Stories about Freedom of Speech
‘I dreamed I was executed by a firing squad in Iran’
Actress Maryam Palizban's journey into exile, as she navigated life between Germany and Iran, constantly concerned about being photographed without a hijab, until she embraced the "Woman, Life, Freedom" movement.
What lies behind the ‘golden opportunities’ of Malaysian Star media group's new tie with its mainland Chinese partner
The China's State Council is the sole shareholder Contemporary World Publishing Co., Ltd, the company behind Star Media Group's latest media partner, Contemporary World Magazine.
How are India’s new-age influencers shaping the electoral game?
Ahead of the Indian general elections, political parties are leveraging the power of the internet and social media to to maximise their outreach and engagement in the election process.
Authorities severely restrict public freedoms in Jordan
Anger and frustration among the Jordanian public over the government's perceived inaction in supporting Palestinians and condemning Israeli actions, as well as its response to the ongoing massive protests.
Deep historical links complicate Taiwan's relationship with Myanmar
To unpack a complex relationship between Myanmar and Taiwan, Global Voices interviewed Taiwan-based Will Yang, a seasoned Taiwanese journalist preparing a documentary movie on the two countries.
No respite for Georgia's civil society
Last year, when the ruling party announced its decision to adopt the bill it was met with large public outcry as well as international criticism.
In Brazil, since Bolsonaro, attacks on journalists fell while lawsuits against them increased
The data revealed that aggressions of various types against media professionals decreased to 181 last year, while, on the other hand, lawsuits targeting journalists increased by 92.31 percent last year
The slow but steady erosion of India’s civil society
While India has a rich, vibrant, and ideologically diverse political and civil society landscape, the state's systemic crackdown on dissenters and NGOs is becoming increasingly concerning.
How India’s amended citizenship law is creating a large pool of exclusion
Sporadic protests erupted nationwide after Indian government implemented the highly controversial Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 just a few weeks before India's upcoming general election.
From discredit to censorship: When power attacks the Latin American press
With their campaigns against independent media, the governments of several Latin American countries are beginning to threaten press freedom.
Georgian Dream's fight against LGBTQ+ people
Georgian Dream's anti-LGBTQ+ narrative is nothing new. Homophobia has been part of the party's toolkit in the years since the party took over the country's leadership in 2012.
Turkey heads to the polls for local elections
All eyes are on the CHP's Ekrem İmamoğlu, who has been in office for five years and AKP's Murat Kurum, the former Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change.
Under threat: The life of Karakalpak activists in Kazakhstan
The latest activist arrested in Kazakhstan at the request of Uzbekistan is human rights activist and informal leader of the Karakalpak diaspora Akylbek Muratov.
In Azerbaijan authorities remain silent over the murder of a trans woman
In general, for many LGBTQ+ individuals who face discrimination and violence, there is little recourse through the police or any official judicial channels in Azerbaijan.
How Turkey’s opposition media empowers Erdoğan
President Erdoğan and his government are not the sole players in helping to consolidate the country’s democratic dismemberment. The danger comes from the very circles who despise his regime the most.
Hong Kong passes controversial new security law broadly defining treason and insurrection
The city had devoted 30 days to the public consultation of the draft law during the Lunar New Year, and lawmakers had spent 12 days debating it in the LegCo.
Deepfakes and the risks from the growing use of video fraud
" ... [T]he truth is on the edge of "death" because, with the increase of deepfakes in circulation, it will be more and more difficult to understand what the truth is."
Women march for Palestine and against patriarchy in Pakistan
Women in Pakistan's major cities, such as Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, and Multan, rallied on International Women’s Day, demanding gender equality, justice, and safety, challenging patriarchal norms for the seventh consecutive year.
Lotteries, dressed-up figures, and other peculiar entertainment at the Putin's sham elections
Current regime needs people to come to the polls in order to show the regime's legitimacy inside the country. Authorities find ways of 'entertainment' that would attract people to vote.
Chad: The media environment fails to protect journalists
With less than two months to go before the presidential elections in Chad on May 6, 2024, death threats continue to loom over local journalists.
US-funded news outlet Radio Free Asia to withdraw from Hong Kong
US funded-news outlet Radio Free Asia (RFA), which had been accused of being “anti-China” by Beijing-backed newspapers, is set to withdraw from Hong Kong.