Do western democracies protect free speech?
In the age of social media, the European Union needs to defend free expression. But it often falls far short, says Padraig Reidy
From Anna Politkovskaya to Marie Colvin
Syrian writer Razan Zaitouneh won the Anna Politkovskaya Raw in War Award in 2011. She addresses the Russian journalist, who’s assassination remains unsolved, about Marie Colvin, 2012 recipient, who was killed in Syria earlier this year
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How Cambodia silences dissent: 71-year-old radio boss jailed for 20 years
Mam Sonando, the 71-year-old director of Cambodia’s only independent radio station, Beehive Radio, was sentenced to 20 years of prison in a Cambodian court Monday. He was found guilty in inciting a rebellion in the eastern state of Kratie, where he allegedly urged thousands of villagers to take up arms against the Cambodian government.
Sonando, who is also a prominent rights activist and the President of Cambodia’s Democrat Association, was arrested in July at the request of the Cambodian Prime Minister, Hun Sen.
Mam Sonando, director of Cambodia’s Beehive Radio
Iran court finds Reuters bureau chief guilty of “spreading lies”
An Iranian court on Sunday convicted the Tehran bureau chief of the Thomson Reuters news agency of “propaganda-related offences” for a video that briefly described a group of women involved in martial arts training as killers. Parisa Hafezi was found guilty of “spreading lies” against the Islamic system for the February video, which initially carried a headline saying that the women were training as ninja “assassins.” A sentence by the court is expected within a week.