Three of the Muslim Brotherhood’s senior leaders, including Mahmoud Ezzat, the Brotherhood's deputy leader, were detained alongside at least 11 other members for engaging in banned political activity. Although the Muslim Brotherhood is banned, its...
Uganda: Details of oil deals ‘not in public interest’
Two reporters from The Monitor newspaper, Angelo Izama and Charles Mwanguhya Mpagi Izama lost an appeal to compel the government to release papers relating to oil deals, when the judge decided the information was not in the public interest. Izama...
Mexico to restrict Twitter
Mexican politicians are seeking to regulate the use of social media, like Twitter, Facebook or Myspace. They claim Mexican users are using these sites to avoid drunk-driving checkpoints.
Ceausescu’s son seeks to ban play on the former Romanian dictator
Valentin Ceausescu is seeking to ban a play on the trail and execution of the former dictator. "The Last Hours of Ceausescu", written by Milo Rau, depicts the 1989 trial and execution of former dictator Nicolae Ceausescu and his wife. Valentin's...
Belarusians forced to show ID before using internet cafes
Web users will be forced to show their passports or other ID before using Belaruse's internet cafes from July 1. President Alyaksandr Lukashenka's decree also requires ISPs to store data on individuals' web usage for a year and to hand that...
Uzbekistani photographer put on trial for slander
Photographer and documentary film-maker Umida Akhmedova has been charged with slandering and insulting the Uzkbek people. Under articles 139 and 140 of the criminal code the charges carry a maximum sentence of three years in jail. Akhmedova's crime...
Chinese safety campaigner referred to prosecutors
Police have referred to prosecutors the case of a father who campaigned over the 2008 melamine milk contamination. Zhao Lianhai, whose own child was made ill by the melamine contamination, is accused of trying to provoke social disorder. He has...
Egyptian editor convicted of defamation
An Egyptian criminal court has convicted Yasser Barakat, editor-in-chief of the weekly Al Mougaz of defamation. The suit was filed by Mustafa Bakri, editor-in-chief of the weekly Al-Osbo’ and member of the Egyptian parliament. Barakat has been...
Iraq lifts election candidate ban
An Iraqi appeals panel has lifted a ban on hundreds of candidates barred from standing in impending Iraqi election because of their suspected links to Saddam's Baathist party. In a compromise negotiated by President Jalal Talabani, if the disputed...
Azerbaijan convicts newspaper editor of libel
Newspaper editor Ayyub Karimov has been given a 18-month suspended sentence after being convicted of libelling the interior minister Ramil Usubov. Ububov claimed articles printed in the Azadlyg and Femida 007 newspapers were inaccurate and damaged...
Tajiki independent weekly fined, more lawsuits follow
Lawsuits were launched against four leading newspapers following a Dushanbe court's decision to uphold a damages award against independent news weekly Paykon. The damages award of 300,000 somoni (€49,000) was confirmed on 26 January. Paykon...
China protests Swiss asylum for Guantanamo Uighurs
China has warned the Swiss government that its decision to grant asylum to two Chinese Uighurs currently detained in Guantanamo Bay will harm relations. Switzerland's justice minister said the decision to take the brothers was guided by...