Stories about Free Expression from May, 2014
Censors On, China Still Doesn't Want Anyone Talking About Tiananmen Square
Estimates of the death toll from June 4, 1989 range from a few hundred to the thousands. The Chinese government has prohibited all forms of discussion online or offline since.
Singapore Prime Minister Sues Blogger for Defamation
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong sued blogger Roy Ngerng for defamation in connection to a blog article alleging that the leader was involved in corruption.
“I Can Feel Total Censorship in the Air”: Internet Freedom Evaporates in Thailand
"Freedom of expression is Thailand is at stake...Simply criticising the Council could land one before a military court."
Serbian Bloggers Censored for Criticizing Flood Relief Efforts
Bloggers, journalists and rights-conscious Internet users have flooded the Serbian web with republications of a blog post condemning the government for stifling free expression during the country's state of emergency.
The Coup and the Information War in Thailand
The military says that it must control TV, radio stations and the Internet as a way to ensure that “truthful” and “correct” information is disseminated to the population.
The “Happy” Video That Got Six Young People Sent to Jail
Six Iranians were jailed and forced to confess on national television that they were tricked into the making of a "Happy" video in Tehran.
Persecuting Russian Bloggers Doesn't End with Censorship
Pro-Kremlin Internet activists are now targeting tech volunteers working for Russia's top blogger, who is already blocked online and under house arrest.
Moroccan Blogger and Rapper El-Haqed Arrested Again
Friends say police recognized the rapper and explicitly targeted him at a football match. Mouad Belrhouat, aka El-Haqed, has been jailed twice since 2011 for his political music and activism.
Countdown to the End of Twitter in Russia
The deputy director of Russia’s chief censorship agency, Roscomnadzor, has threatened to order a block on Twitter or Facebook entirely, in a matter of minutes.
Ethiopia: Police Request More Time for Zone 9 Bloggers Investigation
Friends of Global Voices report on an emotional scene outside an Addis Ababa courtroom where Zone 9 bloggers appeared for a brief, closed hearing last week.
Tunisian Activist Azyz Amami Arrested on Drug Charges
Amami has been blogging on social and political issues in Tunisia since 2008. He has demanded an end to state surveillance and censorship in concert with Tunisia’s most influential cyberactivists.
Pakistan High Court Demands Unblocking of YouTube
In what appears to be a major victory for Internet openness in Pakistan, Lahore's High Court ruled to unblock YouTube, responding to a legal challenge filed by open Internet advocates.
Security Forces Detain Leader of “SOS Venezuela” Campaign
Rodrigo Diamanti is the president and founder of “Un Mundo Sin Mordaza” (A World Without the Gag), the NGO behind the campaign “SOS Venezuela” and “Your voice is your power.”
Activists Push Back on Mauritania's Information Society Law
A newly proposed law on the Information Society in Mauritania would limit free expression and prohibit the use of encryption. Activists are speaking out against the legislation.
#FreeSimpson: Campaign to Free Jailed Activists in Morocco
Eleven members of the pro-democracy February 20 Movement were detained in April after joining a labor protest. Using #FreeSimpson and #FreeKoulchi hashtags, supporters are calling for their release.
Join the #FreeZone9Bloggers Tweetathon on May 14
Join Global Voices bloggers for an Africa-wide tweetathon in support of the nine bloggers and journalists arrested in late April and currently being detained in Ethiopia.
Why Blogging is a Threat to the Ethiopian Government
"The threat embodied in Ethiopia’s bloggers, journalists and free thinkers is that they are introducing a radical new idea—the idea of a freer, more democratic country."
Azerbaijan: N!DA Activists Face 6-8 Years in Prison
As one journalist put it, members of the leading online activist group were “found guilty of being bright, intelligent, brave and honest.”
Saudi Blogger Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison, 1000 Lashes
Yesterday, a Saudi court sentenced Raif Badawi to 10 years in prison and 1000 lashes for setting up a liberal website.
4 Ways You Can Join the #FreeZone9Bloggers Campaign
Join the campaign to free nine bloggers and journalists detained in Ethiopia: Write a letter, sign a statement, or organize an event in your city!