The release of Amitabh Bachchan’s controversial new film, Aarakshan, which focuses on students benefiting from India’s quota system for Dalits (untouchables), has been met with protests and criticism from groups representing low-caste...
CATEGORY: Index Index
Ecuador: President criticises press, papers call for free expression
Several major Ecuadorian newspapers ran the same cover on 10th August, titled “For Freedom of Expression”, in protest against President Rafael Correa’s increasing verbal and legal attacks on independent media. The President devoted 42 minutes of...
Cambodia: Two critical newspapers shut down
Two newspapers critical of the Cambodian ruling party were shut down permanently, while five men were convicted of "provocation" for distributing pamphlets critical of the state last week, according to the Cambodian Centre for Human Rights (CCHR)....
Saudi Arabia: Radio Netherlands Worldwide websites blocked
According to Radio Netherlands Worldwide, Saudi Arabian listeners have been unable to access their websites. While no official reason has been given for the block, the station believes that it may be linked to a video posted on the Arabic version...
Philippines: Art exhibit deemed offensive censored
Officials at the state-run Cultural Centre of the Philippines shut an art exhibit on Tuesday after it provoked heated debate, threats and hate mail for combining Christian symbols with phallic objects. The decision by the centre's board of...
South Korea: Plans to scrap real-name system
South Korea's government will go ahead with plans to scrap the current real-name system for internet users in the wake of the country's worst online security breach. Last month, personal information including names, mobile phone numbers and email...
Yemen: Copies of newspaper confiscated
Yemeni security forces confiscated copies of Ahdath al-Madina, a local independent newspaper, on 7 August. Security forces seized the paper from newsstands in order to stop its distribution on the national level. Last April, security forces...
Burma: Video reporter faces additional charge
An additional charge has been brought against Sithu Zeya, a Democratic Voice of Burma video reporter who has been detained since April 2010 and is already serving an eight-year sentence for filming damage caused by a grenade explosion in Rangoon....
Belarus: President pardons nine convicted for December protests
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has pardoned nine of the 41 people convicted for taking part in the December 19 protests that followed his higly disputed re-election. RFE/RL's Belarus Service reported that the nine freed had requested an...
Pakistan: Art curator beaten by police
On 2 August, a Pakistani police station supervisor allegedly beat a female curator for "indecent behavior". The incident occurred in Nairang Art Gallery, a well-known gathering place for left-leaning intellectuals in Lahore. According to the Human...
