| 31st December |
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British missionary couple jailed for calling Gambian president a madman Permalink full story: Freedom of Speech in Gambia...Jailed for crticising Gambian president
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Based on
article
from
timesonline.co.uk
|
A
missionary couple from Britain have been sentenced to a year's hard
labour in an African prison for calling the Gambian President a madman.
David Fulton and his wife, Fiona, were convicted of sedition after
sending critical e-mails about Yahya Jammeh, who seized power in the
predominantly Muslim country in a bloodless coup in 1994.
Fulton and his wife were also fined £6,250 each. Their lawyer said that
they did not plan to appeal but were hoping for a pardon.
The couple, who were arrested on November 29, pleaded guilty and issued
a public apology in the hope of a lenient sentence but were shocked when
the judge handed down the maximum penalty for the shocking offences.
The presiding magistrate, said: They have shown no respect for the
country, the Government and the President of the republic. I will send a
clear message to the offenders.
Antouman Gaye, the couple's lawyer, said that their troubles began after
they sent e-mails to friends and church contacts in Britain: Some of
it was to do with religion, some was to do with the state of affairs in
this country. Some e-mails said the President is a madman. It was very
risky.
Unfortunately for them, a Gambian person in England who has a
connection with one of these churches got hold of these e-mails and sent
them back to the police here.
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| 30th December |
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Dubai adultery laws used for spouse vengeance Permalink full story: Adultery...Check the marital status of your girl
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Based on
article
from
telegraph.co.uk
|
A
British woman fighting jail in Dubai after being convicted for adultery
insisted she had been wrongly accused by her ex-husband.
Marnie Pearce has been sentenced to six months in prison by an Arab
court. She may lose the right to custody of her two sons after being
found guilty at the end of November.
She launched an appeal on Christmas Day, backed by the Tory MP Andrew
MacKay, who raised her case with the Foreign Office. Pearce cannot leave
Dubai until her conviction is quashed and is desperate to leave with her
sons Laith, seven, and four-year-old Ziad: I am so scared that if I
go to jail I will never see them again.
In Dubai, non-Muslim adulterers cannot be punished by flogging but can
face up to 18 months in prison.
The British expatriate met her Egyptian husband Ihab El-Labban in Oman
in 1992. The couple married in the Seychelles, had two children and
moved to Dubai, where they have lived for the last 15 years.
Pearce said the marriage had been in difficulty for some time but fell
apart last year and the couple separated. She claimed that
subsequently she was falsely accused of adultery on the basis of
evidence purportedly showing she had cheated on El-Labban.
Pearce then claimed that he burst into her home with several police
officers in March: The police came in the front and back door with my
husband who accused me of having an affair.
Pearce, who finally received her divorce decree absolute last month,
said she was arrested, placed in handcuffs and interrogated by police.
Nearly four months later, she claims she was told by police that they
had gathered evidence - including used condoms, a man's underpants and a
man's jacket. Pearce was ordered to give a DNA sample but she claims the
man alleged to have been involved was never contacted and has been free
to travel back and forth to Dubai ever since.
She said her husband took possession of the family home and she and her
sons were forced to stay in a shelter before seeking refuge with a
friend.
On November 27 Pearce was convicted of adultery and sentenced to six
months in prison. She launched her appeal on December 25 and the case
was adjourned until January 8.
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| 29th December |
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Repressive India cyber law nodded through after Mumbai killings Permalink
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Based on
article
from
dailytimes.com.pk
|
A
new law introduced in India has made Internet pornography a serious
crime.
Browsing or downloading pornographic pictures or films will now attract
a punishment of five years with a fine of up to Rs 1 million (£14,000).
The term may be raised to seven years on second offence.
The Information Technology (Amendment) Bill that was passed without
debate by parliament this week with 45 amendments in the original law
treats both purveyors of pornography and recipients in the same manner.
It gives wide powers to the authorities that a computer user may realise
only when he is hauled up. The worst is that an inspector can raid and
arrest an accused without a warrant.
In the original law enacted in 2000, this power was vested in officers
of the rank of deputy superintendent of police and above.
To satisfy the activists who campaign against child abuse, the bill
provides a full section subtitled punishment for publishing or
transmitting of material depicting children in sexually explicit act,
etc in electronic form. If any of these are found on a computer, the
onus is on the owner to establish that the depicted are not children or
will be punished.
Another section of the bill provides for any government agency to
interrupt, monitor or decrypt any information generated, transmitted,
received or stored in any computer.
Ambiguity has been kept in the provision that empowers the cyber
security to monitor the Internet traffic.
Introducing any contaminant in a computer or network is covered
in the new category of cyber terrorism in the bill that would
attract imprisonment and might extend to life term since it claims
such conduct causes or is likely to cause death or injuries to persons
or damages to or destruction of property.
Cyber terrorism also seeks to cover other acts of terrorism committed
electronically like threatening the unity, integrity, security or
sovereignty of India or to strike terror on the people or to access
computer sources that are restricted for reasons of security of the
state or foreign relations.
The bill also provides for punishment with a jail term of up to three
years and a fine for sending any information — that is grossly offensive
or has menacing character or is known to be false — for the purpose of
causing annoyance, inconvenience, danger, obstruction, insult, injury,
criminal intimidation, enmity, hatred or ill will, or any electronic
mail or message meant to cause annoyance or inconvenience or to deceive
or mislead the addressee or recipient.
