In this report, PEN America will provide an in-depth analysis of the countries that detain and imprison the largest numbers of writers and intellectuals and explore the impact of the pandemic on the freedom to write; the role of these individuals in protest movements; and the continued threats to writers and intellectuals working in languages subject to political repression.
Hearing of woman rights defender Israa Al-Ghomgham, who faces execution, postponed
Al-Ghomgham remains in the General Intelligence Prison in Al-Dammam where she has been for the past three years.
Palestinian authorities routinely crush dissent in the West Bank and Gaza
The Fatah-led Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and Hamas authorities in Gaza routinely arrest and torture peaceful critics and opponents.
Clément Voule: Eight challenges to one of our most essential rights
In his first report to the UN Human Rights Council, Special Rapporteur Clément Voule identifies eight major challenges that are undermining the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association.
Lebanese security forces try to close LGBT conference
“General Security’s latest efforts to shut down an LGBT conference in Lebanon is an attack on freedom of assembly rights and an attempt to silence the voices of courageous activists,” said HRW.
Continuing arrests of Basra protesters and four more demonstrators reported killed
Reports received by the GCHR confirmed that random arrests continue in September in Basra of dozens of demonstrators who participated in recent protests.
Iraqi security forces used tear gas and live bullets to disperse protesters in Basra
The casualty toll in Basra has “reached 68 injured, including 41 civilians and 27 members of the security forces, with five dead demonstrators.”
A permanent state of emergency by any name is no substitute for respecting human rights
45 civil society organizations are calling on Turkey to provide a true end to the rights restrictions of the formally-ended state of emergency, by withdrawing recently passed legislation that replicates many of the state of emergency’s provisions.
Cambodia land rights activist Tep Vanny now free
After two years of unjust detention, Tep Vanny was given a royal pardon on 20 August 2018. Her release came just days after local, regional, and global organizations called on Cambodia’s government to free her.
Four Palestinian journalists injured by gunfire and shrapnel covering Gaza protests
Medics in the Gaza Strip said that Israeli forces are shooting at protesters and journalists with rounds known as butterfly bullets, which explode upon impact and cause severe damage.
Were Romanian police ordered to target journalists at anti-corruption protest?
Approximately 15 journalists were attacked by Romanian police during a major anti-corruption protest on 10 August. RSF and ActiveWatch are calling on the security forces to publish the instructions they were given on how to behave towards journalists covering public events.
July in Africa: Contentious and contested elections on the continent
A roundup of key free expression news in Africa, based on IFEX member reports.
Ortega’s control over the media slips even as a government crackdown intensifies
Amid a violent crackdown on demonstrators that has killed at least 300 people, more Nicaraguan media outlets are providing hard-hitting reports about government abuses and some have joined in the calls for Ortega to resign.
China: Crackdown on Tibetan social groups
New regulations ban social action under the guise of fighting ‘organized crime’ in Tibet.
Media landscape in West Africa tainted by police brutality against journalists
The West African media landscape for June 2018 was tainted by the assault of journalists in the Gambia and Mali, the arbitrary detention of a journalist in Guinea and a social media activist in Burkina Faso.
3 journalists covering mobile money tax protests arrested
3 journalists were arrested by Uganda police while covering a demonstration by local mobile money operators protesting the newly introduced tax on mobile money transactions.
Nicaragua: Hundreds killed and injured by police officers, pro-government armed gangs
Since protests broke out in Nicaragua on 18 April 2018, at least 270 people have been killed and over 1,500 have been injured, in most cases at the hands of police officers and pro-government armed gangs. There has been no indication that key officials have taken steps to prevent and punish violations