Stories about Freedom of Speech from January, 2007
Bahrain Jails Political Activists
A court in Bahrain today sent two political activists to jail for possessing leaflets calling for a boycott of recent legislative elections, reports blogger Mahmood Al Yousif, who describes the sentence as “Disgusting. Another blow for freedom of speech in Bahrain.”
Iranian Bloggers Talk About Their Prison Experience
Many people for political reasons have been sent to prison in Iran. A few of those former prisoners shared their stories in books, through painting or in their blogs. Some people, including bloggers and researchers, have tried to look at prisons in Iran as an outsider, who was not in...
Malaysia: We Are Not Liars
Lucia Lai takes offence at her prime minister using the term “lairs” to describe bloggers who write negative posts about his leadership. “anyway, what is a lie? how do you define a lie? how can you tell that we lied? what made you think we lied? when we write something...
China: civilized web
The China media project has a report on the Chinese government's recent move to develop a “civilized web”.
China: four letter words in blog
Wang Xiao feng explains why he uses four-letter words in his blog. The most frequent word is stupid-ass, because there are plenty of them… (zh)
Russia: Conversation With Litvinenko's Widow, Parts 6-8
David McDuff of A Step At A Time continues with the Marina Litvinenko's interview translation: part 6, part 7, part 8.
Bangladesh: Drugs, Sex Education, Freedom of Press, Winter Fruits and Vegetables and Man-Eating Tigers
There seems to be no stopping drug frenzy once it takes hold of a nation. Drishtipat Group Blog tells how Yabba, a speed/amphetamine derivative from Thailand is taking on Bangladesh. It started a few years ago as experiments of the upper class. It has penetrated deeply into the working class...
Crime and Punishment in Kazakhstan
Blogger's Trial Kazis Toguzbayev, a journalist who uploaded his articles on KUB, a group blog, was tried in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on 22 January. In his article, Toguzbayev implied that the President was covering the murders of the opposition figures. He got a two-year suspended sentence for violating the Criminal Code...
Turkey is Typing….a Follow-up on the Death of Hrant Dink
Today marks a first, well for me at least! Today's article is written in direct response to your wishes, dear reader. Last week, Turkey is Typing focuses on the Death of Hrant Dink by using both Turkish and Armenian sources, and sparked an avid debate on the comments section. Many...
Iran:Bus Drivers under Pressure
According to Otoobos2,Fazl Mazaheri,a bus driver was fired because of his participation in bus strike [Fa].
Malaysia: Supporting The Bloggers
Ahfook in Malaysia is lists blog posts in support of the two bloggers who are being sued by a newspaper. The newspaper claims that the two bloggers have defamed the newspaper and its employees in their posts. The list is being maintained by Duller blog and by 4896 blog.
Brazil Again: Blogs Banished from 2007 PanAm Games in Rio
The Brazilian blogosphere is becoming one of the main fronts in the battle against Internet censorship. The reason for that can be the growing audience created by the amount of time local internauts devote to web surfing, which was once again rated as the highest in the world. But it...
Kazakhstan: Blogger on Trial
Leila reports on the first blogger to go on trial for blogging in Kazakhstan.
Iran:Donations for Arash Sigarchi
Marz Abi reports that Arash Sigarchi, journalist and blogger,who had been sent to jail because of his writing,is suffering from cancer.The blogger encourages people to send money to a bank account to help Arash to be able to follow medical treatment[Fa].Arash Sigarchi recently found his freedom again.
Romania: Media vs Blogs
Owlspotting writes about the situation with the Romanian mainstream media and bloggers: “So my problem with hailing Romanian bloggers as the salvation of Romanian journalism (or at least a serious threat to it) is that we’re comparing apples and oranges. Good journalism, great writing and great reporting is what anybody–no...
China: why I don't like Chinese blogsphere
I Yee explains why he doesn't like Chinese blogsphere. He will leave the Chinese blogsphere and try on English from now on.
Arabisc: Hijab-clad Doll Under Fire in Tunisia
This is Fulla, the Hijab-clad Arab Muslim adaptation of the decadent West's Barbie doll. Our Barbie wears the Hijab (head scarf) and Islamic attire – a long dress with long sleeves. While she is a blessing to many parents in the Muslim world who are happy to see their children...
Iran:Iranian Journalist and Dissident Akbar Ganji
Nikahang writes that Akbar Ganji, journalist and dissident,Thursday, will accept the prestigious International Press Freedom award from Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE) awarded to him in 2000.He could not take award sooner because he was in prison.
Elections in Serbia
The first preliminary results of the Serbian parliamentary poll arrived less than an hour after the ballots closed at 20:00 on January 21. Some started celebration while members of the parties that got less than the required 5 percent of the votes burst into despair. The Democratic Party (whose slogan...
Uganda: the importance of blogging in Africa
Jackfruity writes about the importance of blogging in Africa, “My thoughts on the impact of blogging in Africa? Many of the blogs that do exist are shaping the way people think and contributing to major debates in their countries — just look at Sub-Saharan African Roundtable or Weichegud. The reason...
South Asia: Human rights, blogosphere, traditions, democracy, discrimination, travel and festivals
Picks from different blogs from the following South Asian Countries: Bangladesh: After 5 years detention in Guantanamo, one Bangladeshi (Mobarak) was recently released by the US authorities. However he was arrested again by Bangladesh Airport police for interrogation as soon as he arrived in Dhaka. Naeem of Drishtipat blog is...
