Human Rights Watch

Our monthly roundup spotllghts Egypt’s latest efforts to control the media (and rainbow flags), the Kurdish referendum (and aftershocks), a campaign to tackle self-censorship in Palestine and much more.

Egyptian activists told HRW they fear that the past week’s arrests could signal the beginning of an even harsher crackdown on LGBT people and those who publicly support them.

Azerbaijan is finally facing consequences for keeping political activist Ilgar Mammadov behind bars in violation of his rights and its legal obligations. This is an unprecedented and bold step – something the Council of Europe has never done before.

Indonesia’s Attorney General’s Office rescinded a job notice that barred lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons from applying.

Participants of a candlelight vigil were summoned by Singapore police for violating the law on public assembly.

The extensive police harassment, and attacks on the local offices and campaigners by radical nationalist and pro-Putin groups in spring and summer this year clearly aim to intimidate campaigners for Alexei Navalny and stifle the campaign.

The region’s free expression news round-up includes lethal protests in Togo and Kenya, calls for release of an RFI correspondent in Cameroon, a creative campaign that is holding Nigeria’s presidency accountable for freedom of information, and more.

Azerbaijani authorities have often used bogus tax-related and other charges to jail critical journalists and bloggers, as seems to be the case here.