Identity theft to misuse a person's electronic signature, password or
any other unique identification feature or impersonation in electronic
activity are punishable with a three-year imprisonment and a fine of up
to Rs 0.1 million.
Thefts of computer source codes and programmes have also been dealt with
in the bill.
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| 25th December |
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Thai Policeman continues to accuse BBC reporter of Lese Majeste Permalink full story: Lese Majeste in Thailand...Criticising the monarchy is a serious crime
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Based on
article
from
cpj.org
|
The
Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the ongoing legal harassment
of BBC correspondent Jonathan Head. Police Lt. Col. Wattanasak
Mungkandee filed a third criminal complaint this year against Head on
December 23, alleging he had insulted the Thai monarchy in his
reporting.
The latest charges are related to a December 3 article in which Head
speculated that the royal palace and figures close to the palace may
have provided tacit backing to anti-government protest group the
People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), which laid siege to Bangkok's
main international and domestic airports from November 26 to December 3.
Thai law allows any citizen to bring complaints against anyone they
believe has insulted the country's monarchy. Wattanasak has brought all
three complaints against Head in his personal capacity rather than as a
senior ranking police official, according to Head. Violations of lese
majeste laws are a criminal offense in Thailand, punishable by three to
15 years imprisonment.
It is time for prosecutors and investigators in Thailand to
immediately drop these outrageous and punitive charges against our
colleague Jonathan Head, said Bob Dietz, CPJ's Asia program
coordinator: Head's reporting has raised important questions about
Thailand's deteriorating political situation and he should be allowed to
report without fear of official reprisals.
Local and foreign journalists have been under attack this year as a
political crisis led to three changes of government in as many months.
Head, a well-respected figure in Thai journalism has specifically been
targeted. The first complaint against Head was filed on April 9, and was
related to comments the reporter made in December 2007 while moderating
another event at the FCCT titled Coup, Capital, and Crown. The
discussion touched on the monarchy's role in Thai society in light of
the 2006 military coup. The second complaint against Head, filed on May
30, included charges that his reporting over a two-year period had
intended to criticize the monarchy several times and that his
writings have damaged and insulted the reputation of the monarchy,
according to an English-language translation of the charges obtained by
CPJ.
The May 30 complaint against Head cited 11 different articles from the
BBC's Web site, several of which he did not author. Thai authorities
have in recent months cracked down on hundreds of Web sites for posting
materials considered offensive to the monarchy. Both the complaints are
still pending.
|
| 25th December |
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Iran closes human rights organisation critical of Iran's inhuman punishments Permalink
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Based on
article
from
middleeast.about.com
|
The
Nobel Peace awarded to Shirin Ebadi inspired her Defenders of Human
Rights Center.
Two days ago in Tehran, state security forces raided the offices of the
Defenders of Human Rights Center, the organization Ebadi founded, and
shut it down on the very day the office planned to hold the 60th
anniversary celebration of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
there.
Some 300 people had been invited. Instead, at 3 pm, dozens of armed men
stormed the place and declared it off limits. No warrants. No
explanations. No avenues for appeal. The place was just shut down.
A gift from the ayatollahs, possibly in retaliation for the United
Nations' Dec. 18 resolution calling on Iran to address concerns such
as eliminating the use of cruel or inhuman punishments; abolishing
public executions and the executions of persons who were under 18 years
at the time of their offence; abolishing the use of stoning as a method
of execution; and eliminating discrimination against women and
minorities.
The resolution was based on a UN report that Ebadi and her organization
helped draft.
|
| 25th December |
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Vietnam bans blogs from 'inappropriate' subjects Permalink full story: Blogging in Vietnam...Bloggers under duress in Vietnam
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Based on
article
from
news.bbc.co.uk
|
Vietnam
has tightened restrictions on internet blogs, banning bloggers from
raising subjects the government deems inappropriate.
Blogs should follow Vietnamese law, and be written in clean and
wholesome language, according to a government document seen by local
media.
Internet service providers will be held accountable for the content of
blogs they host.
The new rules, drawn up by the Ministry of Information and
Communications, require internet service providers to report to the
government every six months and provide information about bloggers on
request.
The rules ban posts that undermine national security, incite violence or
disclose state secrets.
|
| 25th December |
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Philippines to introduce ratings and a watershed for cable TV Permalink
|
Based on
article
from
gmanews.tv
|
Philippines
authorities may soon set up a rating code for violence in television and
cable programs, if a bill in the House of Representatives is passed into
law.
House Bill 5625 also seeks to impose ban on violent and sexually themed
non-educational programming on TV during most of the day.
CIBAC Party-list Reps. Cinchona Cruz-Gonzales and Emmanuel Joel
Villanueva said their bill is in line with the State policy to protect
the welfare of children. The two said there are no laws allowing the
Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) and the
National Telecommunications to block violent and sexually themed
non-educational programming.
Under the bill, the MTRCB and NTC shall jointly prescribe, in
consultation with the television broadcasters, cable operators,
concerned non-government organizations for children, and interested
individuals from the private sector, the rules for rating the level of
violence and non-educational sexual themes in television programming.
This includes rules for the transmission by television broadcast systems
and cables of signals containing specifications for blocking violent and
sexually themed non-educational programming.
