Stories from August, 2009
Brazil: Lawsuits force popular political blog to close down
The A Nova Corja blog [The New Scum, pt], a symbol of independent and investigative journalism on the Brazilian blogosphere, has published a farewell post [pt]. On August 6th, the last remaing blogger of the group, Rodrigo Alvares, announced that he has decided to close the blog down due to...
China: A youth beaten to death because of Internet addiction
Last month, the Chinese Ministry of Health announced that electroshock treatment for “internet addiction” should be suspended. However, it doesn't mean that clinic for treating “Internet addiction” has given up the use of torture. Recently in Aug 03, a 16-year-old male student, surnamed Deng, was beaten to death in a...
Egyptian Government utilizes Electronic Media
Despite its attacks on online activists, especially on bloggers, in an attempt to combat utilizing electronic media for human rights and politics, the Egyptian government has begun using the same electronic tools, but for its own interests. Mr. Gamal Mubarak, son of current President Hosni Mubarak and the General Secretary...
Malaysia: Racism Rears Its Ugly Head – Or Is It Just Politics?
The state government of Perak in Malaysia mulls if it should “take action” against two bloggers who purportedly insulted the Perak royalty and the sanctity of Islam through their writings recently. The (new) Menteri Besar, or Chief Minister for the state, Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, was reported to have said that...
Egypt: Security Officers continuous confiscating Digital Devices
The Security Officers escalates their attacks on online activists, specifically bloggers. Today 08 August 2009, the Egyptian Blogger Wael Abbas was stopped while his coming back from Beirut, and confiscated his CDs, flash memories and camera memory cards. It should be mentioned that this is the second time for Abbas...
Malaysia: A Step Closer To Internet Censorship?
The Malaysian government is looking into the feasibility of installing an Internet filter to block “undesirable websites”, along the lines of the People's Republic of China's abandoned “Green Dam” software. The reason for this new move is so that racial harmony in multicultural Malaysia is maintained, according to news site...
The Egyptian Government and the detention of Internet activists
Many reasons and factors helped the emergence of electronic media in Egypt. For example, suppressing different media outlets, such as newspapers, TV channels and radio-stations, difficult procedures for founding new media bodies, censoring media content prior to publishing, different forms of repression targeting journalists, very narrow margin for freedoms and...
United States: Online free speech debate
Should a school be able to curb a student's speech online because the content is available on campus? A case in the 3rd U.S Circuit Court of Appeals sets a precedent in protecting off-campus online speech of a student. According to ThinkFree “In 2005, while a high school senior in...
Pakistan: Funny SMS's may land Pakistanis in for a fourteen year prison sentence
Pakistans' Minister of Interior Rehman Malik recently announced a 14 year prison sentence for anyone found propagating SMS and emails ridiculing or making fun of the present Pakistani leadership and its elected government officials. The statement issued by the Ministry of Interior actually referenced the Cyber Crime Act of 2009 which apparently may subject the violators to at least 14 years behind bars.
Iran: Leading reformist Abtahi on trial
Mohmmad Ali Abtahi, a leading blogger and former reformist vice president, was among dozens to protest the 12th June presidential election's result. A trial of the protestors is now underway in a Tehran court. In the court Abtahi, who appeared wearing prisoner's pyjamas, looked weak and seemed to have lost...
Moroccan blogger Hassan Barhon released
Moroccan blogger Hassan Barhon has been released on August 1st, 2009. He got a full royal pardon after spending 5 months in jail. Hassan Barhon was arrested on February 25th for exposing a corruption case involving the prosecutor-general for the king of Morocco at Tetouan’s court of appeals. He was...
Iran: A leading blogger's trial begins
Mohammad Ali Abtahi, a leading blogger and reformist politican, was arrested several weeks ago after the protest against the 12th of June presidential election erupted. Abtahi, is one of leading reformist politicians whose trial begins today in Tehran.
Egypt: 2 Bloggers Released and Another Still Disappeared (podcast)
Two out of the three bloggers who were arrested on July 22, 2009 are now free. Abdel Rahman Ayyash and Magdy Saad were released after six days of arrest at Cairo airport, then sent to State Security Intelligence (SSI) headquarters at Lazoghly Square, (Cairo). In this podcast, blogger Abdel Rahman...
