Archive for March, 2011
Friday, March 25th, 2011
Reporter Sergei Topol was
beaten around the head on Wednesday as he left his home in Moscow, leaving him hospitalised. Topol
published a series of articles in 2008 in which he alleged that Prime Minister Vladimir Putin was going to leave his wife for a 27-year-old Olympic champion gymnast. Putin
denied the claims at the time, and told journalists to keep their “snotty noses” out of his private life. Topol’s assailant is unknown and police have declined to comment on the motive.
Friday, March 25th, 2011
Security forces opened fire on protesters in the southern city of Daraa on Wednesday,
killing at least 25 demonstrators. While activists claimed that many more had been killed, hospital sources
reported 25 bodies with bullet wounds. Security forces have come down hard on recent demonstrations, with at least 32 protesters having been killed since Friday 18 March.
Thursday, March 24th, 2011
The 11th annual Index on Censorship Freedom of Expression Awards, sponsored by SAGE, were presented tonight (24 March) at a ceremony in London hosted by Jonathan Dimbleby
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Category Freedom Of Expression Awards, Middle East and North Africa, News and Analysis | Tags: Tags: Belarus, China, Egypt, freedom of expression awards 2011, Gao Zhisheng, Ibrahim Eissa, India, Maqbool Fida Husain, sami ben gharbia, TuniLeaks, Tunisia,
Thursday, March 24th, 2011
Chinese lawyer Gao Zhisheng was named the winner of the Bindmans Law and Campaigning Award at tonight’s Index on Censorship’s Freedom of Expression awards, sponsored by SAGE.
Gao Zhisheng was unable to attend and his wife, Geng He, accepted the award on his behalf, via video. (more…)
Thursday, March 24th, 2011
Two of the UK’s largest internet service providers BT and TalkTalk
challenged the legality of the Digital Economy Act 2010 in the High Court yesterday. Antony White QC, acting for the firms, claimed that the new legislation is flawed and incompatible with EU law. It would unlawfully “impact on the privacy and free expression rights” of consumers, he said. The Act
was passed by the previous government during last year’s “wash-up” period. BT and TalkTalk
won the right to judicial review in November 2010.
Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011
Index on Censorship Free Expression Award 2010 winners
The 11th annual Index on Censorship Freedom of Expression Awards honour those who, often at great personal risk, have given voice to issues and stories from around the globe that would otherwise have passed unnoticed.
This year’s event will be hosted by Jonathan Dimbleby at the Royal Institution in Mayfair on 24 March. It promises to be a truly inspiring evening, with a keynote address from Booker prize-winning novelist Howard Jacobson and a special address from celebrated playwright Sir Tom Stoppard.
READ ABOUT THIS YEAR’S AWARD NOMINEES HERE
Over four decades Index has worked for victims of oppression and censorship, championing their right to free expression. In December, when Natalia Koliada of the world-renowned Belarus Free Theatre was arrested and bundled into a police van, her first call for help on a smuggled mobile phone was to Index on Censorship. In Tunisia we’ve been working on the ground with civil society activists for five years. In addition to our international work, we lead the campaign to reform English libel law.
The awards, kindly sponsored by SAGE, gives you the opportunity to support our vital work. We expect over 300 prominent guests this year, and your attendance will fund our ongoing campaign for free expression in the UK and abroad. The event will begin at 7pm with a champagne reception and grand canapés. After the awards ceremony we will ask you to bid high in our celebrated auction.
You can read about last year’s Index Award winners here
Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011
Apple
appears to have removed an application designed to provide “freedom from homosexuality through the power of Jesus”, following widespread condemnation and a petition signed by over 149,000 people.
Apple, which has strict regulation of products available in its store,
had marked the app with a “4+” rating, indicating that the application contained “no objectionable content”.
The
petition, started on Change.org by think tank
Truth Wins Out, demanded that Apple remove the Exodus app from its iTunes store. It stated:
Apple doesn’t allow racist or anti-Semitic apps in its app store, yet it is giving the green light to an app targeting vulnerable LGBT youth with the message that their sexual orientation is a “sin that will make your heart sick” and a “counterfeit.” This is a double standard that has the potential for devastating consequences.
Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011
Digital activism has long been a way of life in Egypt; from monitoring political corruption to protesting against police brutality
(more…)