It also assigns the MTRCB and NTC to jointly pass rules and regulations
which shall prohibit the broadcast on commercial television and public
telecommunications entities of programming that contain violent and
obscene scenes for children based on the established ratings code,
including the broadcast by cable operators, from the hours of 6 a.m. to
10 p.m
|
| 25th December |
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Philippines bans Aurora movie Permalink full story: Aurora...Philippines censor bans movie Aurora
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Based on
article
from
gmanews.tv
|
The
comeback movie of Rosanna Roces still cannot be shown to the public
because the film has received another ban (X rating) from the Movie
Television Review and Classification Board's (MTRCB).
The reviewers wrote in their report that controversial scenes are not
fit for public viewing.
Aurora, directed by Adolfo Alix, Jr., tells the plight of a social
worker who tries to escape in the middle of the forest after being
kidnapped by members of the Lost Command.
The lead female character, played by Rosanna, will be raped by Kristofer
King in the middle of a forest. Members of the MTRCB want to
shorten the said rape scene.
Philippine Entertainment Portal reported earlier that the said scene was
deemed too explicit, resulting in a ban during the first review
of the film.
The director did not change anything in the film for the second review
of Aurora. I stand by my cut of the film, he adds. He will appeal
the decision at Malacañang and request for a final review.
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| 24th December |
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Bali to challenge Indonesia's new sharia dress code bill Permalink full story: Anti-Porn Law in Indonesia...A front for the implementation of shariah
|
Based on
article
from
thejakartapost.com
|
 |
|
Indonesian bikini
compromise |
The Bali People's Component (KRB) organization has finished its draft
judicial review of the recently signed anti-pornography law, the first
legal challenge to the controversial measure.
We have decided to submit this legal motion on Jan. 7 asking the
Constitutional Court to conduct a judicial review of the law, said
KRB Coordinator I Gusti Ngurah Harta.
He said the move was part of the KRB's ongoing commitment to fight the
law, which many Balinese regard as a threat to their cultural legacy and
the integrity of the nation.
This highly-anticipated draft is the first legal challenge to the
contentious porn law, which critics have slammed as an allowance for
extremists to force one-sided morality against pluralist Indonesia.
The law vaguely defines pornography as any material that incites sexual
desire, a clause that has triggered debate nationally.
The 50-page draft outlines the legal arguments around whether or not the
law violates key constitutional rights, and looks at the issue from
social, economic, artistic and cultural perspectives.
This law has trampled on at least five constitutional rights granted
to all Indonesian citizens,"said KRB's chief legal adviser, Palguna.
The integral constitutional rights arguably under threat are the right
to be treated equally in any legal process, the right to demand a legal
certainty from and during legal prosecution, the right to be free from
fear and intimidation, the right to acquire beneficial gains from arts
and culture and the right to pursue legal vocations.
Ngurah Harta said the legal struggle would take at least four months and
would require vast financial and moral support from those willing to
commit to the cause. He said those wishing to be plaintiffs may contact
KRB at 081236131311 or at
jiwabening@yahoo.com. People wishing to contribute financially can
transfer donations to Bank Central Asia KCP Sanur Raya, account number
no: 6700194343 of I Wayan Semara Cipta.
Anti Bikini, Anti Alcohol Indonesia puts
off Western Tourists
Based on
article
from
in.reuters.com
Indonesia's tourism ministry said on Tuesday it expects a decline in
tourist spending next year because of the global economic crisis.
Some tourist areas, including the resort island of Bali, are heavily
dependent on tourism for jobs and growth. A recent shortage of alcohol
in Jakarta and Bali, and concerns over Indonesia's new anti-porn law --
seen by some as a threat to artistic, religious and cultural freedom in
the diverse archipelago -- have led some tourists to complain or even
threaten to stay away.
I understand that for foreigners alcohol is like tea or coffee for
us, if there's no alcohol then tourists are reluctant to come here,
Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik told a press briefing, adding
that the issue was being resolved, particularly in top-tier hotels.
Update:
Trampling on Rights
3rd January 2008. See
article
from
xbiz.com
The Bali People's Component, known as the KRB, has finalized a judicial
review challenging the recently ratified anti-pornography law and plans
to present the review to the Constitutional Court on Jan. 9.
In its 50-page legal challenge, the KRB argues that the law has
trampled upon at least five constitutional rights granted to all
Indonesian citizens, said I Dewa Gde Palguna, chief legal advisor of
the KRB, in that it denies Indonesian people in 21 separate professions
their basic right to the freedom of expression, among other things. Some
of the at-risk professions include dancers, playwrights,
reporters, composers and gymnastics instructors, among others.
The KRB has estimated that the court will need about four months to come
to a decision.
|
| 23rd December |
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Grand Theft Auto TV adverts shown during Santa Clause movie Permalink
|
Based on
article
from
arstechnica.com
|
A
TV station in New Zealand has come under for fire because it aired
two ads for Grand Theft Auto IV during a family movie that
continued into post-watershed hours.
According to the New Zealand Herald, a violent advertisement for the
game appeared twice during an airing of Santa Clause 2.
TVNZ spokeswoman Megan Richards said it was understandable parents
might have decided to let their children stay up to watch the
G-rated movie—which ran until 9.35pm. But she said advertisements
for the R18 game technically ran at the correct time, after the
8.30pm watershed.
