Europe’s last dictatorship uses violence, repressive legislation and economic discrimination to silence independent journalists. Yanina Melnikava reports
Belarus media law offers no defence
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CATEGORY: Europe and Central Asia
Iran’s attacks on the BBC
Staff at the BBC’s Persian Service face satellite jamming as well as smear campaigns and intimidation, says World Service Director Peter Horrocks
Index on Censorship’s response to the Leveson report
The Leveson Report will become a benchmark for press regulation in modern democracies. Index has urged a serious, considered debate about Lord Justice Leveson’s recommendations rather than their full adoption. The free speech organisation opposes the statutory underpinning of press regulation as proposed by Lord Justice Leveson.
Mexico City topples statue of a former Azerbaijani dictator
Until a couple of months ago, few in Mexico City knew who Heydar Aliyev was, and even fewer of those were aware that a marble and bronze statue erected in his honour sat smack in the middle of Reforma Avenue, one of Mexico’s most recognised streets. A plaque standing before the statue detailed the former president of Azerbaijan’s “loyalty to the universal ideals of world peace”. But the presence of the dead dictator sparked controversy in Mexico City. The conflict over how Mexico City accepted $5 million dollars from Azerbaijan to build the statue, as well as a park, has been brewing since November. The agreement to build the statue was reached by the leftist government of the Partido de la Revolucion […]
Index on Censorship response to Conservatives’ Royal Charter press proposal
Index on Censorship today responded to proposals put forward by the Conservative party to establish a press regulator via Royal Charter
Turkey: Number of “insulting Turkishness” cases drops as parliament discusses changing definition of citizenship
There has been a significant decrease in the number of cases brought under Turkey’s infamous Article 301, a recent news investigation has shown. But the law continues to be rigorously implemented. The original version of Article 301 made it illegal...
Putin’s Russia at war with civil society
Russian authorities not only have narrowed the rules regarding NGOs’ activities, but they also subject civil society activists to direct repression, Andrei Aliaksandrau reports
“Human rights are not an impediment to effective policing”
Index on Censorship’s Kirsty Hughes talks to Sir Hugh Orde, one of the UK’s most senior police officers, about protest, public order and politics
Bahrain is Britain’s shame
At her speech in the House of Commons, Maryam Alkhawaja asked MPs to put pressure on Bahrain to commit to reforms and free political prisoners, including her father and sister. Here, the prominent human rights defender denounces Britain’s indifference
Arts organisations taking the offensive
Index on Censorship’s conference
Taking the Offensive, held at London’s Southbank Centre highlighted how artistic freedom in the UK is under threat. The conference focused on how arts organisations support artistic freedom especially when controversy is arises
PLUS: Artistic freedom under threat, says Southbank director