Stories about Middle East & North Africa from October, 2014
Human Rights Activist Iyad El-Baghdadi Speaks Out on His Deportation from UAE
Iyad El-Baghdadi, who played a key role in social media activism around the Arab uprisings, was deported from the UAE April. Until last week, little was known of his fate.
Netizen Report: Social Media Users Silenced by Arrest, Assassination
This week, Tweeps are under threat (and worse) in Latin America and Turkey, China’s anti-rumor campaign continues, and the secret about Whisper (it's not that safe) is out.
Netizen Report: From Egypt to the EU, Calls for Social Media Censorship in Name of National Security
This week we look at spying and mobile security from the UK to Bahrain, along with original testimony from an imprisoned member of Ethiopia's Zone9 blogging collective.
Will the Right to Be Forgotten Inspire Repressive Regimes to Expand Internet Censorship?
“These governments will take advantage from this directive. Powerful people will be able to hide disgraceful actions for their own e-reputation," says Tunisian Internet advocate Dhouha Ben Youssef.
Remembering Mahsa Shekarloo, Iran's Internet Pioneer and Women’s Rights Activist
Mahsa Shekarloo, Iranian women’s rights activist and founder of the online feminist journal Bad Jens, died Friday September 5, 2014, surrounded by family. We celebrate her life in this post.
GV Face: Alaa Abd El Fattah and Maryam Al Khawaja on Hunger Strikes, Jail-time, and Activism in Egypt and Bahrain
Hundreds of political prisoners are currently on hunger strike in Egypt and Bahrain.
#FreeSaeed: An Iranian Web Developer's Sixth Year in Prison
Saeed Malekpour was originally sentenced to death as a "corrupter of the earth" for his open source software that others used to download pornographic images.
“We Don't Need No Governance”: Why the Internet Governance Forum Misses the Point
Activists worldwide have criticized the UN-sponsored Internet Governance Forum for shying away from pressing issues like censorship and digital surveillance. This year, they held took matters into their own hands.
Bahrain's Prominent Human Rights Activist Arrested for Criticizing Police Defectors Who Joined ISIS
Bahrain's most prominent human rights defender Nabeel Rajab is back in jail for his tweets, for the third time.
Cute Cat Theory in Action: Despite Drought, Iranian Users Take the Ice Bucket Challenge
Are Iranians really more consumed by Facebook likes and online attention than they are with tangible problems within their own country? If so, they're not alone.