The Herald revealed that no one has officially complained about the
ad's appearance to the network, but, it seems safe to say that it's
only a matter of time before someone does.
|
| 23rd December |
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1300 websites added to Thailand's blocked list Permalink full story: Internet Censorship in Thailand...Thailand implements mass website blocking
|
Based on
article
from
facthai.wordpress.com
See also
list of blocked sites
from
wikileaks.org
|
Freedom
Against Censorship Thailand (FACT) has just received secret blocklists leaked
from Thailand's Ministry of Information and Communication Technology.
Under conditions imposed by the Computer-Related Crimes Act 2007, no website may
be legally blocked without a court order. In fact, this pesky legal stipulation
is not rigorously adhered to and both the Royal Thai Police and the more than
100 Thai ISPs typically block as they wish.
However, the leaked blocklists totalling 1300 sites blocked between June and
December 2008 are accompanied by court orders detailing applications of the
Ministry which authorise most of the websites censored. The court orders to ISPs
cite reasons of lese majeste and national security..
Court orders are not customarily sealed from public view. In fact, maintaining
such documents via an open judicial process as a matter of public record is a
crucial democratic cornerstone.
Every site requested for blocking has the stated reason of lese majeste,
however, it is obvious that many sites were blocked for quite different reasons.
It would appear, in fact, that the court did not examine each site before
issuing its order but instead relied on MICT's judgement.
Although we have not yet found the opportunity to examine each website censored,
as in the past, an eclectic mix of censorship has been revealed resulting in
overblocking of many benign webpages.
Along with the obligatory YouTube videos and their mirror sites alleged to be
lese majeste in Thailand, numerous blocks to Thai webboard pages, particularly
at popular discussion sites, Prachatai (45 separate pages) and Same Sky (56
separate pages). Also blocked are weblogs referencing Paul Handley's
unauthorised Biography of Thailand's King, The King Never Smiles, and its
translation into Thai along with Thai Wikipedia entries.
The webpages of respected Thai Buddhist social critic, Sulak Sivaraksa who is
currently on bail for his fourth accusation of lese majeste, and Matthew Hunt,
respected Thai journalist, anticensorship activist and FACT signer, are also
blocked as are pages of the respected international newsmagazine, The Economist.
A total of 860 YouTube videos have been blocked, far in excess of the blocking
conducted by The Official Censor of the Military Coup; a further 200 pages
mirroring those videos are also blocked.
Curiously, bum fight movies, Hillary Clinton's campaign videos, and 24
Charlie Chaplin videos have also been blocked, perhaps due to their Web location
at Clown-Ministry.
Update:
2300 Total
31s December 2008. See
article
from
iht.com
The Thai government has blocked more than 2,300 Web sites over the past year,
often for criticising the constitutional monarchy political system, a senior
official said.
The sites, more than 90% of which were registered abroad, were also blocked for
pornographic content and supposedly threatening national security, said Sue Lo-uthai,
an official at the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology: Most
of the cases are lese majeste ones which have rapidly increased this year. I
personally believe that the reason behind the increase is the political conflict
in Thailand.
|
| 22nd December |
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Saudi may be preparing to end ban on cinemas Permalink full story: Cinema in Saudi...First steps to re-opening cinemas in Saudi
|
Based on
article
from
bi-me.com
|
The
Saudi film industry took another step forward last week with the public
screening of a locally produced movie, suggesting the government could
be moving towards lifting a three-decade old ban on cinemas.
The premiere of Mnahi, which was produced by Saudi-owned Rotana
studios, marks the second public screening of a Saudi film in a little
more than a year, after Sabah al Lail was opened to the public on
a commercial release in October 2007 during the Eid al Fitir holiday.
Rotana Studios is owned by Prince Waleed bin Talal, a Saudi billionaire,
and it is believed his connections with the royal family played a major
role in the movie's public showing.
I am correcting a big mistake, that is all, Prince al Waleed had
told the New York Times in a 2006 interview prior to the launch of
Rotana Studios' first movie, Keif al Hal: I want to tell Arab
youth you deserve to be entertained, you have the right to watch movies,
you have the right to listen to music. There is nothing in Islam – and
I've researched this thoroughly – not one iota that says you can't have
movies. So what I am doing right now is causing change.
Movie theatres existed in Saudi in the 1960s and 1970s, but they were
banned in the early 1980s after conservatives consolidated their
support.
Ayman Halawani, General Manager of Rotana Studios, said in a press
statement that Saudi cinema will not only produce but it will market
its movies in its home country and among its viewers, and here lay the
significance of this event.
Update:
Cinema is Evil
22nd December 2008. See
article
from
guardian.co.uk
A locally-produced comedy, Menahi, premiered in two cultural
centres in Jeddah and Taif this month before mixed-gender audiences, a
taboo in Saudi Arabia whose strict Islamic rules ban unrelated men and
women from mixing.
Turnout for the movie, produced by billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin
Talal's media company Rotana, was so big the film had to be played eight
times a day over a 10-day period.
While the kingdom's Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz al-Shaikh has not
commented on the issue, the head of Saudi Arabia's religious police
condemned cinemas as a pernicious influence.
Our position on this is clear - ban it. That is because cinema is
evil and we do not need it. We have enough evil already, said
Ibrahim al-Ghaith, the head of the religious police, whose official
title is the Commission for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice.
