26 Jan 2013 | Azerbaijan News, Europe and Central Asia, Index Index
Prominent journalist and activists Emin Milli and Khadija Ismayilova were among those detained in Baku today as people demonstrated in support of civic action in Ismayilli earlier this week.
Protesters posted photographs and videos of clashes between police and demonstrators and there were reports that tear gas had been used on crowds and that pepper spray had been used against detainees.
“I approached police at demo and asked them to join us! They were thinking for a while. Then Arrested me. Writing from police station,” tweeted Emin Milli on Saturday afternoon.
Up to 100 people were thought to be detained, though initial reports put the number of arrests at around 40.
1 Nov 2012 | Uncategorized
Blogger Tom Pride has an alarming story of a Welsh disability activist getting a visit from local police, apparently because of Facebook posts critical of the government.
According to the blog, the anonymous activist said:
I’ve just had the police forcing their way into my flat near midnight and harrassing me about my “criminal” posts on Facebook about the DWP [Department for Work and Pensions], accusing me of being “obstructive”. I didn’t know what in f**k’s name they were on about. They kept going on and on at me, it was horrifically stressful, and they only left after I started crying uncontrollably.
The “visit” is alleged to have taken place on Friday, 26 October at 11.40pm.
The activist has now filed a complaint to South Wales Police, as well as a Subject Access request and a Freedom of Information request, demanding to know why South Wales Police felt it appropriate to send officers to her house late at night in order to warn her about her online interaction. Police also allegedly asked her about her involvement in an anti-cuts protest.
She asks some questions that should provide some very interesting answers:
How much time/manpower/money does South Wales Police invest in monitoring Facebook post (a) generally, (b) of people involved in Disabled People Against Cuts or other disability campaigning groups and individuals.
Why was I visited by South Wales Police officers on Friday night 26th October? Who sent the officers (name, rank), and on what grounds?
Why was I told my Facebook posts are criminal?
Did anyone complain about my Facebook posts? If so, who? If no-one complained, why was I questioned?
Why was I asked whether I organised/was involved in the deportation protest on Saturday 27th.
Read the full complaint and information request at Tom Pride
Padraig Reidy is News Editor at Index on Censorship. Follow him on Twitter @mePadraigReidy
30 Oct 2012 | Middle East and North Africa, minipost, News and features
Bahrain has banned all demonstrations following clashes between police and anti-government protestors on Monday (29 October). Interior minister Sheikh Rashid Al Khalifah said that the clampdown was a result of the “repeated abuses” of freedom of expression.
The emergency move is the largest scale attempt to quash the Gulf kingdom’s anti-government uprising which began in February of last year.
Index on Censorship award winner Nabeel Rajab is currently serving a three-year jail sentence for organising “illegal protests”.
15 Sep 2012 | Americas, Middle East and North Africa, News and features
The protests against controversial film “Innocence of the Muslims” follow a pattern familiar since the days of the Satanic Verses fatwa, says James Kirchick. And so do the reactions of many western liberals
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