02 Jun 11 | Index Index, minipost
A string of highly sophisticated cyber attacks have been launched on the Gmail accounts of a number of Chinese activists as well as US and South Korean government officials. Suspicions have been raised about the Chinese government’s involvement because of the nature of the targets and the lack of any apparent financial motive. The government has denied the allegations. The White House is currently investigating the situation alongside representatives from Google.
08 Mar 11 | Index Index, Middle East and North Africa, minipost
Blogger and human rights activist, Sultan al-Khalaifi, has been detained by security forces after criticising the country’s censorship rules on his blog. Khalaifi, who is founder of a rights group campaigning on cases of detention in Qatar, has been in detention since March 2 after being contacted by state security. According to his lawyer he has been detained on numerous occasions in the past.
14 Feb 11 | Index Index, minipost
Prominent Chinese activist, Chen Guangcheng, and his wife are reported to have been severely beaten by security officials after a secretly recorded video of their house arrest was publicly released. Guangcheng was released in September 2010, after completing a four year prison sentence for publishing a report about forced abortions and sterilisations carried out by authorities. Both Guangcheng and his wife, Yuan Weijin, have been under house arrest since his release from prison.
10 Jan 11 | Index Index, Middle East and North Africa, minipost
Prominent Iranian lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh and human rights activist Shiva Nazar-Ahari have received prison sentences for their activities in the aftermath of the disputed 2009 presidential election. Nazar- Ahari has received a four-year prison sentence for “assembly and collusion against the regime”, while Sotoudeh has received an eleven-year sentence for “propaganda against the regime”, “acting against national security” and “not wearing hijab during a videotaped message”.
