Stories from May, 2018
Kazakhstan commemorates Stalin’s Terror
Government critics argue that Kazakhstan has never had a frank debate about the legacy or lessons of its totalitarian past.
The not-forgotten soldier: Afghan serviceman goes viral after Taliban execution
"The Last Gaze of the Free Man!"
What were Global Voices’ readers up to last week?
During the week of May 21-27, 2018, our stories and translations attracted readers from 206 countries. Number 19 on the list? Lebanon. And number 198? Faroe Islands.
Swiss brewery sparks protests in Nepal for naming new beer with timur flavor after late king
"People love Late King Birendra. People love beer, too! So how and why does naming a beer “Birendra” offend people and hurt their sentiments?"
Same-sex love ‘is just as legitimate’ as heterosexual love, says Cuban activist Yadiel Cepero
"The concept of 'normal' or 'natural' is as relative as humanity itself."
How ‘African’ is Northern Africa?
"Why are Africans from north of the Sahara sometimes not considered definitively 'African'?"
‘Bocamandja': The theatrical adventure strengthening Equatorial Guinean culture
"When the actors and actresses have spent some time working you realise that they have an interior defiance which makes them face things head on."
Acquittal of Fiji Times sedition case hailed as victory for press freedom in Oceania
"It has become quite obvious that the government of Fiji has continued to charge people with sedition to suppress freedom of speech and also political dissent."
Protestors in Bosnia and Herzegovina demand justice in two unresolved deaths
The protests demanding justice in the death of 21-year-old David Dragičević have spread throughout Bosnia and its diaspora.
Bangladesh's ‘zero tolerance’ crackdown on drugs is leaving dozens dead
Human rights advocates say security forces are extrajudicially killing those suspected of drug crimes.
In India, 13 people are killed after police open fire on copper plant protesters
"My Constitution...ensures my right to protest. It ensures my right to life,livelihood,safe and healthy environment. #Thoothukkudi exposes the barbaric assault on these rights."
Macedonians manage to joke about a serious naming dispute with Greece
Although most citizens of the Republic of Macedonia consider the naming dispute with Greece a serious matter, some have dealt with it through humor and satire.
Russian anti-corruption activists are jailed for ‘inciting riots’ based on their tweets and retweets
"...here goes another 'organizing a rally by retweet.' Looks like this time they’re just locking up everyone."
Sabika Sheikh, the Pakistani student slain in US school shooting, had wanted to bridge the two countries
"...she said...'I want to learn the American culture and I want America to learn the Pakistan culture and I want us to come together and unite,'" her host mother recalled.
Eight decades later, prejudice between Jordanians and Palestinians persist
While the time living together surely dawns a sense of peace among the two peoples, complete harmony is still not present in certain aspects of life.
Lebanon's historic Anfeh salt marshes threatened by yet another resort
"This is the last clean place where we can take our kids to swim"
Mexico's new copyright law allows censorship of online content, rights advocates warn
The Mexican chapter of the Wikimedia Foundation warned that the approved changes "criminalize the act of publishing" and "legalize acts of violating the fundamental and constitutional rights..."
While some Iraqis boycott ‘futile’ elections, others vote to shake up parliament
Sairoun’s win demonstrates that Iraqis don't have to vote strictly on ethno-sectarian lines and future politicians will need to do more to impress voters.
Malaysia’s new government urged to implement media reforms
"These are the principles that have now evolved after much pain and argument in most modern democracies and Malaysia would do well to join them."
Tunisian journalists say police union attacks are having a chilling effect on press freedom
Impunity for abuses committed by security forces and police unions "is almost becoming a norm," according to the syndicate of Tunisian journalists.
What were Global Voices’ readers up to last week?
During the week of May 14-20, 2018, our stories and translations attracted readers from 211 countries. Number 109 on the list? Gabon. And number 13? Germany.