Global Voices » Digital Activism

Jamaica: Blogging about Police Brutality

Janine Mendes-Franco — Sat, 18 May 2013 16:23:23 +0000

To mark the tragic anniversary of the Tivoli incursion and the lives that were lost there, Jamaican bloggers are uniting to draw attention to the scourge of extra-judicial killings in Jamaica and a police force seemingly out of control and beyond restraint.

Active Voice is gearing up to comment on police brutality for Blog Action Day next week.

Latin American Congress of Living Cultures

Pablo Andres Rivero — Fri, 17 May 2013 21:45:59 +0000

Rituals, reflections, poetic “assaults”… From May 17 to 23, 2013, the first Latin American Congress of Community Living Cultures [es] will invade the streets of La Paz, Bolivia. The city will host government representatives from Brazil and Colombia, along with more than one thousand activists.
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VIDEO: South Korean LGBT Protest

Lee Yoo Eun — Fri, 17 May 2013 19:49:10 +0000

A South Korean LGBT rights group, Rainbow Action, staged a protest at Seoul Plaza on May 17, 2013, calling on the government to pass the anti-discrimination law. A video of the protest was posted on the Youtube.

Comoros Chats About Identity on Twitter

Jea — Fri, 17 May 2013 16:45:12 +0000

The hashtags #TesPasComorien and #Teamcomoco are stoking conversation among Comorian Twitter users about what it means to be from the island nation.

Twitter users are adding to the conversation under the first hashtag, #TesPasComorien (You're Not Comorian), which consists of anecdotes that a person must have experienced or observed if they are truly Comorian or have lived in Comoros. The second hashtag, #Teamcomoco, seems to be more general, referring to belonging to the community.

Comoros is an archipelago island nation in the Indian Ocean between northeastern Mozambique and northwestern Madagascar. In addition to many smaller islands, the country consists of the four major islands. One of the islands, Mayotte, continues to be administered by France as an overseas department because it was the only island in the archipelago that voted against independence in 1974.

One of the most popular anecdotes is the photo shared by @ElarifC on Twitter, which shows sandals typically worn in the Mascareignes region. The caption reads: “Admit it. You know these shoes!”.

Sandales aux Comores via @ElarifC on Twitter CC-BY-2.0

Certain tweets are regularly re-tweeted and seem to implicate people who live in Comoros as well as those in the Diaspora. Some, like the tweet by Nafyza Mentos express pride in being Comorian:

@Nafyzamentos: Être comorienne c plus qu'une fierté , on est les etoiles les plus proche de la lune #teamcomoco

@Nafyzamentos: Being Comorian is more than being proud, we are the closest stars to the moon #teamcomoco

Or this tweet from Monsieur Fossettes which describes a style of communication unique to the country:

@Slackersleeper: Nous nos darons quand il nous insulte il aime bien tirer le ” Bé ” de Imbécile mais avec eux ça donne “MmmhBéééciil” #Teamcomoco on se sait

When our parents tell us off, they love to draw out the “be” in “imbecile”, which makes it sound like “MmmhBéééciil” #Teamcomoco

Tweets on culinary traditions also abound:

@Femme_Nkoulou: #TesPasComorien si ta pas un bocal de confiture mais c'est du poutou a l'interieur! Une boite carte d'or avec du madaba dedans

@Femme_Nkoulou: #TesPasComorien If you don't have a jam jar which really contains poutou (ground rice). Or a carte d'or box with madaba (manioc leaves with coconut milk) inside.

Aiadio tweets an image of a local dish:

@ShariifaBwow: @inesBwow @sophiaboss_ pilaaahou #teamcomoco pic.twitter.com/bJQHPeiDnD

Music also receives pride of place when it comes to talking about Comoros. In one tweet, Aksdayday pays homage to Comorian rap:

@Aksdayday : Le Comores il gouverne le rap français wallah

@Aksdayday : Comoros runs French hip hop

In another, Nouky Nouk places the number one Comorian Slam artist above them all:

@VELOAnouk: We still got to keep playing the top #slam from #comores #teamcomoco Absoir-Tsi Nyese (ft William's)

via @youtube

Some Comorian Internet users seem not to share the enthusiasm for using these particular hashtags for this particular affirmation of Comorian identity :

@KingComorien: Pourquoi vous voulez encore mettre le #TEsPasComorien en TT #Teamcomoco On la deja mis arreter vos gogourouitance

@KingComorien: Why persist with the #TEsPasComorien hashtag for TT (trending topics) we already did it with #Teamcomoco - stop with your meaningless chatter

@faissolempire : Si pour être comorien il faut se reconnaitre dans ce # “#TesPasComorien” bah je suis pas comorien alors

@faissolempire : If to be Comorian you have to see yourself in this # “#TesPasComorien” then, oh well, I guess I'm not Comorian

The strong presence of the Comorian community in Marseille, France is reflected in some tweets:

@_Maadine269_ : Ts Comorien et ta paw d'famille à Marseille ??? I M P O S S I B L E #teamComoco

@_Maadine269_ : You're Comorian and you don't have family in Marseille??? I M P O S S I B L E #teamComoco

@Ha_biiba : #TesPasComorien Si ta jamais participer au Djaliko Géant à Marseille (si t'es pas de Marseille t'es pardonner mais le reste nan) #TeamComoco

@Ha_biiba : #TesPasComorien If you've never taken part in the Djaliko Géant in Marseille (if you're not from Marseille then you're forgiven but the rest of you, no way) #TeamComoco

Less positive tweets remind of the harsh realities of life in Comoros.

