NEWS

Free expression in the news
INDEX EVENTS 18 July New World (Dis)Order: What do Turkey, Russia and Brazil tell us about freedom and rights? Index, in partnership with the European Council on Foreign Relations, is holding a timely debate on the shifting world order and its impact on rights and freedoms. The event will also launch the latest issue of […]
10 Jul 13

INDEX EVENTS
18 July New World (Dis)Order: What do Turkey, Russia and Brazil tell us about freedom and rights?
Index, in partnership with the European Council on Foreign Relations, is holding a timely debate on the shifting world order and its impact on rights and freedoms. The event will also launch the latest issue of Index on Censorship magazine, including a special report on the multipolar world.
(More information)

BAHRAIN
Allowing freedom of expression and peaceful assembly is the only way to stop violence
Bahrain opposition parties are following with great concern the deteriorating security situation in Bahrain, by which the authorities are dragging the country into the unknown.
(ABNA.co)

BURMA
Burma’s lower house passes restrictive press law
Going against its own Press Council, parliamentarians in Burma have passed a restrictive new press law that will restrict freedom of the press, Mike Harris reports.
(Index on Censorship)

CHINA
Sina Weibo Credit System Has Docked 200k Users, Dealt with 15 Million Complaints
A little over a year ago, in response to mounting concerns about the spread of harmful rumors on its platform, Sina Weibo implemented a “credit” system.
(Tech in Asia)

FRANCE
French First lady forced to pay legal costs after dropping libel action against journalist who claimed two politicians ‘shared’ her as a mistress
French first lady Valerie Trierweiler was today forced to pay legal costs to a writer who accused her of being the ‘shared’ mistress of two married politicians.
(Daily Mail)

MOROCCO
Free speech sidelined in Morocco
Despite promising reform and introducing a new constitution in 2011, Morocco’s treatment of dissidents indicates the changes were just window dressing, Samia Errazzouki writes
(Index on Censorship)

RUSSIA
Journalist Akhmednabi Akhmednabiev killed in Russia
Akhmednabi Akhmednabiev, a well-known Russian journalist who reported on human rights violations in the Caucasus, was shot dead near his house around 7am local time today. Andrei Aliaksandrau reports
(Index on Censorship)

Russian Lawmaker to Create Defense From Gays Group
A Siberian regional lawmaker who has advocated the flogging of gay people in public said Tuesday that he intends to set up a group to protect Russians from homosexuals.
(RiaNovosti)

Russia drops curtain on Bolshoi director
The Bolshoi Theater, racked by feuds, scandals, criminal charges and tantrums as over-the-top as its recent extravagant renovation, lost its general director Tuesday when he was fired by Russia’s culture minister.
(Washington Post)

TUNISIA
Bare-chested street actors accused of indecency in Tunisia
Some Tunisian street performers, whose bare chests prompted an attack by audience members, have been released after being charged with public indecency.
(UPI)

TURKEY
European Commission ‘concerned’ by detentions targeting Gezi protests’ pioneers
The European Union’s commissioner for enlargement, Stefan Füle, has expressed concern over the detention of Taksim Solidarity Platform members who were involved from the start of the Gezi Park protests.
(HUrriyet Daily News)

UNITED KINGDOM
IPSO proposal an opportunity to break Leveson deadlock
The industry’s proposal for a new press regulator is not perfect. But it’s a starting point for proper discussion on the future of Britain’s free press, says Padraig Reidy
(Index on Censorship)

Rizzle Kicks ‘called libel lawyers’ over John Terry, Jeremy Kyle lyrics
Rizzle Kicks have mocked John Terry and Jeremy Kyle in their latest song.
The rap duo unveiled their new track ‘Lost Generation’ yesterday (July 8), which makes reference to Chelsea footballer Terry’s race trial.
(Digital Spy)

UNITED STATES
Ex-Bengals cheerleader to continue testimony in libel lawsuit over posts on gossip website
A former Cincinnati Bengals cheerleader suing a gossip website for alleged defamation was expected to continue testimony for a second day in her lawsuit’s retrial.
(Washington Post)

FROM INDEX ON CENSORSHIP MAGAZINE
Global view: Who has freedom of expression?
Freedom of expression is a universal, fundamental human right. But who actually has access to free expression? Index CEO Kirsty Hughes looks at the evidence.
(Index on Censorship)

Global view: Who has freedom of expression?
Freedom of expression is a universal, fundamental human right. But who actually has access to free expression? Index CEO Kirsty Hughes looks at the evidence.
(Index on Censorship)

The multipolar challenge to free expression
As emerging markets command influence on the international stage, Saul Estrin and Kirsty Hughes look at the impact on economics, politics and human rights.
(Index on Censorship)

News in monochrome: Journalism in India
The media’s infatuation with a single narrative is drowning out the country’s diversity, giving way to sensationalist reporting and “paid for” news. But, says Bharat Bhushan, moves towards regulation could have a chilling effect too
(Index on Censorship)

Censorship: The problem child of Burma’s dictatorship
Writer and artist Htoo Lyin Myo gives his personal account of working under government censorship in Burma
(Index on Censorship)


Previous Free Expression in the News posts
July 9 | July 8 | July 5 | July 4 | July 3 | July 2 | July 1 | June 28 | June 27 | June 26