He later toned down his remarks, saying that cinema could be tolerated
if it does not violate Islamic law.
|
| 22nd December |
|
|
| |
Indonesia presidential candidate speaks against new sharia law Permalink full story: Anti-Porn Law in Indonesia...A front for the implementation of shariah
|
Based on
article
from
antara.co.id
See also
Indon religious tolerance down
from
straitstimes.com
|
The
hereditary sultan of the Special Region of Yogyakarta (the smallest province of
Indonesia) has declared his opposition to the new anti-pornography law which.
Sultan Hamengkubuwono X is regarded as semi-divine by many Muslim Javanese. He
is also a candidate for presidential elections due around July.
He said the bill threatened national unity based on respect for the cultural and
religious diversity of the mainly Muslim archipelago. He said the anti-porn law
introduced recently with the backing of Muslim parties was the most terrible
thing in the process of building our nation. If all Indonesian women wear
Islamic veils no one will wear their traditional clothes, from Aceh province to
Papua.
He added: The leader of our nation must be able to build tolerance between
the citizens so they live side by side in peace. For me, this cannot be
negotiated,"
The law criminalises all works and bodily movements including music and
poetry which could be deemed obscene and capable of violating public morality,
and offers heavy penalties.
Critics from the Christian and Hindu minorities as well as many moderate Muslims
say it threatens regional traditions such as certain costumes and dances, and
encourages vigilante attacks.
|
| 20th December |
|
|
| |
Another UN vote supports the criminalisation of defamation of religion Permalink full story: Defamation of Religion...OIC pushes for global blasphemy laws at UN
|
Based on
article
from
cnsnews.com
|
A
defamation of religion resolution stating that Islam is
frequently and wrongly associated with human rights violations and
terrorism passed in the U.N. General Assembly – but with fewer votes
than in previous years.
Over the past year opponents ranging to media watchdogs and free speech
advocates to Christian and humanist groups have stepped up lobbying
against the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC)-driven
campaign.
Thursday's vote passed by a margin of 86-53, with 42 countries
abstaining. The result showed a significant erosion of support since a
similar resolution passed in the General Assembly last December by a
vote of 108-51, with 25 abstentions.
For the first time, the number of countries supporting the resolution
fell behind the number of those voting against or abstaining.
Defenders of free speech take some consolation in the increased votes
for our cause, Hillel Neuer, executive director of the human rights
watchdog UN Watch, said: But the adoption of yet another totalitarian
text is a stark reminder that human rights at the U.N. is under assault.
He also noted that Islamic states were using a major U.N. conference on
racism, scheduled for next spring, to advance their campaign. Proponents
are arguing that the defamation of Islam and Islamophobia
are contemporary forms of racism, and should thus fall under purview of
the racism conference, commonly known as Durban II.
The most dire threat is coming from Geneva where a Durban II
committee headed by Algeria has this week been seeking to amend
international human rights treaty law to ban ‘defamation of religion,'
especially Islam, Neuer said.
The shift in voting from last year to this came primarily from 16
developing countries which voted in favor in 2007 but chose to abstain
on Thursday. Two of them, Benin and Burkina Faso, are OIC members. (The
others are Central African Republic, Congo, Costa Rica, Dominican
Republic, East Timor, Grenada, Haiti, Mauritius, Saint Lucia, Trinidad
and Tobago, Tuvalu, Uruguay, Vanuatu and Zambia.)
Three countries which voted in favor in 2007 – Belize, Cape Verde and
Liberia – moved to opposing the resolution this year. And one country,
OIC member Nigeria, abstained last year but voted in favor this year.
|
| 20th December |
|
|
| |
Adultery is still a criminal offence in South Korea Permalink full story: Adultery in South Korea...Adultery law used to exact revenge by spouses
|
Based on
article
from
news.bbc.co.uk
|
One
of South Korea's best-known actresses, Ok So-ri, has been given a suspended
prison sentence of eight months for adultery.
She admitted the offence and the court suspended the sentence for two years.
The trial took place after Ms Ok failed to get the constitutional court to
overturn the strict law that makes adultery a criminal offence. In her petition
she said the law was an infringement of human rights and amounted to revenge.
The law has been challenged four times, but the country's top judges have always
ruled that adultery is damaging to social order, and the offence should
therefore remain a crime.
South Korea is one of the few remaining non-Muslim countries where adultery
remains a criminal offence. A person found guilty of adultery can be jailed for
up to two years. More than 1,000 people are charged each year, although, as in
this case, very few are actually sent to jail.
Its opponents claim the law is often abused as a means of revenge or securing
greater financial divorce settlements; and say in reality those who suffer under
the law are most often women
In this case, Ms Ok was sued by her former husband, Park Chul. She admitted
having an affair with a well-known pop singer, and blamed it on a loveless
marriage to Park.
Judges in Seoul also gave Ms Ok's lover a six-month suspended term.
|
| 20th December |
|
|
| |
Petition apologising for Armenian genocide winds up Turkey Permalink full story: Insulting Turkishness...Insulting Turkishness law used to repress
|
Based on
article
from
news.bbc.co.uk
See also
petition: I Apologise
|
Turkey's
prime minister has criticised a Turkish internet petition which
apologises for the great catastrophe of 1915 when Armenians were
massacred.
The petition was launched by more than 200 Turkish academics and
newspaper columnists .
Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan said: I find it unreasonable to
apologise when there is no reason.
Hundreds of thousands of Armenians died at the hands of Ottoman Turks in
1915. Turkey denies that it was genocide. Erdogan said the
petition risked stirring trouble. He called it irrational and
wrong.
