Index on Censorship

The National Constituent Assembly (NCA) is scheduled to adopt Tunisia’s new constitution in the next few months and free speech advocates remain concerned over Islamist vows to criminalise blasphemy.

As Egypt closes 2012 with the approval of a new constitution, Index on Censorship reflects on a tumultuous year, and looks ahead to an uncertain future.

A new report by Index on Censorship explores the main challenges to digital free speech in Belarus, concentrating in particular on the ways the state authorities restrict freedom of expression online.

Alber Saber ran an atheist group on Facebook and the prosecution is based on comparative religion material found on his bookshelf and statements critical of Islam found on his computer.

The UK government’s plans to store information on every citizen’s use of email, the web and phones have been dealt a serious blow by a parliamentary committee report.

Diverging opinions have emerged both among British politicians and within the IFEX community following the release of Lord Justice Leveson’s report into media ethics in the UK.

A number of proposals put forth at the World Conference on International Telecommunications could fundamentally change the way the Internet works, in particular by putting governments in control of Internet governance and moving away from a multi stakeholder model.

While welcoming moves to implement measures that guarantee media independence, IFEX-TMG calls on the Tunisian government to fully respect free expression in the new Constitution and put an end to attacks on journalists and artists.