@Comores_Actus : Quand ceux qui ont dépouillé les Comores , font la morale aux universitaires Comoriens , pauvre pays !: Quand ce… http://bit.ly/YXfpSV

@Comores_Actus : When the same people that stripped Comoros bare, want to lecture Comorian universities, poor country!: When the … http://bit.ly/YXfpSV

Catalonia: Caution about Spain's Hostile Ways

Violeta Camarasa — Fri, 17 May 2013 16:35:18 +0000

A civic statement on Col·lectiu Emma (@CollectiuEmma)'s blog criticizes the way the Spanish government is dealing with the political situation in the region of Catalonia, where 55 % of the population favors independence [ca] from Spain, according to an official poll. The statement explains the “strategy of fear” and other “hostile” arguments, and claims for “a friendly separation, preferably under international supervision and with external support for both parties.” The post is available in English, Spanish, German, French, Arabic, Russian, Portuguese, Italian and Dutch.

Activists Occupy Parliament in Kenya

Ndesanjo Macha — Thu, 16 May 2013 13:26:06 +0000

Kenyans activists occupied the Kenyan parliament yesterday to protest against attempts by Members of Parliament to demand more money. The activists have been using the hashtag occupyparliament on Twitter.

Ukrainian Blogger's Bobs 2013 Award Revoked

Veronica Khokhlova — Thu, 16 May 2013 00:10:59 +0000

Ukrainian blogger Olena Bilozerska's User Winner prize in the Bobs 2013 Best Blog Ukrainian nomination has been revoked, writes [ru] Mustafa Nayyem, the Ukrainian member of the Bobs 2013 jury, on his Facebook page, linking [ru] to the official statement [uk] posted on the Bobs 2013 website. The scandal (more on it in this GV text) seems far from being over in Ukraine, however, as many netizens are displeased with the decision. Nayyem's Facebook announcement has generated over 150 comments so far, many of them critical of the contest organizers in general and Nayyem in particular. In one of the few English-language comments in that thread, Andreas Umland, a Kyiv-based German political scientist, writes:

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INFOGRAPHIC: The Forced Exile of Palestinians

Joey Ayoub — Wed, 15 May 2013 20:47:27 +0000

In commemoration of Nakba Day, the ‘Visualizing Palestine’ graphic team have released their latest infographic entitled “An ongoing displacement” which “quantitatively catalogues the multiple dimensions of Palestinian displacement and loss of land.”

On their Facebook page, they wrote :

May 15th marks the 65th anniversary of the Nakba – when 750,000 Palestinians were displaced from the territory that became Israel. In 1948, more than 50% of the entire Palestinian population was ethnically cleansed.

In commemoration of the Nakba, and the displacement that continues today, we are releasing ‘An Ongoing Displacement'. The new visual quantitatively catalogues the multiple dimensions of Palestinian displacement and loss of land.

www.visualizingpalestine.org/disappearing-palestine

The following image can also be found on their website (click for higher resolution)

Courtesy of VisualizingPalestine

Bahrain Jails Six Twitter Users for Insulting King

Amira Al Hussaini — Wed, 15 May 2013 20:12:17 +0000

Six Twitter users have been sentenced to a year in prison each by a Bahrain court today for allegedly insulting King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa on the micro-blogging site.

According to the government-run Bahrain News Agency, the “six suspects” where charged in five different cases “related to the misuse of freedom of expression and defaming His Majesty the King on twitter.” It added the six were “charged [with] misusing freedoms of expression and opinion publically and remanded .. in custody ahead of their trial.”

According to the London-based Bahrain Press Association those sentenced are [ar]:

المحكمون بالسجن في #البحرين بتهمة إهانة الملك في #تويتر هم: المحامي مهدي البصري، محمود طارش، محسن عبدعلي، حسن عبدعلي، حسن عبدعلي، عمار مكي.

@BahrainPA: Those sentenced to prison with the charges of insulting the king on Twitter are: lawyer Mahdi Al Basri, Mahmood Taresh, Mohsin Abdali, Hassan Abdali, Hassan Abdali and Ammar Makki.

Tweets that won't land you in trouble in Bahrain

The name Hassan Abdali appears twice and Global Voices Online cannot verfiy whether it is two separate people or a mistake. A query by Global Voices remained unanswered at the time of writing this post.

The association added:

@BahrainPA: BPA: consider these sentencing unfair provisions that violate the freedom of Expression

Meanwhile, the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights says five Twitter usershave been sentenced to a year in prison – and calls for their immediate release:

The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) demands:

the immediate release of those who were arrested due to freedom of opinion and expression and to drop all charges against them;

put an end to the restrictions against social media in Bahrain;

protect the free exchange of information on the Internet and not restrict it.

The sentencing sparked criticism online.