The petition was also condemned by some 60 Turkish former ambassadors,
who called it an act of betrayal.
Many international historians say the massacres and deaths of Armenians
during their forced removal from what is now eastern Turkey were
genocide.
The intellectuals behind the petition say they want to challenge the
official denial and provoke discussion in Turkish society about what
happened.
The petition is entitled I apologise. A short statement at the
top reads: My conscience cannot accept the ignorance and denial of
the Great Catastrophe that the Ottoman Armenians were subjected to in
1915. I reject this injustice and - on my own behalf - I share the
feelings and pain of my Armenian brothers - and I apologise to them.
|
| 18th December |
|
|
| |
Britain shamefully used as book censors by the rich and famous Permalink full story: Libel Tourism...UK prosecutions of books published abroad
|
Based on
article
from
business.timesonline.co.uk
|
Lawyers
and judges have been accused by MPs of using Soviet-style English
libel laws to help the rich and powerful to hide their secrets.
The Saudi financier Khalid bin Mahfouz was condemned as a libel
tourist for persuading a London judge to award damages against an
American author over a book never sold in Britain.
Bridget Prentice, the Justice Minister, told MPs that the Government
would announce a consultation on libel and the internet, and the high
cost of defamation proceedings.
The Labour MP Denis MacShane, said in Westminster Hall: The practice
of libel tourism, as it is known – the willingness of British courts to
allow wealthy foreigners who do not live here to attack publications
that have no connection with Britain – is now an international scandal.
It shames Britain and makes a mockery of the idea that Britain is a
protector of core democratic freedoms.
The US Congress is proposing a law to stop English courts pursuing
American writers for fines over books freely available in the United
States. The case arises from the Kafkaesque position of the writer
Rachel Ehrenfeld, whose book, Funding Evil, examined the flow of money
towards extremist organisations that preach the ideology of hate
associated with Wahhabism and other democracy-denying aspects of
fundamentalist Islamic ideology, MacShane said.
Ms Ehrenfeld's book, published in America, not Britain, named a Saudi
billionaire called Khalid bin Mahfouz. Although the book was published
in the United States, and was not on sale in any British bookshop, he
found lawyers to sue in Britain. A British judge imposed a fine and
costs on Ms Ehrenfeld, and said that her book should be destroyed, even
though she was not in the court. No American court would have
entertained such overt censorship.
Comment:
Background
Thanks to Alan
Damages were awarded against Rachel Ehrenfeld, who had refused to appear
because British courts gave her less protection than the first amendment
to the US constitution. Judgment was consequently given in default.
The author is now refusing to pay and American congress people are
pushing for a specific US law to prevent any attempt to enforce British
libel judgments across the pond.
|
| 18th December |
|
|
| |
Freedom organisations combine to oppose the criminalisation of defamation of religion Permalink full story: Defamation of Religion...OIC pushes for global blasphemy laws at UN
|
Based on
article
from
isria.info
|
The
freedom of expression rapporteurs of the United Nations, the
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the
Organization of American States (OAS), and the African Commission on
Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR) have released a joint declaration on
defamation of religions, and anti-terrorism and anti-extremism
legislation.
After meting on 9 December in Athens, the four media freedom 'watchdogs'
adopted their annual international mechanism for promoting freedom of
expression.
This year's document coincides with the 60th anniversary of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights and covers the dangers to freedom
of speech inherent in national legislation regulating the fight against
defamation of religions and blasphemy laws, as well as
against extremism or other terrorism-related speech offences.
The signatories agreed that the concept of defamation of religions
does not accord with international standards accepted by pluralistic and
free societies. They said that international organizations should
abstain from adopting statements supporting criminalization of
defamation of religions.
They also stressed that restrictions on freedom of expression should
never be used to protect institutions, abstract notions, concepts or
beliefs, including religious ones, and that such restrictions should be
limited in scope to advocacy of hatred.
The four freedom of expression rapporteurs also advised that the
definition of terrorism should be restricted to violent crimes which
inflict terror on the public, and that vague notions such as
providing communications support'or promoting extremism or
terrorism should not be criminalized unless they constitute incitement.
They said that the role of the media should be respected in
anti-extremism and anti-terrorism legislation.
|
| 17th December |
|
|
| |
China restores internet blocks on world news sites Permalink full story: Internet Blocking in Olympic China...Chinese Olympics herald a lull in internet censorship
|
Based on
article
from
guardian.co.uk
|
Chinese
government officials have defended their decision to block several
foreign news websites, including the BBC, as the country moves away from
its pledge for uncensored internet access during the Beijing Olympics.
The BBC, Voice of America, Hong Kong's Ming Pao News and Asiaweek have
all had their websites blocked in China since early December.
Restrictions had previously been lifted in August, when foreign
journalists demanded full access during the Olympics.
A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, Liu Jianchao, said the Chinese
government could not deny that it had issues with some sites:
For instance, if a website refers to 'two Chinas' or refers to mainland
China and Taiwan as two independent regions, we believe that violates
China's anti-secession law, as well as other laws.
China has previously blocked several high-profile websites but has not
acknowledged an official ban, preferring to show users an error message
for those sites instead.
Access to the BBC's English-language site was briefly lifted in March,
although the Chinese-language site remained blocked.
|
| 15th December |
|
|
| |
India calls for a ban on Google Earth Permalink
|
Based on
article
from
theregister.co.uk
|
Legal
advocates have petitioned an Indian court to ban Google Earth following
intelligence indicating the satellite imaging site was used to plan last
month's terrorist attacks in Mumbai that killed 170 people.
