Our special report looks back on Index’s role in the history of the fight for free speech, from the oppression of the Cold War to censorship online.
40 years of Index on Censorship
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Index on Censorship
Dissent stirs in Azerbaijan
With the Eurovision Song Contest looming, Azerbaijanis are becoming more vocal in their demands for change, says Turgut Gambar
Tibetan writer prevented from receiving culture prize
Woeser, a Tibetan writer who has authored online articles and non-fiction books about her birthplace, has been prevented from attending a ceremony in which the Dutch Ambassador in China was to present her with an award from the Prince Claus Fund....
More to be done on Defamation Bill
The Libel Reform Campaign welcomes the Government’s commitment to a Defamation Bill but current proposals do not yet address the extensive problems of libel bullying and the chill on public debate
Syria: Paul Conroy escape Homs
UPDATE 15:37 28/02/11: France's President Sarkozy has said that Le Figaro correspondent Edith Bouvier has escaped Homs and is in Lebanon. This has not been fully confirmed. The Sunday Times has confirmed that British photographer Paul Conroy has...
Index’s submission to Commons Justice Select Committee on freedom of information
Any reduction in the scope of the Freedom of Information Act in limiting its costs or capping the number of requests will have an impact on Article 10 rights to freedom of expression, Index has said in a submission to a parliamentary committee
“The cruelty displayed by the Bahraini government is astounding”
Abdulhadi Alkhawaja was arrested on 9 April 2011. He was dragged from his house and beaten by 20 masked men along with his two sons in law, while his daughters and wife were insulted, assaulted and locked in a room. In may he was given life in...
The return to Pearl Roundabout
A year ago today, mass protests took place at the now demolished Pearl Roundabout in the Bahrain capital, Manama. This year protesters have been attempting to return to the square where, for a month last year, thousands gathered to call for change....
Why is Bahrain keeping out the international community?
This week the departure lounge at Bahrain’s airport seems to be full of people who were turned back at the passport desk without being allowed into the country. The authorities are incredibly sensitive about who’s going to see what and report what...
The downside to international education partnerships
I worked in higher education in Bahrain at the College of Arts, University of Bahrain from 2007-2008, and at Bahrain Teachers College, University of Bahrain --- founded in 2008 as a key part of the Crown Prince’s “Bahrain 2030 Vision” from...
Returned University of Bahrain students still face challenges
After the events of 13 March 2011 and the shameful attack on University of Bahrain (UoB) students by a group of militias that supported by the Bahraini regime, the UOB administration dismissed more than 400 innocent students and many of them get...
Bahrain’s PR machine threatens free speech
The Bahraini government spends thousands and thousands of dollars on PR companies every month. Their purpose of using such companies is simple: to project a positive image of Bahrain while also tempering any negative press coverage. One such...