Bahraini Freedom Prayers sees the sentences as a threat to silence other dissidents:

@FreedomPrayers: Last year twitter users sentenced to 6months. This year the offering reached 1yr. If the rest didn't shut up, next it will be 5yrs. #Bahrain

From Cambridge, the UK, author Toby Matthiesen tweets:

@TobyMatthiesen: Bahrain court jails 6 tweeters for a year for “insulting” the King. Another sign of GCC trying to limit Twitter impact

And researcher Marc Owen Jones challenges:

@marcowenjones: They couldn't arrest everyone if they all insulted the King on Twitter. Or could they…? #Bahrain

Group to UN: Probe South Korean Election

Lee Yoo Eun — Wed, 15 May 2013 18:26:25 +0000

South Korean civil rights group Fight For Voters’ Rights (FFVR) filed a petition to the United Nations requesting them to investigate suspected election fraud. A series of investigations into South Korean spy agency's illegal involvement in the latest presidential election are still underway in the country.

Media's Too Simple View of Japan LGBT

Keiko Tanaka — Wed, 15 May 2013 11:34:54 +0000

Blogger and activist Masaki C. has something to say about English media coverage of LGBT politics in Japan, arguing that they simplify the issue down to marriage equality:

They are, in constructing LGBT politics in Japan as such, erasing local history and ignoring dialogues taking place among queers in Japan.

Muslim TV Anchor Faces Backlash in India Over ‘Uncivilized’ Veil Comment

Inji Pennu — Wed, 15 May 2013 07:25:48 +0000

A female anchor for a popular Malayalam-language television channel in the southern Indian state of Kerala is facing a firestorm of criticism after she called the Muslim practice of women wearing a veil “uncivilized” and a form of oppression.

Fousiya Musthafa, a Muslim woman herself, talked about the general plight of Muslim women on an India Vision TV program on April 9, 2013 saying the purdah, or practice of veiling and segregation of the sexes, is oppressive, especially for women who have been married living their lives like widows as their husbands are away from home working in the Middle East. She added:

Even with all the modern facilities, in this hot summer here, these women have to wear the uncivilized purdah.

About a quarter of the population in Kerala are Muslim and more than half are Hindu. The editor for India Vision has issued a hazy explanation that there was a misunderstanding with the script, with the editorial board overlooking some unnecessary lines in it.

A group of Muslim women rallying with placard in Kerala. Image by Aji Jayachandran. Copyright Demotix (8/12/2011)

Muslim women in Kerala, who claims the highest literacy rate among other Muslim women in India, began to wear a veil only recently. Some 20 years ago, even though the dress of Muslim women had differences in color and method from other religious groups, it never was an all-covering purdah. Some observe that the influx of Kerala workers into the Middle East on their return has influenced this rise in purdah as a fashion wear in Kerala. Also, famous Kerala writer and poet Kamala Surayya's conversion to Islam during her later years and praise for the purdah may have given the veil a boost in popularity.

However, the rising trend has been met with resistance from some quarters of Kerala's Muslim women who did not want to adhere to such dress codes. Jameela K, mathematics teacher at Sullamussalam Oriental High School in Malappuram district was suspended because she refused to wear the purdah or the green overcoat as prescribed by the school.

And aeronautical engineer Reihana Kazi sought out protection from the court after some of her relatives pleas for her to wear the purdah escalated to death threats.

After Fousia Musthafa's declarations on the veil, Facebook was flooded with virulent comments and posts against her, attacking her with expletives and verbally assaulting her. An Facebook post supporting purdah was written showering the journalist with verbal abuse and defaming her character, which was shared by 1,986 users.

Sreeja Neyyattinkara protests [mal] against such attacks:

ഒരു കാര്യം അതു തെറ്റായാലും ശരിയായാലും ഒരു പെണ്ണ് പറഞ്ഞു അങ്ങനെ പറയുന്നവരെ ഇങ്ങനെ തെറിയഭിഷേകം നടത്താന് ഏത് പ്രവാചകനാണ് നിങ്ങളെ പഠിപ്പിച്ചത്

Even if something is right or wrong, just because a woman said it, did any prophet give you the right to abuse her?

Latheef Arinjira [mal] who shared the same post that has attacked the journalist pleads support:

sahodara vayikkuka…thalkalika labathin vendi samudayathinte acharangale publicil avahelicha indiavisioneyum athile curspondenna chettayekkethireyum prathshedikkuka

dear brother, please read this post. For temporary benefits our culture has been tarnished by this channel (India Vision). Please protest against this.

Most of the comments on FB were pure vitriol and cannot be reprinted. But, there were lone voices too defending purdah which took a more objective approach towards the issue,

Ahmed Niyaz writes as a comment [mal] pertaining to a discussion of the same issue in G+:

ഹിജാബ് മുസ്ലിം സ്ത്രീയുടെ സംസ്കാരമാണ്, കേരളത്തിലെ മതബോധമുള്ള മുസ്ലിംകള് തലമറച്ചിരുന്നു. കേരളത്തിലെ മുസ്ലിംകള് സാംസ്കാരികമായി കൂടുതലായി മതവല്കരിക്കപ്പെട്ടത് ഈയടുത്താണെന്നത് യാഥാര്ത്യമാണ്, പക്ഷേ അതൊക്കെ ഭരണഘടനയുടെ ഉള്ളിലുള്ള കാര്യം മാത്രമാണ്. രണ്ട് ജോടി വസ്ത്രം മാത്രമുള്ള അവസ്ഥയില് നിന്ന് വസ്ത്രത്തിന്റെ ആര്ഭാടത്തിലേക്ക് വന്നിട്ടും അധികമായിട്ടില്ല.

