29 May 12 | Europe and Central Asia, Index Index, minipost
A Russian journalist has been hospitalised after being stabbed 20 times. Sergei Aslanyan from Radio Mayak, was lured out of his house by an anonymous caller who invited him for a chat at around midnight. The former presenter on Echo Moskvy, Russia’s leading liberal radio station, was stabbed repeatedly in the chest, neck and arms. Local newspapers have suggested the attack was a result of a recent radio appearance, in which Aslanyan insulted the prophet Muhammad. The journalist remains in hospital, where his condition is believed to be stable.
28 May 12 | Africa, Index Index, minipost
A controversial painting depicting South African president Jacob Zuma exposing his genitals has been vandalised at the Goodman Gallery in Johannesburg. The image, which has prompted Zuma to take legal action to have it removed from the gallery, has been covered in black and red paint. The painting — entitled The Spear — by provocative artist Brett Murray, has already been sold for $14,000 (£9,000). The vandals claimed the the painting is “disrespectful to President Zuma”.
28 May 12 | Asia and Pacific, Index Index, minipost
China‘s largest microblogging service has introduced a code of conduct to restrict the type of messages that can be posted. The new move from Sina Weibo, seen to be the latest attempt to censor social media, comes after local authorities criticised the posting of “unfounded” rumours on the network. Under the new rules, users start with 80 “points” which can be deducted for breaking the sites code of conduct, and repeat offenders risk having their accounts deleted. The site has also developed a “community convention” clearly outlining what type of postings are unacceptable on the site.
28 May 12 | Middle East and North Africa
On 24 May, artist and dramatist Rjab Magri was assaulted by four people in El Kef (North West of Tunisia). The assaults occurred few meters outside the prep school where Magri was teaching a drama class. The attackers are believed to be hardline Islamists.
“I felt as if a balcony fell over me or as if my head had blown up. I lost consciousness, and I fell to the ground. I could see four or five persons stamping on me. One of them told me “you are insulting people; we will get rid of all of you.” I asked him “what is your problem with me?” “shut up atheist”, he said as he was hitting my head into the ground, and the others continued stamping on me”, said Magri in a testimony broadcast by Tunisian National TV 1.
The dramatist is recovering at a private medical clinic in Tunis, where he is getting treatment for traumatic brain injury, and clavicle fracture. The attackers also broke his teeth and nose.
Moez M’rabet, the President of the Association for Dramatic Art Graduates, told JawharaFM radio station: “We harshly condemn the assault, the second of its kind against our colleague. We are confused, and shocked because police officers did not interfere, even though they were near the incident”.
“This reminds us of the physical attacks against dramatists which took place on 25 March at Habib Bourguiba Avenue. I hold the ruling authorities responsible for these assaults. Artists are witnessing attacks on a daily basis, and there is complicity on the part of the authorities. I would like to address the public opinion, and inform them that today the Tunisian artist’s physical sanctity is at risk, and so his ideas, and freedoms of expression and creation,” he added.
