Stories about Legal Threats from December, 2009
Uzbekistan: Criminal Charges Filed Against Documentary Photographer Umida Akhmedova
Umida Akhmedova, Uzbek documentary photographer, has been accused of insult and slander against Uzbek people and traditions. The maximum penalty for these charges includes remedial work on two up to three years or detention for up to six months. She is incriminated in the production of "Women and men: from dawn till dusk" photo album, produced in 2007 under support of Swiss Embassy Gender Program.
Moroccan Blogger, Internet Cafe Owner, Sentenced
On Monday, December 14, Moroccan blogger Bashir Hazzam (also spelled Hazem, Hazzem) and Internet cafe owner Abdullah Boukhou were sentenced, to four months and one year, respectively, in a Goulmim...
Tunisia: Student Mohamed Soudani Jailed for Media Interview
Tunisian student Mohamed Soudani, 24, disappeared on October 22, 2009, in Tunisia after giving interviews to Radio Monte Carlo International and Radio France International. Soudani was missing for 18 days...
Moroccan Blogger Bashir Hazem Arrested
Moroccan blogger Bashir Hazem was arrested on December 8, 2009 following a protest in Tarjijt, during which students clashed with security forces, after posting a press release about the clash on his blog. He has been interrogated about his blogging, specifically his most recent post, which contained the signatures of a committee of arrested students. He faces trial on December 14, 2009.
Russia: Blogger Arrested For Pneumonic Plague Rumors
Ivan Peregorodiev, a 22-year-old medical student and blogger, has been arrested on December 3 for spreading rumors about pneumonic plague in the city of Saratov. Authorities accused him of disseminating...