മാറ് മറക്കാനവകാശമില്ലായ്മയില് നിന്ന് ജീന്സും ടോപിലുമെത്തിനില്ക്കുന്ന ഇതര സ്തീകളുടെ ചോയ്സിലിടപെടാനവകാശമില്ലാത്തത് പോലെ ഇതിലും ഇടപെടാനവകാശമില്ല.

പര്ദ്ദാവിരുദ്ധരുടെ ആത്മാര്ത്ഥതയില് സംശയമുള്ളത് കൊണ്ടാണ് അസഹിഷ്ണുത കാണിക്കേണ്ടി വരുന്നത്.

Hijab is just the culture of a Muslim women. In earlier Kerala Muslim believers used to cover their heads. Its true that purdah is new and Kerala Muslims are trending more towards Islamic icons and cultures. But its within the constitution. From two pairs of clothes, we have now come to a point of many choices.
Once women in Kerala couldn’t cover their upper torso and now they have reached a point of wearing jeans. Just like that, we cannot manipulate a women’s choices of wearing a jeans or purdah too. The sincerity of the anti-purdah supporters is very dubious and maybe that’s why believers are suspicious of the intentions and hence virulent.

But Shahina Nafeesa, [mal] a Muslim journalist in Kerala, challenged the notion of choice which is usually espoused by Muslim men and women alike for wearing purdah:

ആരെങ്കിലുമൊക്കെ പർദ്ദ ധരിക്കുന്നതിൽ എനിക്ക് പ്രത്യേകിച്ച് വിഷമമോ സന്തോഷമോ ഇല്ല .പർദ്ദ ധരിക്കാനുള്ള സ്ത്രീകളുടെ ‘ചോയിസിനു വേണ്ടി പോരാടുന്നവരെ കണ്ടു ,നല്ല കാര്യം .എനിക്കും ഒരു ചോയിസ് ഉണ്ട് .എനിക്ക് പർദ്ദ ധരിക്കാൻ ഇഷ്ടമല്ല.ചൊമല ഷോട്സും ലൈറ്റ് മഞ്ഞ ടീ ഷർട്ടും ആണ് എന്റെ ചോയിസ് .എല്ലവരും വരി വരിയായി വന്നു എന്റെ ചോയിസിനെ സപ്പോർട്ട് ചെയ്താട്ടേ

I don't have any issues if someone is wearing a purdah or not. I wont be happy or sad. I am noticing many supporting the “choice” of women wearing purdah. Good. I too have a choice. I don't like to wear purdah. My choice is to wear a yellow tee and a red shorts. Please come and support my choice too.

Another FB post from Rejesh O Positive questioned [mal] where exactly is the choice in wearing religious attire:

സ്ത്രീകള് എന്തുധരിക്കണം എന്തുധരിക്കരുത് എന്നൊക്കെ നിർദേശിക്കുന്ന മതങ്ങൾക്കുള്ളിൽ. അവർ ചെയ്യുന്നത് അവരുടെ ഇഷ്ടമാണ് എന്ന് പറയുന്നത്. ജയിലിൽ കഴിയുന്നവർ ജയിൽ അധികൃതർ വരുമ്പോൾ മുണ്ട് ‘മടക്കികുത്ത്’ അഴിക്കുന്നതും , തോളിൽ കിടക്കുന്ന തോർത്ത് കയിൽ എടുത്തു പിടിക്കുന്നതും സ്വന്തം ഇഷ്ടപ്രകാരം ആണെന്ന് പറയുനതിന് തുല്യമാണ്.

If someone is telling women that they have choices for clothing inside their religion, it's like telling people inside a jail that they have choices when it comes to wearing the clothing endorsed by the jail authorities.

In the Quran, it would appear that the Prophet had foreseen all this controversy:

After my disappearance there will be no greater source of chaos and disorder for my nation than women.

It's true, considering the recent debate surrounding religious morals and women. Europe and the rest of the world is still smarting from feminist group FEMEN's fiery “International Topless Jihad Day” to raise awareness about Amina Tyler, a 19-year-old FEMEN member who sparked a massive uproar in Tunisia by posing topless with the slogan “Fuck Your Morals” written across her chest.

The group's method has been controversial, with some Muslim women even rejecting FEMEN's support by counter protesting that they do not need nude protests and imperialistic approaches to solve their own problems.

Muslim Feminists such as Qasim Amin to Fatima Mernissi have written extensively about the moral dress codes on women and linked it to the the suppression of women by the patriarchal nature of religion.

Activist and writer Arundhathi Roy wrote in an essay for Outlook India last year:

Coercing a woman out of a burqa is not about liberating her, but about unclothing her. Coercing a woman out of a burqa is as bad as coercing her into one.

