Stories from 22 January 2012
Bhutan: State Funding For Political Parties
Tshering Tobgay engages in a debate whether state funding for political parties is legal in Bhutan.
Pakistan: Hate Speech Against Ahmadiya Muslims
Saira Ahmad condemns sectarian Jiyalas’ hate speech against Ahmadiyya Muslims. The blogger thinks it was a major crime of the PPP as well as other parties in Pakistan’s parliament in 1974 to declare Ahmadis as non-Muslims.
Sri Lanka: A Fan Of Meter Taxi
The introduction of metered taxi in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo has made the lives of many commuters easy. Sayanthan has already become a fan of these taxis.
Iran: Barbie dolls under attack
Iranian police close down shops selling Barbie dolls in Tehran. Sabzgosh says” Iranian police has banned selling Barbies dolls.For Iran's police Barbie dolls are considered as an instrument in the Western soft war against Islamic Republic.”
Iran:Political prisoners in a cold jail
While Tehran is experiencing snow and severe cold weather, there are serious concerns over prisoners’ safety in the major prison, Evin. Saeid Pourheydar, former prisoner, writes [fa]: “The only heating system in solitary confinement cells at [Theran's prion] Evin's ward 240 is a warm water pipe. Now the prison has...
Iran:Press TV loses UK licence
Press TV, the Iranian state-run English-language TV, lost the license in UK due to what Ofcom says “breaching the Communications Act”. Maziar Nazemi, a presenter at Iran state-run TV believes [fa]: “It is obvious that every media is fulfilling the goals of its sponsors. So Ofcom's decision is a political...
Togo: Public hearings for the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission
Ayetan Charles wrote [fr]: “Beyond the formal proceedings, the public and the private hearings on the Commission on Truth, Justice and Reconciliation (CVJR), it is once again possible for the population to listen to other revelations about the political violence that the country experienced from 1958 to 1960. “ ...
Brazil: Occupation dwellers surprised by violent illegal eviction
Solidariedade Pinheirinho [pt] recounts the surprise with which the Pinheirinho occupation, in Sao Jose dos Campos near Sao Paulo, was surprised this morning: “Pinheirinho is being evacuated in a violent and ostentatious way by the Military Police despite the court ruling to the contrary! THE ACTION IS ILLEGAL! [There are] Helicopters, bombs, shootings rubber, everything imaginable. “
Tunisia: ”Do Not Censor Pornographic Content”
In early February, the Tunisian Internet Agency will appeal to the Court of Cassation's verdict issued in May 2011 by a court in Tunis ordering the agency to block access to pornographic content on the web. For Tunisian netizens, and free speech activists, this kind of censorship is not a solution, but rather a threat to freedom of speech.
Yemen: Saleh Gets Impunity After All
Yemen's parliament has endorsed the law granting outgoing Yemen President Ali Abdullah Saleh total immunity from any crimes committed during his rule, including the killing of protesters since the beginning of the popular uprising against his regime in February. Netizens react to the news.
Poland: Netizens Protest Government's Plan to Sign ACTA Next Week
With the world still talking about the aftermath of the SOPA/PIPA Blackout Day, Polish netizens are confronted with another backstabbing development in the fight for free Internet. Katarzyna Odrozek reports.