Stories about Freedom of Speech from February, 2013
Burundi: Violent Suppression of Demonstration Support for Imprisoned Journalist
The Court of Burundi revised the life sentence for journalist and Radio France International correspondent Hassan Ruvakuki on appeal, reducing his sentence to three years imprisonment. Media professionals demonstrated in sympathy weekly outside the Bujumbura Court building since the sentence was handed down until violent suppression of a march by the authorities.
What India Can Learn From #Shahbag
Sandip Roy writes why India should be paying attention to its neighbors #Shahbag uprising as there is a conversation happening there which matters to everyone in South Asia.
Jailed Iranian Blogger Up for Award
Reporters Without Borders and Google announced the name of the nominees for the 2013 Netizen Prize. Shiva Nazar Ahari, Iranian female human rights activist and blogger is among the nominees. Read more about Shiva here.
[Webcast] Internet Censorship and the Remembrance of Infowars Past
With Internet censorship on the rise around the world, organizations and researchers have developed and distributed a variety of tools to assist Internet users to both monitor and circumvent such censorship.
Weary of Austerity, Portugal Sings a Song of Revolution
Thousands of Portuguese people have promised a massive anti-austerity protest on March 2, 2013. Leading up to the date, demonstrators have led a campaign to interrupt government ministers during their public appearances by singing a historic song used by revolutionaries who toppled the country's dictatorship in 1974.
A Monologue of Blood and Bullets Precedes Yemen's National Dialogue
Yemeni President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi finally payed a long overdue visit to Aden on Sunday evening, February 24th, after four days of ongoing bloody clashes, which erupted between police and pro-independence demonstrators on Thursday. How will this effect the National Dialogue, scheduled to take place on March 18? Netizens weigh in as more violence shakes the country.
After Ang Lee's Oscar Win, China Imagines Cinema Beyond Censors
Looking to Taiwanese-born director Ang Lee's Oscar win for Best Director with pride and envy, mainland Chinese web users frustrated with China's tight grip on the film industry are wondering about their own country's cinematic potential.
Russia's New Media: Too Clique to Fail?
The previous version of OpenSpace.ru was much less political in nature and was presumably shut down for financial reasons. It reopened a month later with a revamped website and a new team at the helm. It also didn't last as long as the old.
Bulgarian Government Quits, But Protests Continue
The protests in Bulgaria continue: on Sunday, in Sofia and other cities, tens of thousands of people marched against corruption, high utility bills and poverty. Ruslan Trad reports from the Bulgarian capital.
Cuban Yoani Sánchez's Arrival in Brazil Makes Noise
Acclaimed Cuban blogger Yoani Sánchez left Cuba this past Sunday for the first time since 2004. Sánchez will visit and speak at universities, NGOs and government forums in Europe, Latin America and the United States. While many voices around the world have expressed joy and excitement about Sánchez’s tour, responses have not all been positive.
God Exists and He Serves the Kremlin
Though the Pussy Riot trial is over, the culture war it launched in Russia drags on unabated. Pope Benedict's abdication sparked the latest conflagration, when political analyst Stanislav Belkovsky addressed the Catholic leader's decision, calling it a path the Orthodox Patriarch ought to follow. In response, Parliament members have asked federal investigators to consider a criminal case against Belkovsky.
Bangladesh Raises Voice to End Violence Against Women
With fists raised to the sky, thousands of Bangladeshis throughout the country stood together in city streets and plazas last week chanting "no more, no more!" to demand an end to violence against women as part of the "One Billion Rising" movement.
Yoani Sánchez Divides Opinions on a Visit to Brazil
Cuban blogger Yoani Sánchez was received in Brazil by pro-Cuban government protesters, who accuse her of receiving money from the United States' government and of being a CIA agent. The ones that support the dissident's actions accuse the Brazilian government of collaborating with the Cuban government's repression.
Taiwan Politician Tries, Quits Sina Weibo
Frank Hsieh, former presidential nominee of Taiwan’s pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), opened an account on Sina Weibo on February 19, 2013. However, the account was deleted less than 24 hours later. More from China Beat.
Chile Takes Twitter User to Court Over Parody
A Twitter user is facing jail time in Chile after powerful business mogul Andrónico Luksic accused him of identity theft for creating parody accounts of him on the microblogging site.
Media Freedom Still Murky in Myanmar Despite Progress
Myanmar's decision to dissolve its notorious censorship board was praised by many groups as a step forward in promoting media freedom in the country. But press freedom watchdogs also highlighted the continuing threats and attacks faced by Myanmar-based journalists.
Honduran President vs. Freedom of the Press
We make no claim that the Honduran press is exceptionally reliable, or lacking in bias. But Lobo Sosa wants to stop the press from doing anything that makes his government uncomfortable, even though part of the role of a free press is just that: making the powerful uncomfortable. RNS from...
Targeted by Kuwaiti Police, Stateless Video Blogger Calls it Quits
A video blogger in Kuwait is walking away from his cyber-activism, writing that police have threatened and beaten him. Mona Kareem tells us why the Angry Bedoon will no longer be sharing videos of oppression against stateless people in Kuwait.
Turkey: Lynch Attempt on Kurdish Members of Parliament in Sinop
Kurdish members of the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) and Democratic Congress of the People (HDK) faced a lynch attempt by almost 2,000 angry protesters during their visit to Sinop, a city in Black Sea region of Northern Turkey. Baran Mavzer charts netizen reactions.
Brazil: Turtles Take Over Public Transport
While the citizens of Porto Alegre protest against the increase in bus fares [pt], bus companies demonstrate against the adjustment of wages. On February 19, a “turtle operation” took place, in which vehicles ran at speeds below 30 km per hour. The website PortoAlegre.cc shared a number of suggestions from...