Daly, a blogger [mal], linked this cultural sensitivity issue as a form of patriarchy itself in a discussion about purdah in a blog post seven years ago:

ബൂര്ഖയെ വെറുമൊരു സാംസ്കാരിക ചിഹ്നം മാത്രമായി ഗ്ലോറിഫൈ ചെയ്യുക. പാത്രിയാര്ക്കിയുടെ എല്ലാ അപ്പസ്തോലന്മാരും ചെയ്യുന്നതത് തന്നെ. എന്നീട്ട് അതിനെ സംരക്ഷിക്കാനെന്നപേരില്, അധിനിവേശത്തിനെത്തിരെ എന്ന പേരില് ഉപയോഗിക്കുക. അങ്ങനെ മനസ്സിലാക്കുമ്പോള് “സംസ്കാരത്തിന്റെ ദുരഭിമാനം സംരക്ഷിക്കാനുള്ള ബാധ്യത സ്ത്രീയ്യ്ക്ക് മാത്രമോ എന്നത് കൂടുതല് കൂടുതല് പ്രസക്തമാവുന്നു. ഒരു തിന്മയെ എതിര്ക്കാന് മാറ്റൊരൂ തിന്മ ഉപയോഒഗിക്കുന്നതിലെ അപഹാസ്യതയും പ്രത്യക്ഷപ്പെടുന്നു. അധിനിവേശം ഇല്ലാതായാലൂം ഇല്ലാതാകുന്നതല്ലല്ലോ സംസ്കാരിക ദുരഭിമാനം. പറഞ്ഞു വന്നത്, അധിനിവേശത്തിനെതിരെ പോലും ഇത്തരം അടിച്ചമര്ത്തല് തന്ത്രങ്ങള് ഉപയോഗിക്കപ്പെടുന്നതിന്റെ അപഹാസ്യതയാണ്.

Burqa is glorified as a cultural symbol, which is done by the patriarchal systems. After it is glorified it is then said to be used as a tool against imperialism. Then we need to ask, why only a woman’s dress is used a symbol against imperialism and why only women needs to protect this culture. To deflate an evil, another evil is used. Even if the imperialism is done and over with women in burqa still exist.

Brazilian Boy Band Tour Continues Despite Rape Indictments

Mark O'Thomas — Tue, 14 May 2013 11:20:07 +0000

[All links lead to Portuguese language pages, except when otherwise noted.]

Despite nine members of the ‘pagode’ [en] boy band New Hit being indicted for the gang rape of two sixteen-year-old girls, the group has continued with its national tour regardless. Meanwhile, the victims have become virtual prisoners under the protection of the Program to Protect Children and Adolescents Under Threat of Death (PPCAAM) following threats made by the band's family and fans.

The Public Ministry [en] of the federal state of Bahia has prosecuted the group's crime along with the complicity of a police officer for his part in covering up the episode. The case took place on August 26, 2012, in the Brazilian Northern town of Ruy Barbosa [en]. In October last year, the band were released from jail after 38 days following the court granting them habeas corpus rights.

The trial began in February this year and was postponed until September due to the non-attendance of two defence witnesses. The defendants pleaded a case of consensual sex at the first hearing, while the victims focused on describing the manner in which the violence was committed. The girls’ testimony was corroborated by medical evidence authenticating that rape had taken place as well as the testimony of the police who first assisted them straight after the event. Brazil is now a country torn in two as protests are mounted both for and against the group.

The website Portal Pagodão comments that the band's shows have attracted more than 10,000 over the past few days:

Apesar de toda a polêmica envolvendo a banda num caso de estupro, os meninos da New Hit, provaram que ainda tem grande reconhecimento do público por onde passa, como em shows nas cidades de Teresina (PI), Caxias (MA) e Timon(MA) no último final de semana. [13-14 de abril]

Despite all the controversy surrounding the band's involvement in a rape case, the boys of New Hit have shown they can still pull in the crowds wherever they go, with gigs in places like the city of Teresina [en] and the and the towns of Caxias [en] and Timon [en] last weekend. [April 13-14]

Meanwhile, the Facebook page New Hit-Acreditamos na INOCÊNCIA deles [New Hit - We believe in their innocence] has more than 900 followers. Its sister page Fc New Hit Fo Rever posted the following comment this month:

Eu choro! Choro de felicidade Ao saber que estar tudo voltando ao normal , Choro de felicidade , emoção , ao saber que a agenda dos meninos está linda e maravilhosa , com grandes show's pra fazer!… é incrivél como depois de todo esse acontecido eles continua com esses sorrisos lindos no rosto… Mais quando Deus quer é assim , e a justiça ta sendo feita …. Porque a justiça de Deus nunca falhará ♫♪

I'm crying! Sobbing with tears of joy – knowing that everything's getting back to normal , Sobbing with joy, excitement, safe in the knowledge that the boys are getting on with their lives in such a beautiful and wonderful way, with so many mega shows still to perform!… It's amazing that after all that's happened, they can still carry on with such beautiful smiles on their faces… But when God wills it so, so it is, and justice will be done…. Because God's justice can never fail ♫ ♪

On the flipside, the Facebook page Repúdio ao New Hit: Acusados de Estupro [pt] [Disown New Hit: Rapists On Trial] has almost 7,000 followers and constantly posts anti-band and pro-victim comments. The page encourages people to speak out and stick up posters in the cities where the band is touring.