Advocate Amit Karkhanis told India's High Court the free service aids
terrorists in plotting attacks by providing detailed images used to
acquaint radical militants with their targets. He asked that Google blur
images of sensitive areas in the country while the case proceeds.
It's by no means the first time government authorities with a world
power have taken aim at the popular satellite imaging service. But in
those cases, the calls were mostly to blur or censor specific images of
sensitive areas. India's request goes much further by requesting Google
Earth be banned outright.
|
| 14th December |
|
|
| |
Playboy apologises to the easily offended over Maria cover Permalink
|
Based on
article
from
telegraph.co.uk
|
Playboy
magazine issued an apology after it put a nude model supposedly resembling
the Virgin Mary on the cover of the Mexican edition of the publication at
the time of a festival dedicated to the mother of Jesus.
The magazine, which hit newsstands on Dec 1 as ceremonies began leading to
the pilgrimage to the Mexico City shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe,
showed a model wearing nothing but a white cloth over her head and
breasts.
The model, Maria Florencia Onori, is pictured standing in front of a
stained glass window with the cover line, We Love You, Maria in
Spanish.
In a statement, Chicago-based Playboy Enterprises Inc said the Mexican
edition of the magazine is published by a licensee, and the company did
not approve or endorse the cover: While Playboy Mexico never meant for
the cover or images to offend anyone, we recognise that it has created
offence, and we as well as Playboy Mexico offer our sincerest apologies.
Playboy Mexico printed 100,000 copies of the issue.
|
| 14th December |
|
|
| |
Russia withdraws internet censorship bill Permalink full story: Internet Censorship in Russia...Russia restoring repressive state control of media
|
Based on
article
from
en.rian.ru
|
A
draft law to toughen control over electronic media, including in the
Internet, as part of efforts against extremism has been withdrawn from
Russia's lower house of parliament for further discussion.
The Russian Vedomosti daily suggested that it may have been pulled at the
request of the government.
In November, during his state-of-the-nation address, Russian President
Dmitry Medvedev pledged a commitment to free speech, saying that, No
government officials will be able to hamper discussions in the Internet.
The bill proposed by the dominant, Kremlin-backed United Russia party
allows the closure of websites for publishing for a second time
materials promoting extremism. It would also order Internet providers to
block access to the website.
|
| 14th December |
|
|
| |
Author arrested for publishing inflammatory material Permalink
|
Based on
article
from
indianexpress.com
|
He
wrote the book, he says to condemn the recent violence between Hindus and
Christians in Kandhamal, but Lenin Kumar was arrested by the Orissa police
on charges of writing and publishing inflammatory material that
could cause communal unrest.
A day later, his bail plea was rejected and he was remanded to judicial
custody. Lenin's wife, Rumita Kundu, has also alleged that the police
tortured her husband.
Now, civil right activists, writers and journalists are up in arms against
the state Government and are planning a protest march to Raj Bhawan.
Lenin Kumar, editor of a quarterly Oriya magazine, Nishan, was arrested
under sections 295 and 1539(A) of the Indian Penal Code for his book
Dharma Nare Kandhamalare Raktara Banya (Bloodletting in Kandhamal in
the name of religion).
Two others who helped him print and circulate the book have also been
arrested and their bail pleas rejected as well. At least 700 copies of the
book were seized from the printing press and the press sealed.
|
| 13th December |
|
|
| |
Iran whinges at Hollywood film with Iranian baddy Permalink
|
Based on
article
from
guardian.co.uk
|
A
new target in Iran's long-running grievance about its negative portrayal
in popular western cinema is, The Wrestler, a film directed by
Darren Aronofsky and starring Mickey Rourke, due for release in the US on
December 17.
Newspapers and websites have alerted readers to the anti-Iranian film
by highlighting a scene in which Rourke's character, Randy "the Ram"
Robinson, violently breaks a pole bearing an Iranian flag across his knee,
after his opponent tries to use it to put him in a stranglehold.
Perhaps to avoid offending Iran's clerical rulers, no mention has been
made of the screen name of Rourke's antagonist, the Ayatollah, played by
Ernest Miller.
But the Miller character's wrestling attire, a skimpy leotard in the
pattern of an Iranian flag with the alef character - representing the
first letter of the word Allah - emblazoned front and back on his loins,
has been condemned by Borna News, a state-run website.
The pole-breaking scene occurs against the explicitly nationalistic
backdrop of an animated crowd chanting, USA, USA. It is intended to
represent the final triumph for Rourke's character, who comes out of
retirement following a heart attack for one last confrontation with the
Ayatollah, a rival from his wrestling heyday.
While there is virtually no chance of The Wrestler being given official
screening permission in Iran, many Iranians have become familiar with it
through promotional trailers shown on broadcaster, Voice of America's
Persian-language satellite television channel.
|
| 13th December |
|
|
| |
Vietnam looks to repressing bloggers Permalink full story: Blogging in Vietnam...Bloggers under duress in Vietnam
|
Based on
article
from
rfa.org
|
With
blogging on the rise in Vietnam, authorities plan tighter curbs and tougher
monitoring.
Vietnamese authorities plan to police the content of dissident blogs through
random checks and self-policing by the country's blogging community, a senior
Vietnamese Internet security expert has said.
