Archive for September, 2009

Time for a revolution?

Thursday, September 17th, 2009

revolution

Is it time for another revolution? Timothy Garton Ash poses a leading question as he revisits the momentous events of 1989 in the latest issue of Index on Censorship. Writers and journalists across eastern Europe join him in assessing the legacy, and put the media under scrutiny. Cristian Tudor Popescu charts the highs and lows for journalists in Romania; Jan Bubenik remembers the night he became a velvet revolutionary; novelist Ivan Klíma reconsiders his expectations and Maria Eismont addresses the decline of press freedom in Russia.

Also in this issue: award-winning journalist Lydia Cacho tells the remarkable story of how she survived an abduction and death threats; Brian Klug explores the Jewish tradition of dissent and Geoffrey Robertson dissects the threats to free speech in the UK.

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Ai Weiwei undergoes brain surgery after beating

Thursday, September 17th, 2009

Chinese artist Ai Weiwei is reported to have had brain surgery after being beaten by police. Read more here

Israel: Human Rights Watch backslides on free speech?

Thursday, September 17th, 2009

richard_silverstein_140x140Human Rights Watch’s suspension of military analyst Marc Garlasco under Israeli pressure raises questions about its own commitment to free expression, says Richard Silverstein of Tikun Olam

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Russia: getting away with murder

Wednesday, September 16th, 2009

ninaoThe unsolved killings of 17 journalists has had a chilling effect on the work of Russia’s press, writes Nina Ognianova

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Godot to the rescue

Wednesday, September 16th, 2009

Jo GlanvilleSamuel Beckett wrote a play for Václav Havel when he was in jail. On being freed, Havel returned the favour. It was the making of a great dramatic double-act, reprised this week by Index on Censorship. Jo Glanville reports
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Syrian authorities raid free expression campaigner’s office

Tuesday, September 15th, 2009

Intelligence officials and police shut down freelance journalist Mazen Darwich’s office and confiscated all of its contents on 13 September. The journalist heads the Syrian Centre for Media and Free Expression, Syria’s only NGO specialising in media issues. Read more here

Chechnya’s rebuilding masks a new wave of repression

Tuesday, September 15th, 2009

natalia_estemirova2
The killing of Natalia Estemirova is a sign of the republic’s drift into lawlessness and violence under President Kadyrov, writes Lucy Ash

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Iraqi shoe-thrower’s release delayed

Monday, September 14th, 2009

The release of journalist Muntazer al Zaidi, who was due to be freed on 14 September, has been postponed for at least one day. Al Zaidi was jailed after throwing a shoe at former American president George Bush during a press conference.

According to al Zaidi’s brother Vergam, officials claim that his papers have not yet been finished. There are concerns over the journalist’s health after family members revealed that prison guards have been harassing him.
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