Archive for May, 2009

Iran restores Facebook access

Wednesday, May 27th, 2009

Iran has restored access to Facebook after a block on the social networking website last week generated accusations that the government was trying to muzzle one of the main presidential campaign tools of the reformist opposition. Read more here

Iraqi intelligence sues Guardian for defamation

Wednesday, May 27th, 2009

Iraq’s national intelligence service has launched a court action to sue the Guardian, claiming to have been defamed by a story that characterised the regime of prime minister Nouri al-Maliki as autocratic. Read more here

The tyranny of the take-down notice

Tuesday, May 26th, 2009

padraig_reidyThe closure of Nadine Dorries’s blog simply on suspicion of defamation emphasises the need for reform of libel legislation says Padraig Reidy
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Armed Israeli police close Palestinian literary festival

Tuesday, May 26th, 2009

Armed Israeli police attempted to halt the opening night of a prominent Palestinian literary festival in Jerusalem ordering a Palestinian theatre to close. Read more here

Censoring MPs’ expenses will break law says top QC

Tuesday, May 26th, 2009

The House of Commons will break the law if it goes ahead with its plan to release a heavily censored version of MPs’ expenses claims, according to the leading barrister involved in a campaign to get the information published, Hugh Tomlinson QC. Read more here

Chinese academic wins landmark Internet censorship case

Tuesday, May 26th, 2009

A Chinese professor has won his case against an Internet company that closed his website in March after he posted what was deemed to be illegal material. This is the first-ever case to be won by a victim of Internet censorship in a Chinese court. Read more here

Iran blocks Facebook in election run-up

Tuesday, May 26th, 2009

Iran has blocked access to Facebook, prompting government critics to condemn the move as an attempt to muzzle the opposition before next month’s presidential election. Read more here

Suu Kyi: prosecution closes case

Friday, May 22nd, 2009

The prosecution in the case against Burma’s Aung San Suu Kyi has closed its case days earlier than expected. Read more here