Repúdio ao New Hit posters have been shared almost 500 times on Facebook

Culture of Rape

Following the band's gig in Recife, the capital of the federal state of Pernambuco [en] on April 21, a surge of comments erupted on the venue's Facebook page. Here's Talitha Aguiar‘s take:

Mulher paga meia e ainda ganha um estupro coletivo de graça! Que promoção hein, Espaço Aberto! Suas filhas, mulheres, amigas também vão participar dessa super promoção???

Women get in half price and can still get gang-raped for free! What a deal, eh, Espaço Aberto!(venue's name)? Your daughters, wives and girlfriends can still get this special offer!!!

Vívian Andrade Martins says:

Bonito, heim? Patrocinando banda de estupradores… bonito.
Até onde o dinheiro pode levar vocês? Qual é o próximo passo? Patrocinar banda de pedófilos?

Lovely, eh? Sponsoring a band of rapists… lovely. Where will money go to next? What's the next move? Sponsoring a band of paedophiles?

In March this year, the band gave shows in Fortaleza, the capital of the federal state of Ceará [en], that were marred by protests. The feminist blog Marchamulheres by Marcha Mundial das Mulheres [Women's Worldwide March] analysed the issues as follows:

Enquanto os acusados fazem shows pelo Brasil afora, as duas adolescentes, que, além de terem sofrido violência sexual, foram ameaçadas de morte, encontram-se afastadas do convívio social e com suas liberdades cerceadas. Isso é inadmissível, pois retira a condição de vítima das adolescentes culpabilizando-as pela violência sofrida, já que os acusados estão em liberdade.

O caso New Hit traz à tona um debate importante: a incorporação da “cultura do estupro”, ou seja, quando há um incentivo ao crime e à culpabilização da vítima através de músicas, peças publicitárias, novelas, piadas humorísticas etc. O show, que vai acontecer [ocorreu] no dia 31 de março, a barraca Master Beach, na Praia do Futuro, em Fortaleza, é um exemplo objetivo dessa cultura.

While the defendants continue to tour throughout Brazil, the two teenagers, who, besides having suffered sexual violence have been threatened with death, find themselves removed from society and their freedoms curtailed. This is unacceptable, because it takes away the teenagers’ victimhood and blames them instead for the violence they have suffered; meanwhile the accused roam free.

The New Hit case raises a critical issue: the incorporation of “rape culture” – when crime is incentivised and victims are blamed through songs, advertisements, soap operas, crass jokes etc. The show which is due to be performed [was performed] on 31 March at the Master Beach venue in Praia do Futuro in Fortaleza is a paradigm example of this culture.

Posters and graffitti mark out the protest in Fortaleza, Ceará Photograph: Laryssa Sampaio/Marcha Mundial das Mulheres

Letter of thanks

Due to public pressure, particularly from social networks, some shows have been cancelled. The band halted their shows in cities like Salvador [en] on 21 October last year, Aracaju [en], Maceió [en] and in the town of Serrinha [en] in January this year, the latter seeing protests led by the Women's Movement of Serrinha. Another concert on April 30 in the town of Nilo Peçanha, in the federal state of Bahia, would also be cancelled according to a representative of the federal state of Bahia, Luiza Maia and the Urban Planning Secretary of Nilo Peçanha, Carlos Azevedo. The band's management, however, has denied they were contracted to play this show.

The group Marcha Mundial das Mulheres, who has held protests in different cities in Bahia, in front of the Fórum venue in Ruy Barbosa on the day of the trial last February. Photograph: Repúdio ao New Hit: Acusados de Estupro

Other forms of protest against New Hit organised by the Marcha Mundial da Mulheres group from their base in Bahia includes the ”escracho” (escrache) [en] outside the summer home of the band's vocalist, Eduardo Martins, in October last year. The group also went to the city of Ruy Barbosa during the hearing in February this year. The two teenage victims sent this letter in recognition of the support they have received from the feminist activists from the group Negra Zeferina (black woman Zeferina), the Repúdio ao New Hit: Acusados de Estupro group and a representative of the federal state of Bahia Luiza Maia:

Ei Meninas,

Como vocês sabem esses últimos seis meses não foram fáceis pra nós. Por causa da nossa coragem tivemos que abrir mão de muita coisa. Estamos longe da nossa família, de amigos e sem meios de comunicação.

Então aproveitei a oportunidade para agradecer a cada uma de vocês que saíram de suas cidades, de suas casas para vir até Ruy Barbosa nos dar força, mostrar que não estamos sozinhas e que temos que seguir esta batalha. Em vários momentos eu cheguei a mim (sic) culpar, a desisti de tudo. Mas sempre lembramos que não estamos sozinhas. Temos todas vocês nos apoiando e lutando junto com a gente.

Obrigado por cada palavra de conforto.

A todas vocês, Negras, Zeferinas, Repúdio, Deputada Luiza Maia e todos que estão a gente.

Beijo!

Vítimas da New Hit

Hey Girls,

As you know these last six months have not been easy for us. We have had to give up so much for being courageous. We are far from our family, friends and without means of communication.

So I've taken the opportunity to thank each and every one of you who have left their cities and their homes to come to the town of Ruy Barbosa to give us strength, to show us that we are not alone and that we have to go on with this battle. At times I've started to blame myself, to even think of giving it all up. But we always remember that we are not alone. We have all of you supporting us and fighting alongside us.

