· February, 2012

Stories about Legal Threats from February, 2012

Iran: Another blogger was arrested

  25 February 2012

Nama Jafari,blogger and journalist was arrested. He was editor of a cultural site. He also wrote a book called “a gathering in solitary confinement”.

Syria: Razan Ghazzawi and Female Colleagues Freed

  19 February 2012

Syrian Blogger and Freedom of Speech advocate Razan Ghazzawi, who was arrested for the second time earlier this week, was released on Saturday along with her female colleagues. Her male colleagues from the Syrian Center for Freedom of Expression in Damascus remain in detention.

Syria: Razan Ghazzawi Arrested… Again

  16 February 2012

Syrian security forces have arrested blogger and free speech advocate Razan Ghazzawi along with her collegues at the Syrian Center for Freedom of Expression in Damascus. This is the second time Razan Ghazzawi is arrested. The news caused disbelief among netizens who were very quick to react.

Morocco: Student Jailed For Insulting King In Video

  15 February 2012

A 24 year-old Moroccan student, Abdelsamad Haydour, was sentenced to 3 years in jail for criticizing the king of Morocco in a video posted on YouTube. The news of the sentence provoked strong reactions on social networks.

Iran: Innovations in Cyber Dictatorship

  7 February 2012

In the latest examples creative repression over the internet, the Islamic regime has used Skype as a long-distance interrogation tool, and wrested control over a Facebook group for photos of hot guys and girls from its administrators.

Oman: Blogger Muawiya Alrawahi Detained

  6 February 2012

It has been reported on Twitter that outspoken Omani blogger Muawiya Alrawahi, known for his controversial ideas, has been detained because of a blog post and some tweets in which he criticised Sultan Qaboos bin Said, the ruler of Oman.

Kuwait: Ahmad Mansoor, a UAE blogger denied entry

  6 February 2012

Ahmad Mansoor, UAE's most famous blogger who was detained last year for several months with four other activists for signing an online petition calling for reforms in his country, was denied entry to Kuwait few days ago. The UAE5 including Mansoor were released with a pardon on the 28th of...

Ethiopia: Freedom of Expression in Jeopardy

  3 February 2012

More than ten journalists have been imprisoned in Ethiopia since June 2011 and according to the Committee to Protect Journalists about 25% of exiled journalists in Africa are from Ethiopia, making the country the world's main enemy of the major driving forces of free expression: journalists, bloggers and political dissidents....

South Korea: National Security Law Muted North Korea Related Discussions

  3 February 2012

A South Korean Twitter user, Park Jeong-Geun has been arrested since January 11, 2012 for re-tweeting messages such as “Long Live General Kim Jong-Il” in Twitter. Under the curry National Security Law (NSL), Park would face up to seven years imprisonment. Amnesty International called for Park's release yesterday, February 2,...