Archive for February, 2010

Russia: FSB press office licenced to spy

Tuesday, February 16th, 2010

Andrei Soldatov Andrei Soldatov reveals that the Russia’s Federal Security Service, the successor to the KGB, has granted the same office that responds to journalists requests licence to search their homes, wiretap them and place them under surveillance

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Index on Censorship Free Expression Awards 2010

Tuesday, February 16th, 2010

The 10th annual Index on Censorship Freedom of Expression Awards ceremony, hosted by Jonathan Dimbleby at Royal Institute of British Architects on 25 March 2010. This year’s event promises to be the most important in the history of the awards, given the greatly increased profile that Index on Censorship is now enjoying in the UK and beyond.

The event, which is also Index on Censorship’s major fundraising drive, will honour the courage and efforts of people all over the world who campaign for freedom of expression even in the most hostile environments. We will also celebrate Index’s achievements over the past year, including our high profile campaign to change England’s libel laws. With appearances from top comedians and leading commentators, the evening will be both inspiring and entertaining.

At past events there have been poignant moments. Last year, the new media award was won by Psiphon, a revolutionary software programme that allows Internet access in countries where censorship is imposed. At the ceremony, Psiphon dedicated their award to imprisoned Iranian blogger Hossein Derakshan, who still languishes in jail.

Please join our efforts by purchasing whatever you feel able to: a table for ten friends or associates at £1200, half a table for five at £650, or a pair of tickets at £150 each. Whilst the future of freedom of expression globally is so uncertain, we really do rely on the generosity of individuals to keep our campaigns and world class magazine going. To email click here  (awardsatindexoncensorshipdotorg)   or call 020 7324 2522 for more information.

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Ukrainian editor on trial for doubting 1930s genocide

Monday, February 15th, 2010

Sergei Shvedko, chief editor of the Rodnoye Priyapovye, is to go on trial for expressing doubts that the Holodomor — the 1930s famine in which millions of Ukranian starved to death because of  the policies of Joseph Stalin  — was genocide aimed against the Ukrainian people. Former President Yushchenko’s “Our Ukraine” party bought about the legal action claiming Shvedko denigrated Ukrainians’ dignity, dishonoured of the memory of the famine’s victims and denied the famine was genocide. Holodomor denial outlawed in Ukraine.

Azerbaijani journalists forbidden from filming subjects

Monday, February 15th, 2010

Laws were revised late last Friday forbidding journalists from filming, recording or photographing subjects without their express permission. Parliamentarian Panah Huseynov claims this is a move to restrict the freedom of press and announced he would appeal to the courts regarding the law. Several prominent newspaper editors, including the former editor of the Russian-language weekly Real Azerbaijan, Eynulla Fatullayev, are now serving prison sentences on charges that critics claim are politically motivated.

Burma: pro-democracy deputy leader Tin Oo freed

Monday, February 15th, 2010

Burma’s junta has released the co-founder of the National League for Democracy, Tin Oo after nearly seven years in detention. Tin, who established the League  with Aung San Suu Kyi, has been granted freedom shortly before a UN envoy is due to visit Burma to evaluate the regime’s progress on human rights. His release has prompted hopes that Aung San Suu Kyi will also be free.

Nigerian editor threatened with defamation charges

Monday, February 15th, 2010

Mallam Tukur, editor and publisher of Desert Herald, an independent weekly in Kaduna state, has been arrested and threatened with prosecution on defamation charges. The Committee to Protect Journalists claim the threats are related to a recent article accusing Yobe’s Governor Ibrahim Geidam of corruption.

France fast-tracks internet censorship bill

Monday, February 15th, 2010

France’s has fast-tracked a law allowing the government to block websites. Amendments seeking judicial oversight and clauses specifying pages not sites should be blocked were rejected. The law has been classified as urgent, bypassing the normal four readings in parliament, and will go to the senate for a final vote next week.

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China: Missing lawyer located

Monday, February 15th, 2010

Chinese authorities have told the US human rights group, the Dui Hua Foundation, that Gao Zhisheng – a human rights lawyer who has been missing for more than a year – is in Urumqi, Xinjiang. Zhisheng’s case has drawn international attention due to the unusual length of his disappearance. John Kamm, the foundation’s executive director, said the news was a “tentative step in the right direction toward accountability”, but many questions still needed to be answered such as “What is he doing there? How long has he been there?”