Thank you for every word of comfort.

To all of you, black women, Zeferinas, Repúdio, representative of the federal state of Bahia Luiza Maia and everyone else.

A kiss!

The Victims of New Hit

Interview: Chadian Blogger and Journalist Expelled from Senegal to Guinea

Anna Gueye — Mon, 13 May 2013 19:27:15 +0000

[All links forward to French-language pages unless otherwise noted.]

Senegalese authorities have expelled Chadian journalist and blogger Makaila Nguebla, an opponent of his country's President Idriss Déby [en] who has ruled Chad for more than two decades, to neighboring Guinea after refusing to grant him political refugee status.

Nguebla, who was living in exile in Senegal's capital city of Dakar since 2005, was deported on May 8, 2013. He settled in Senegal after being arrested in Tunisia in 2005; thanks to international pressure, Tunisian authorities did not deport him back to Chad, as he explains in this YouTube video:

Global Voices had the opportunity to interview Nguebla by phone after he was expelled. He began by telling the story of his transfer to Conakry, the capital city of Guinea:

Mes ennuis ont commencé le lendemain du départ du ministre de la Justice tchadien Jean-Bernard Padaré au Sénégal où il était venu rencontrer les autorités en vue du procès de l’ancien président tchadien Hissène Habré. Jean-Bernard Padaré a rencontré le ministre de la justice et chef de l’état sénégalais seul sans la présence d’aucun autre officiel tchadien. Il a quitté Dakar le dimanche 5 mai. Le lundi 6 mai, la Division de la surveillance du territoire sénégalaise (DST) me convoque pour le mardi 7 mai à 15H. Je me rends à la convocation en présence d’Amnesty International Sénégal à qui il est demandé de quitter les lieux. Je reste donc seul avec eux.
Ils me mettent dans un avion pour Conakry dans la nuit du mardi au mercredi. Une « maman » me voyant pleurer durant le vol me prend sous son aile : elle m’aide à passer les formalités de police une fois à Conakry – les autorités sénégalaises n’avaient pas informé leurs homologues guinéens. Je suis actuellement logé chez cette dame dans les mêmes conditions que les Guinéens : coupures d’électricité le soir et connexion internet avec une clé qui marche à peine.

Makaila Nguebla (MNG): My troubles began the day after Chadian Minister of Justice Jean-Bernard Padaré left Senegal where he had come to meet the authorities in connection with the trial of former Chadian President Hissène Habré. Jean-Bernard Padaré had a private talk with the minister of justice and the Senegalese head of state without the presence of any other Chadian official. He left Dakar on Sunday, May 5. Monday, May 6, the Surveillance Division of Senegal summoned me to their offices for Tuesday, May 7 at 3 p.m. I went to the appointment accompanied by members of Amnesty International Sénégal who were asked to leave. Therefore, I remained alone with them. They put me on a plane to Conakry on the night of Tuesday to Wednesday. A “Mama” who saw me crying during the flight took me under her wing. She helped me through the police formalities once we arrived in Conakry–the Senegalese authorities had not informed their Guinean counterparts of my arrival. I am currently staying with this lady and I live in the same conditions as the Guinean people: power cuts in the evening and Internet connection with a key that barely works.

Global Voices (GV): How would you explain that Senegal, who has never expelled any political protesters, gave in so easily on something that looks like pressure from the Chadian authorities?

Makaila Nguebla : Le conflit au Mali a donné une nouvelle autorité à Idriss Deby, notamment parce que l’armée tchadienne est la seule à connaître parfaitement le terrain et la seule des armées africaines à être en mesure de soutenir effectivement l’armée française. De plus, grâce à l’argent du pétrole tchadien, Idriss Deby a pu contribuer au financement de la campagne de Macky Sall au Sénégal. Dans les négociations sur le dossier Hissène Habré, il est demandé que l’on me livre aux autorités tchadiennes. J’ai été arrêté en Tunisie en 2005 je ne dois qu’à la pression internationale de ne pas avoir été expulsé vers le Tchad.

MNG: The conflict in Mali [en] has given Idriss Deby a new weight, especially due to the fact that the Chadian army is the only one to perfectly know the ground and the only African army able to effectively support the French army. In addition, due to the money earned with the Chadian oil, Idriss Deby was able to support financially [Senegal President] Macky Sall‘s [en] campaign when he was running for president. During the negotiations on the Hissène Habré case, it was requested that I should be handed to the Chadian authorities. I was arrested in Tunisia in 2005. I owe it to international pressures that I wasn't deported back to Chad.

GV: Do you feel safe in Guinea?

Makaila Nguebla : Non. J’ai rencontré le Ministre des droits de l’homme de la Guinée qui m’a dit qu’il ne peut pas garantir ma sécurité dans le contexte actuel de son pays. Depuis plusieurs années, la Guinée traverse une période difficile. Les élections législatives n’ont pu se tenir après les dernières élections présidentielles. Et il y a depuis plusieurs semaines des manifestations de l’opposition.

MNG: No. I met with the Guinean Minister of Human Rights and he told me that he could not guarantee my safety in the current context of his country. For several years now, Guinea has been in a dire situation. The general elections could not be held following the last presidential election. And there have been opposition protests [en] for several weeks now.

