22 January 2012

Stories from 22 January 2012

Pakistan: Hate Speech Against Ahmadiya Muslims

  22 January 2012

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

  22 January 2012

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

  22 January 2012

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

  22 January 2012

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

  22 January 2012

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...

Brazil: Occupation dwellers surprised by violent illegal eviction

  22 January 2012

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”

  22 January 2012

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

  22 January 2012

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.