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Numerous human rights organizations, including the Human Rights House Foundation, addressed Belarusian President Lukashenka with a letter, condemning the brutal crackdown on peaceful protesters, detentions and battery of journalists, human rights defenders and opposition candidates during the 19 December post-election rally in Minsk.

Iranian film director Jafar Panahi was sentenced this week to six years in prison and 20 years’ ban from making films, writing any type of screen play, and traveling abroad. Index on Censorship calls on Ayatollah Sadeq Larijani, head of the judiciary in Islamic Republic of Iran, to overturn the sentences handed down to the film directors Jafar Panahi and Mohammad Rasoulof.

Journalists and free speech supporters in the Republic of Azerbaijan look at the Council of Europe for guidance and the Council did not let them down. It’s now time for the Azerbaijani authorities to let Eynulla Fatullayev go, says Lucie Morillon, Head of the New Media Desk of Reporters Without Borders.

On the occasion of the Human Rights Day, Article 19 calls on governments to protect the freedom of expression of human rights defenders speaking out against discrimination and other human rights abuses.

The government of Republic of Kazakhstan has failed to fulfil their commitment to improve the situation for journalists and media before their chairmanship of the OSCE ends. Article 19 and Adil Soz is concerned that they have failed to promote democracy or enhance freedom of expression during their chairmanship.

Representatives from four international non-governmental organisations, including Human Rights House Foundation, undertake a joint advocacy mission on 30 November – 2 December to the Council of Europe during the Ministers’ Deputies meeting to raise their serious concerns regarding the Azerbaijani government’s non-compliance with the European Court’s ruling in Fatullayev’s case.

In his speech at the European Writers’ Parliament in Istanbul, Hari Kunzru raised the issue of writer’s labour value in internet age, the privatization of public space, degradation of meaning of words and use of language to produce nationalism. He also criticized Republic of Turkey on s free speech violations.

Article 19 and the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS) urge UN Member States to vote against the draft resolution proposed at the current session of the UN General Assembly on “combating religious hatred and vilification of religions”. The content and implications of a new draft resolution are even more far reaching than earlier resolutions on combating ‘defamation of religions’.

Freedom of expression faces many challenges in the Republic of Armenia, Republic of Azerbaijan and Gerogia. There is a clear state domination of the broadcast media, legal barriers persist, critical news sources removed, violence against journalists cases have been not effectively investigated and prosecuted. Finally, despite legal provisions, public bodies have failed to establish procedures to process freedom of information requests.