Indian government placed the state of Kashmir on lockdown. A Bangladeshi traveller shares her experience of visiting the region during that period.
A proposed administrative shift in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church stokes ethnic, religious tensions
Oromo clerics say the EOTC expects Oromo churchgoers to worship in Ge’ez, the church’s liturgical language, or Amharic, the working language of Ethiopia's federal government.
‘Glory to Hong Kong': The anthem of a protest movement
Tens of thousands of Hongkongers are participating in flash mob performances of the new protest song “Glory to Hong Kong” in the streets and in shopping malls across the city.
Cameroonian parents fear sending children back to school in midst of armed conflict
In Cameroon, separatists have used school boycotts as a bargaining chip. Fighters have killed and kidnapped teachers in English regions to keep schools from opening again until demands are met.
