The change of government owed a great deal to Internet activism, with bloggers even taking parliamentary seats, writes David Jardine Malaysia’s stunning election results of 8 March, which have seen the 40-year-long two-thirds majority of the ruling...
The Chinese authorities limited access to video site YouTube over the weekend, after clips of clashes between police and protesters in the Tibetan capital, Lhasa, were uploaded. Read more here Read translations of blogs from Tibet at Global...
Nihat Ergun of Turkey's ruling AK party has said he does not know when a proposed amendment to Article 301 of the Turkish penal code will be raised in parliament. Article 301, which criminalises the denegration of 'Turkishness' has been used...
The Jordanian ministry of the interior has announced increased restrictions on Internet cafés, which are widespread in the country’s cities. Internet café owners will be obliged to install cameras for the purpose of identifying customers. They will...
The Advertising Standards Agency has ordered a hair product commercial to be withdrawn as it risks causing ‘serious offence’ to Christians. The advert, for ghd IV hairstyling equipment, features erotic images of women alongside text extracted from...
An Afghan magazine editor has been detained in Iran and continues to be held without charge. Ali Muhahiq Nasab, editor of the monthly Haqoq-e-Zan (Women’s Rights), was apparently detained by Iranian officials on 4 March in Qumm, near Tehran....
On 5 March, Silvia Blyden, the publisher of privately owned daily newspaper the Awareness Times, was arrested for allegedly ridiculing President Ernest Bai Koroma. Blyden was later released after several hours in custody. The arrest relates to a...
The House of Lords last night approved amendments to the Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill that would abolish the offences of blasphemy and blasphemous libel in England and Wales. The last successful prosecution under the law happened in 1977,...
At least eight people were killed and dozens more were injured in the Armenian capital, Yerevan, on Saturday following clashes between authorities and protestors gathered in support of the defeated presidential candidate, Levon Ter-Petrosian. The...
Sihem Bensedrine and her husband Omar Mestiri were seized by customs officials upon their arrival at la Goulette port on 3 March. Awarded the 2008 peace prize by the Danish Peace Foundation, Bensedrine is president of the working group on press...