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Yesterday, 22-year-old Egyptian blogger Kareem Amer, right, was sentenced to four years´ imprisonment for criticising Egyptian President Mubarak and insulting Islam. The blogger, who writes about issues such as secularism and women’s rights, has been held in solitary confinement since November. Amer’s blog appears to be blocked. (23-FEB-07)
 

– We must join forces, Executive Director Maria Dahle (right ) of the Human Rights House Foundation argues in her introduction to the new Annual Report 2006 of the Human Rights House Network. Read how and why it was done in the Russian Federation, Republic of Poland, Bosnia, England, Republic of Belarus, Republic of Croatia, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Uganda and Norway the past year. (23-FEB-07)
Read the report
 

On 22 February, 22-year-old Egyptian blogger Kareem Amer was sentenced to four years´ imprisonment for criticising Egyptian President Mubarak and insulting Islam. The blogger, who writes about issues such as secularism and women’s rights, has been held in solitary confinement since November. To bring his case to international attention, demonstrations were held in nine cities around the world on 15 February. Free expression advocates have expressed alarm at this most recent attack on Internet freedom in Egypt. (22-FEB-07)
 

A 22-year-old Egyptian blogger assumed the name ‘Kareem Amer’ on his blog a long time ago but now people from around the world know him by this name. His blog writings, in favour of secularism and women’s rights, caused his expulsion from his university and solitary confinement in prison since November. Currently he awaits a verdict scheduled for 22 February, which could potentially leave him imprisoned for eleven years. (21-FEB-07)
 

While the British government attempts to ‘emasculate’ the Freedom of Information Act by increasing the likelihood of information being denied on ground of cost, MPs are also threatening the Act through a private members bill which proposes to exempt MPs, Parliament and the House of Lords from inquiries made under the Act. (20-FEB-07)
  

On February 19, the Moroccan occupational authorities arrested a Swedish journalist Lars Björk, who was visiting Western Sahara for his work. He is accused by the Moroccan authorities of inciting the Sahrawis to demonstrate and of having bad intentions. The Moroccan authorities have threatened him with expulsion from Western Sahara and, even worse, to charge him as if he was like an Al-Qaida sympathizer. (20-FEB-07)

The Freedom of information Act is under attack. While the government attempts to ‘emasculate’ the Act by increasing the likelihood of information being denied on ground of cost, MPs are also threatening the Act through a private members bill passed by a Commons committee on 7 February. The two-clause bill, which proposes to exempt MPs, Parliament and the House of Lords from inquiries made under the Act, has been condemned by freedom of expression groups such as ARTICLE 19, English PEN and Index on Censorship. (20-FEB-07)
 

In its most recent newsletter, the Norwegian Burma Committee (NBC)highlights EarthRights International’s new report Turning Treasue into Tears, in which it is documented that the military regime and its trading partners are guilty of violations of human rights and severe environmental damage through uncontrolled deforestation, damming and gold mining in the Pegu province. (20-FEB-07)
 

On Febtuary, 8th a conference “Language of strife and xenophobia. the Russian Federation, XXI century” was held in Moscow. Participants of the conference discussed situation in the Russian society, public policy and mass media, where language of strife and xenophobia are considered as legitimate by many people. Furthermore, party in power has recently launched a project, aimed at popularization of nationalism. (17-FEB-07)