Freedom House

“Freedom in the World 2015”, Freedom House’s annual report on the condition of political rights and civil liberties, finds that more aggressive tactics by authoritarian regimes and an upsurge in terrorist attacks contributed to a disturbing decline in global freedom in 2014.

Internet users and civil society groups in Hong Kong have endured cyberattacks and debated threats to privacy online in the past. But the situation has worsened significantly since June 2014.

“The DRC government should end this horrific violence against its own citizens and immediately lift the telecommunications blackout that is apparently intended to prevent news of the security forces’ action from being more widely known,” said Vukasin Petrovic, director for Africa programs.

The international community’s response to the current charges leveled against prominent activist Nabeel Rajab has been monumental in denouncing the Criminal Investigations Department and the Bahraini government for their actions.

“There is a clear change in how Xi Jinping is managing the censorship and security apparatus compared with his predecessor, and overall this has meant more restrictions, not more freedom,” according to a Freedom House report.

Biram Dah Abeid, president of anti-slavery organization Resurgence of the Abolitionist Movement in Mauritania (IRA); Brahim Bilal Ramdhane, IRA’s vice president; and Djiby Sow, president of the non-governmental organization Kawtal, have been sentenced to two years imprisonment by a Mauritanian court.

“The idea that an independent publishing house could be fined for selling books without a license that it made every attempt to obtain is purely Orwellian.”

“The failed coup of December 23 does not justify an attempt to stifle dissent and limit access to information. The government should immediately allow the Teranga radio station to resume operations.”