Even before the internet, dissidents in exile were able to create networks that provided a lifeline to those back home, writes Index editor Jo Glanville
Chen Guangcheng knows exile isn’t easy, but it may be his best bet
read more
CATEGORY: News and features
Queen’s Speech set to tackle free expression
Is London set to lose its label as global capital for libel tourism, asks Index’s Kirsty Hughes
World Press Freedom Day 2012
The last year has seen tumultuous shifts for media freedom. But core problems still remain in the world’s troublespots, says
Padraig Reidy
Telco caught colluding with dictators
Nordic Telecom giant TeliaSonera forced to act after evidence that its data has been abused to target, harass and jail activists in Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and Belarus
Whether it’s porn or piracy, ISPs should not be forced to police the internet
Jo Glanville: Whether it’s porn or piracy, ISPs should not be forced to police the internet
Lindsey Hilsum on Libya opening up
Channel 4’s Lindsey Hilsum on capturing the glorious moment when a repressive regime falls and people are able to tell their stories for the first time
Malaysia: The death of civil liberties
Thousands of Malaysians plan to demonstrate in favour of electoral reform this week despite a government crackdown. But the country’s new security laws are set to make political dissent and free speech even more difficult, says Malik Imtiaz Sarwar
Egypt: Adel Imam blasphemy sentence dropped
A Cairo court today dismissed a three-month jail sentence handed down to popular comic actor Adel Iman, Al Ahram reports. Imam had faced jail after a case was brought against him for "defaming Islam". He had been accused by Islamist lawyer Asran...
Time to stop doing business with Bahrain
Bahrainis still suffer with human rights abuse, torture and political imprisonment, says
Sara Yasin. Despite its supporters’ “astonishment”, it’s no wonder that the world was “hostile” to its Grand Prix
Azerbaijan: Journalists under attack
Last week Azerbaijani journalist and Index award-winner Idrak Abbasov was brutally assaulted. As the international media apply for Azerbaijani visas to cover the Eurovision Song Contest, local journalists continue to face intimidation. Celia Davies reports