Stories about Law from May, 2015
What Does Japanese Prime Minister Abe's Ignorance of the Potsdam Declaration Actually Mean?
Has Prime Minister Abe really never read the Potsdam Declaration? Or is his professed ignorance a signal he rejects Japan's postwar pacifism?
Too Soon to Joke About FIFA Arrests? Not in the Caribbean!
There was also a video featuring a popular local puppet as he spent a night in jail with Jack Warner, a Trinidadian former FIFA vice president who was indicted.
Did Russia Just Effectively Outlaw Internet Anonymizers?
A Russian court has ruled to block a webpage for being "an anonymizer," raising concerns that tools like Tor and other anonymizing proxy services might soon be banned wholesale.
No Extra Time for FIFA Caribbean Officials as US Justice Department Lays Indictments
There's a frenzy on Caribbean social media today, following the announcement that the US Department of Justice indicted 9 FIFA officials and 5 corporate executives for racketeering, conspiracy, and corruption.
Bangladesh Wants ‘Third Gender’ Hijras to Serve as Traffic Police
Hijras often face widespread discrimination and are shut out of employment opportunities. Bangladesh wants to recruit them as traffic police to help change that.
Dear Ukrainian Officials: Russian Security Services Thank You for Your Cooperation!
A group of journalists pulled a prank on Ukrainian officials who use Russian email services, alerting them to the dangers of careless information security policies.
Thailand Police Detains Student Protesters During Coup Anniversary
"We cannot build a democratic society if we lack freedom, liberty, rights, justice, and reconciliation."
Human Rights Lawyer's Indictment Marks the Beginning of a ‘Weibo Inquisition’ in China
Pu Zhiqiang was indicted on charges of "inciting ethnic hatred" and "picking quarrels and provoking a disturbance." The case against him is based on about 30 online postings he wrote.
Pakistanis Use Twitter To Raise Their Concerns On The Proposed Cybercrime Bill 2015
The proposed Prevention of Electronic Crimes (PEC) Bill in Pakistan has raised concern among local and international human rights organisations as it could put at risk freedom expression and privacy in Pakistan. Mariam at Catalyst Woman blog reports: After the dedicated efforts of numerous advocacy groups, ngos and private citizens,...
Police Shoot a Man Dead. Justified Force or China's ‘Stability Maintenance’ at Work?
A man was shot after fighting with an officer inside a train station. To many, it was violence typical of government efforts to maintain stability at all costs.
Amateur Cartoonist Lands Radioactive Drone on Japanese Prime Minister's House
Yasuo Yamamoto's drone carried a small amount of radioactive soil from Fukushima. Japanese netizens quickly discovered that he maintained a blog and published original manga of an unsettling nature.
Thailand’s Section 44 Could Be Worse Than Martial Law
Thailand is no longer under martial law, but a new security law gave the army broad and 'unlimited' powers in the civilian government.
Global Voices Checkdesk Tracking Reactions to Morsi's Trial
Faten Bushehri tracks reactions to the trial of former Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi, who was sentenced to death on May 16, on Global Voices Checkdesk, a project in partnership with Meedan's Checkdesk to verify news. Morsi is being charged with collaborating with foreign militants to free Islamists during a prison...
Egypt's Former President Mohammed Morsi Sentenced to Death for 2011 Prison Escape
Egypt's first democratically elected president Mohammed Morsi, along with more than 100 other people, were sentenced to death today. Human rights organisations and supporters describe the trial as a "sham."
Bahrain Court Upholds Six Month Sentence Against Rights Defender Nabeel Rajab Over Tweet
A Bahrain court today upheld a six-month sentence for human rights defender Nabeel Rajab over a tweet. Rajab is already in custody under investigation for other tweets.
How the Internet Both Facilitates and Challenges Rape in Russia
The explosion of online social networks makes it easier than ever for sexual predators, but the Internet also presents women with new weapons against a legal system stacked against them.
Hong Kong Citizens Want Legal Protections for Their Metadata
Should government agencies really be able to look at Hong Kongers' telephone metadata without any oversight from the courts?
Human Rights Defender’s Hunger Strike Protests Torture in Infamous Bahraini Prison
Abulhadi Al-Khawaja has been on hunger strike for more than three weeks to call attention to the continuing violations and torture of inmates in Jaw prison.
How Does China's Foreign NGO Management Law Curb the Development of Civil Society?
The "fundamental purpose of the law" is "to significantly tighten the Government's control over civil society," Human Rights Watch told Global Voices.
Philippines Deports Thai Worker for Insulting Filipinos on Facebook
Some Filipinos in Thailand criticized the deportation: "Offensive, hateful and downright irresponsible as [the remarks] are, they were not criminal."
Ukraine Is Banning ‘Communist Symbols’ and the Kremlin Is Peeved
Ukraine has moved to restrict the use of Communist and Nazi symbols in a bid to part with the country's Soviet past. Not everyone is happy.