Stories about Advocacy from September, 2008
Blogar no anonimato com WordPress & Tor
The Anonymous Blogging with Wordpress and Tor guide is now available in Portuguese thanks to this translation by Guilherme Barcellos., from GlobalVoices em Português.
Tunisia lifts YouTube and Dailymotion ban, but…
The news today is that Tunisia has lifted the ban on both popular video-sharing websites Youtube (Blocked since November 2nd, 2007) and Dailymotion (Blocked since Septembre 3rd, 2007). But some tests carried out from Tunisia by some Tunisian activists and bloggers have shown that despite restoring access to Youtube, a...
China: An hour later, he was taken away
Another blogger arrest, this time we find out about merely by chance. Just days after WordCamp China 2008 wrapped up, citizen reporter and web editor Wen Yunchao is in Beijing and today posts, ‘An hour later, he was taken away‘: This morning Mr. Peng came looking for me; I'd recommended...
Malaysia: Blogger's habeas corpus bid thwarted
Just on the day of blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin’s habeas corpus, a detention order was issued for him to be held under s. 8(1) of the Internal Security Act (ISA). Malaysia’s Minister of Home Affairs, Syed Hamid Albar, was reported to have admitted to signing the detention order the night before the habeas corpus hearing.
Yemen: Loui Has Been Set Free!
Yemen Hurr website announced yesterday in a press release that its founder and editor-in-chief Loui Al-Moayed has been released from prison yesterday after about more than 70 days in detention. In a press release, the website thanked all those organizations and advocates who fought hard for his release from a...
Kuwait to block Youtube over anti-Muslim videos
Update: YouTube Ban Lifted. The Kuwait Ministry of Communications has issued an order to local ISPs denying access to Youtube due to video content considered offensive to Muslims and Islam.
Saudi Arabia: Why Should Arabs Have Access to the Internet?
For days, cyberactivists have been busy discussing the case of Moroccan blogger Mohammed Erraji, who was arrested, put on trial, sentenced - and then freed, and then put on trial again and finally acquitted. Who is Mohammed Erraji? Why did he cross 'red lines' knowing well that in many countries in the Middle East criticising members of the vast Ruling families is very likely to result in repercussions and punishment? Saudi blogger Fouad Al Farhan, who recently found himself behind bars for his writings in Saudi Arabia, visits Erraji's blog looking for answers.
A statement to the Egyptian general prosecutor seeking the release of a blogger
Today a number of Egyptian artists and human rights activists submitted a statement to the General Prosecutor, demanding the release of blogger activist and novelist Mosaad Abu Fajr, who has been in jail since December 2007 [...]
Singapore: Blogger jailed for insulting judge
Former Singaporean citizen and naturalized American, Gopalan Nair, has been sentenced to three months imprisonment for insulting a high court judge on his blog. Newspaper reports that the court, in handing out the sentence, had stated that Gopalan had “scandalised…the judiciary and the administration of justice in Singapore” [...]
Advocacy 2.0 Guide: Tools for Digital Advocacy
The Advocacy 2.0 Guide (Tools for Digital Advocacy) describes some of the best techniques and tools that digital activists - and others who wish to learn from this subject - can use as part of their online advocacy campaigns. While our previous guide (Blog for a Cause!) focused on the effective use of blogs as an advocacy tool, this guide will explore creative uses of other web 2.0 applications.
Malaysia: Yet another blogger apprehended
Malaysian blogger Syed Azidi Syed Aziz, or kickdefella, was arrested today. From initial reports, it is not clear if he was arrested for inciting the public to fly the national flag upside-down or for an article he wrote. Other reports suggest that Syed Azidi is being investigated under Section 4 (1) of the...
Morocco: Understanding Mohammed Raji's Sentence
Less than a year ago, Global Voices noted Morocco as the “liveliest free speech zone in Muslim North Africa.” It would not be a stretch to say that Morocco ranks among the best for free speech in the entire Middle East/North Africa (MENA) region. And yet, journalists are all too...
Morocco: Blogger Arrested, Sentenced Immediately
This morning, it was reported by the electronic news site Hespress [ar] that blogger Mohammed Raji was arrested in his home in Agadir. An article that Raji had posted on Hespress [ar] is said to be the source of the conflict, though neither that fact nor Raji's arrest have been confirmed outside of the blogosphere. This afternoon it was reported that Raji had already been tried and sentenced to two years in prison and a fine of MAD 5,000.
Egyptian blogger arrested since July
A young Egyptian blogger Mohamed Refaat has being in jail since July, though the editor of the blog Matabbat was ordered to be released. The Prosecution accused Refaat of calling for a demonstration on the occasion marking the anniversary of the 23 July Revolution and distributing anti-regime fliers, in addition to other charges such as joining the legally banned Muslim Brotherhood Group and calling for demonstrations in front of places of worship and public squares in favor of the Group.
More storms a-brewing for RPK
A new legal wrangle might join the criminal defamation charges and defamation law suits sitting on the doorstep of Raja Petra Kamarudin (RPK). Newspapers reported recently that the Department of Islamic Development (Jakim) and other Muslim bodies had lodged a police report against him for allegedly insulting the Malays, Muslims and Islam. The...
Tunisia's ban on Facebook lifted
The ban on the popular social networking website Facebook has been lifted in Tunisia since yesterday 3 September 2008 after a massive protest by Tunisian Netizens. Tens of Facebook groups protesting the ban have popped up in recent weeks surrounding this issue. But, according to Al Chourouk newspaper, the President...
Founder and webmaster of Ingush opposition website killed
The founder and webmaster of the Ingush opposition news website Ingushetiya.Ru, Magomed Yevloyev, was killed while in police custody. His website reported that Magomed was shot in the head after being arrested by the Ingush authorities on his arrival at Nazran (Magas) airport. He has passed away in hospital.
