24 Nov 2010 | Index Index, Middle East and North Africa, minipost, News and features
An arrest warrant has been issued for the son of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. Mehdi Hashemi, whose father is an influential cleric and former president known for his opposition to President Mahmound Ahmadinejad, has been living in Britain since last year’s election. Although no specific reason for the warrant has been given, hardliners have accused him of encouraging anti-government demonstrations. During last year’s protests, authorities briefly detained the cleric’s daughter.
24 Nov 2010 | Index Index, minipost, News and features
The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) now regularly refers to Morgan Tsvangirai as “the leader of the MDC party” rather than “the Prime Minister” in news bulletins. Political analyst Bekithemba Mhlanga has claimed that, with an election marked for 2011, ZANU PF has entered election mode and ZBC, still tightly controlled by President Mugabe, helps enforce this agenda. Mugabe, in ZBC reports, has a number of titles, including “the President”, “The Head of State”, and “Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces”.
24 Nov 2010 | Index Index, minipost, News and features
Sixty thousand websites deemed to host pornographic content have been shut down by the government since December 2009. The National Office Against Pornographic and Illegal Publications also said some 1.6 million websites had been checked. The office revealed many of the offending websites were discovered through informants. Five hundred and sixteen informers have been rewarded with USD 79,000 since the crackdown started.
23 Nov 2010 | Index Index, minipost
Hopes have been raised that Asia Bibi, the Pakistani Christain sentenced to death in Punjab for blasphemy, may soon be pardoned. The minorities minister said he was optimistic about her release and the local governor said he put forth a petition to President Zardari. Yet, even if Bibi receives a pardon after 18 months in prison, the blasphemy law will likely be retained. Critics claim the law is used to terrorise Pakistan’s minorities. In this case, Muslim women refused to drink water brought by an “unclean” Christian before an altercation took place
