Index on Censorship

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, an independent watchdog panel created by Congress to review international religious freedom conditions, released its 15th annual report recommending that the State Department double its list of worst offenders to include Egypt, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Vietnam and Syria.

A fire-and-brimstone attorney’s notice from a hydrocarbon production company arrived the day after the book “Gas Wars – Crony Capitalism and the Ambanis” was launched. The book contends that high ranking government officials, including ministers, aided and abetted the pillage of public resources.

While Egypt’s hugely controversial Al-Jazeera trial has been grabbing international attention, the recent death of 22-year-old reporter Mayada Ashraf – allegedly at the hands of the police – appears to have left more of a lasting impact on Egyptian journalists working amid the ongoing violence.

Singapore’s mainstream media revolves more around educating people along official narratives rather than serving as a Fourth Estate. But as citizens increasingly turn to the Internet as their source of news and information, websites and blogs are making an unmistakable impact on Singapore’s media landscape.

IFEX marks Earth Day by honouring those who speak out in defense of the environment, putting their jobs, safety, freedom and sometimes even their lives at risk.

As the Indian elections are underway, political parties seem to be indulging in the same hate speech, communal politicking and calculations that work to polarise the electorate and garner votes.

Renowned photographer and documentary filmmaker Umida Akhmedova tells Index on Censorship about her latest run-in with Uzbekistan’s repressive authorities.

The corrosion of academic freedom of expression in post-revolutionary Egypt continues.