GV: You told me earlier that you are staying with the lady that you met on the plane. But where do you stand when it comes to your administrative status with the Guinean authorities?

Makaila Nguebla : Ce matin [samedi 11 mai], accompagné de membres du Conseil National des Organisations de la Société Civile Guinéenne et du HCR, j’ai pu introduire une première demande de statut de réfugié.

MNG: On Saturday, May 11, escorted by some members of the National Council of Organizations of the Guinean Civil Society and of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, I was able to proceed with an initial application for political refugee status.

Meanwhile, the Senegalese blogosphere called for Nguebla's return to Senegal, especially on Twitter under the hashtag #FreeMakaila. Cheikh Fall, the blogger behind citizen media monitor Sunu2012, rallied behind Nguebla:

Non seulement ceci constitue une atteinte aux droits de Makaila Nguebla qui n’a aucune attache en Guinée et s’est construit sa vie au Sénégal depuis 8 ans, mais ceci est une atteinte à la liberté d’expression de tous les Sénégalais : si les autorités commencent à livrer des opposants aux régimes dictatoriaux, elles n’hésiteront pas à s’en prendre à leurs propres opposants sur n’importe quel prétexte.

Not only is this a violation of Makaila Nguebla’s rights who has no tie to Guinea and has built his life in Senegal for the past eight years, but this is an attack on freedom of speech for all Senegalese: if the Senegalese authorities are starting to deliver opponents to their dictatorial regimes, they will not hesitate to go after their own opponents under any pretext.

The Senegalese government issued a statement three days after Nguebla was expelled through its spokesman, saying:

Sa présence était simplement tolérée. Mais sous certaines conditions : qu'il s'abstienne de faire un certain nombre de choses et de déclarations que le gouvernement sénégalais estime contraires à sa volonté de vivre chez nous.

His presence was merely tolerated. But under certain conditions, to refrain from doing a number of things and statements that the Senegalese government considers contrary to his desire to live among us.

African Twitter users quickly responded. Fall (@cypher007) noted:

@cypher007: « Situation irrégulière, Présence tolérée sous conditions … » Depuis quand un statut pareil existe au #Sénégal?

@cypher007: “irregular situation, presence tolerated under certain conditions …” Since when does such a statute exist in #Senegal?

User “wirriyamu2011″ (@wirr2011) theorized in a series of nine tweets that the Senegalese government has deliberately unsettled Nguebla for eight years in order to be able to pressure him if necessary.

BBC journalist Yacouba Ouédraogo (@Bambyam) replied to one of those tweets, referencing former leader of Chad Hissène Habré, whose rule was characterized by widespread atrocities but was allowed to live in Senegal for years after he was deposed:

@Bambyan: Quand on a offert le gîte à Habré et à mains ensanglantées, on peut continuer à “tolérer” un parleur.

@Bambyan: If you offered Habré a shelter despite the blood on his hands, you can go on “tolerating” a talker.

Several Twitter users also noted that the government spokesman [en] ironically holds the position of Minister of Good Governance and that this former journalist who had been abused under former President Wade is reduced to defend shameful practices.

‘Syria Untold': The Storytelling of the Syrian Revolution

Leila Nachawati Rego — Mon, 13 May 2013 11:48:44 +0000

More than two years into the Syrian uprising as the battle continues on the ground, a new outspoken and creative Syria has emerged after decades of isolation and silence. From strikes to sit-ins, from creative songs and banners to countless citizen demonstrations, daily resistance against tyranny carries on, largely uncovered by mainstream media.

For a few months, I have been working with a group of Syrian journalists, writers, programmers, and designers based in Syria and abroad on a digital media project focusing on telling the story of the Syrian revolution. We are now ready to launch Syria Untold.

Our project combines content aggregation from social media and information collected and shared by grassroots activists with original content created by our team. We have two versions, English and Arabic.

We will focus on the story of the uprising through grassroots campaigns, civil disobedience, art, and creativity. The story of the voices that do not usually get covered by mainstream media. The story of the daily resistance that continues despite increasing militarization on the ground and despite the regime's attempts to silence every form of citizen expression. We want to highlight these voices and help others understand them in context.

Syria Untold will be partnering with Global Voices Online. Syria Untold posts will be edited by Global Voices editors and translated by volunteer translators, as part of GV's interest in highlighting citizen voices and grassroots initiatives.

We will need everyone's help to make this happen, so stay tuned for #syriauntold!

http://www.syriauntold.com/

About Syria Untold:

Syria Untold is an independent digital media project exploring the storytelling of the Syrian struggle and the diverse forms of resistance. We are a team of Syrian writers, journalists, programmers and designers living in the country and abroad trying to highlight the narrative of the Syrian revolution, which Syrian men and women are writing day by day. Through grassroots campaigns, emerging forms of self-management and self-government and endless manifestations of citizen creativity, a new outspoken Syria has emerged, after decades of repression and paralysis. With mainstream media focusing increasingly on geostrategic and military aspects and less on internal dynamics developing on the ground, we believe there are many aspects of the Syrian struggle that remain uncovered, many stories that we would not like to see forgotten. Welcome to the stories of daily resistance and creativity. Welcome to Syria Untold.