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Released Zarganar thanks Index on Censorship and English PEN for support
Popular comic Zarganar was released from prison in Burma on 12 October as part of a prisoner amnesty. Zarganar (Maung Thura) was handed a 59 year sentence in 2008 after criticising the Burmese junta’s poor aid response to Cyclone Nargis.
HFHR wants to join in the action brought by journalist
On 26 September 2011 the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights filed a motion with the Circuit Court in Warsaw seeking court’s leave to join, as a community organisation, in the case involving the protection of personal interests brought by Bogdan Wróblewski against the Head of the Central Anticorruption Bureau (CBA).
Tunisia: Free expression groups celebrate freeing of whistle-blower
Free expression defenders are celebrating Thursday’s decision by a military court to drop charges against a Tunisian policeman who blew the whistle on a still-active core of officers from the country’s pre-revolution days – some of them alleged torturers, others linked to Tunisia’s long notorious internet surveillance squads.
Kazakhstan: President should return restrictive laws on religion to Parliament
On September 29, Kazakhstan government passed new laws which tighten government control over religious communities. According to the law, every religious community will have to register with the government. Moreover, a special permit by local and central government will be required to build any new house of worship. According to various NGOs, such law will have negative implications on civil society.
Activists and politicians reminded Belarusians about the death penalty
10 October is the International Day against Death Penalty. Belarus is the only country in Europe, where the murder of citizens takes place in accordance with the law. The European politicians have called upon Belarusian authorities to impose a moratorium on the death penalty, while the Belarusian human rights defenders reminded passers-by on the streets of Minsk about the issues connected with death penalty.
Уладам і жыхарам Беларусі нагадалі пра праблему смяротнага пакарання
10 кастрычніка — Міжнародны дзень барацьбы супраць смяротнага пакарання. Беларусь — адзіная краіна Еўропы, дзе забойства грамадзян адбываецца ў адпаведнасці з законам. Еўрапейскія палітыкі заклікалі ўлады Беларусі ўвесці мараторый на смяротную кару, а беларускія праваабаронцы нагадалі мінакам на вуліцах Мінску пра праблемы, звязаныя з пакараннем смерцю.
Yemeni press freedom activist’s Nobel Prize – inspiration to all Yemeni women
Tawakkol Karman, right, a prominent opposition figure and the face of Yemen’s anti-government movement over the past nine months has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her role as “a leading part in the struggle for women’s rights and for democracy and peace in Yemen”. Human rights organisations congratulate the Nobel committee for recognising the importance of women fighting for free speech.
Belarusian authorities figured out how to prevent the silent protests
Wednesday – is the traditional day of silent protests in Belarus. Since 21 September the organizers of the “Revolution through social networks” have decided to hold the actions in the new format. But already on 3 October, the parliament promptly adopted amendments to the “Law on Mass Events” directed against such actions.
Can a scientific review be the cause of action in a defamation suit?
Sławomir Poleszak, PhD, head of the Public Education Office of the Lublin branch of the Institute of National Remembrance, wrote a review of the book “National Armed Forces in the Lublin region” by Professor Mirosław Piotrowski. The review was to be published in the Freedom and Independence History Research Bulletin (the actual publication never took place).