There should be a legal corridor to assure better operation of the blogs,
the director of the state-run Bach Khoa Internet Security Center, Nguyen Tu
Quang, told RFA's Vietnamese service. We'll manage them by randomly
checking—we don't need to control all the blogs.
Earlier this month, Information and Communication Deputy Minister Do Quy Doan
was quoted as saying Hanoi would seek cooperation from Internet giants Google
and Yahoo! to help regulate the country's flourishing blogging scene.
The government will announce new rules this month, stressing that Weblogs should
serve as personal online diaries, not as organs to disseminate opinions about
politics, religion, and society, senior officials were quoted as saying.
Quang said under the draft rules being debated violators could face up to U.S.
$12,000 in fines and up to 12 years of jail time.
Authorities currently block some Web sites run by overseas Vietnamese that
espouse views critical of the government, and they often seek to shut down
anything seen as encouraging public protest.
In September, blogger Dieu Cay was jailed for 2.5 years on tax evasion charges
after he tried to persuade people to protest at the Olympic torch ceremonies in
Ho Chi Minh City last summer.
Depraved Vietnam
Based on
article
from
thanhniennews.com
Police in Ho Chi Minh City Thursday arrested 10 suspects allegedly involved in
the operation of a pornographic website and charged them with distribution of
depraved material.
Police plan to press similar charges against two other suspects.
|
| 12th December |
|
|
| |
Indonesia president signs repressive sharia anti-pornography law Permalink full story: Anti-Porn Law in Indonesia...A front for the implementation of shariah
|
Based on
article
from
google.com
|
Indonesian
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was strongly criticised after signing a
repressive anti-pornography law which opponents have said threatens national
unity.
The law, backed by Islamic parties in the capital Jakarta, criminalises all
works and bodily movements deemed obscene and capable of violating public
morality, and offers heavy penalties.
It prompted protests across Indonesia, with critics saying it could threaten art
and traditional culture from temple statues on Bali to penis sheaths on
tribesmen in Christian and animist Papua province.
The president's signing of the law late last month was made public last Tuesday.
Yudhoyono could have chosen not to sign it because there are still several
provinces which strongly oppose the law, lawmaker Eva Sundari of the
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) told AFP. The opposing
provinces, such as Papua, Bali, Yogyakarta, North Sulawesi and East Nusa
Tenggara, say that the law threatened their culture and national unity.
I Gusti Ngurah Harta, head of the Bali People's Component, an organisation of
local intellectuals and artists, said: We are disappointed that President
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has signed the law. We will not vote for him in the
elections next year.
Bantarto Bandoro, political analyst from the Centre for Strategic and
International Studies, said: Yudhoyono's decision could shake the foundation
of his presidential campaign for next year's election.
The law contains provisions for between six months and 12 years' jail for
producers and distributors of pornography and up to four years in prison for
downloading pornography.
|
| 9th December |
|
|
| |
TV Censor finds Harry Enfield's Filipina sketch not in breach Permalink full story: Harry Enfield...LoadsaComplaints about Harry Enfield
|
Based on
article
from
ofcom.org.uk
|
Harry
and Paul
BBC1, 26 September 2008, 21:00
Ofcom received 42 complaints regarding a sketch in the Harry and Paul
show which depicted a so-called upper class character, played by Harry
Enfield, encouraging a Northern man - whom he treats as his dog -
to mate with his neighbour's Filipina maid. The scene showed the
Northerner, known as Clive, failing to show interest in the maid
and the Harry Enfield character shouting encouragement and urging Clive
to mount her before sending the maid back to the neighbour's
home.
The complainants expressed concern that the sketch was offensive to the
Filipino community and women in general, by presenting the Filipina as
an object of sexual gratification.
Ofcom Decision
Ofcom recognises the sensitivities involved when comedy makes reference
to or represents any particular ethnic community in the United Kingdom .
In this case it was a Filipino who featured in the broadcast. We
therefore considered this material in the light of Rule 2.3 (generally
accepted standards) which says that …broadcasters must ensure that
material which may cause offence is justified by the context…
This particular sketch was one of a number which ran throughout the
series in which Harry Enfield plays an extreme comedy stereotype of an
upper class toff living in the South of England. This caricature
has little sensitivity to those outside of his social class.
Consequently, he treats Clive like his dog. It is in this context that
the sketch showed the Harry Enfield character encouraging Clive to
mate with his neighbour's domestic help, for whom he also has little
or no respect.
Whilst Harry and Paul is a new series, Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse
are long established comedians whose style of humour often focuses on
presenting characters in an exaggerated and stereotyped way for comic
effect. The comedy frequently comes from the absurdity of the situation.
In terms of the degree of offence and the likely expectation of the
audience, we considered whether the material was justified by the
context of the sketch as a whole.
As noted above, this item featured established comedians and the sketch
was typical of the material presented by Harry Enfield and Paul
Whitehouse in this, and other series. Therefore it is Ofcom's view that
the material would not have exceeded the likely expectation of the vast
majority of the audience.
Further, in Ofcom's view, there was no intention to ridicule women or
the Filipino community in this sketch. The target of the humour was very
clearly the upper class character played by Harry Enfield who holds such
a deluded view of his social superiority that he treats individuals with
lower social status with ridiculous disdain. The Filipina domestic help
was featured as a character in the sketch to highlight this extreme and
ridiculous behaviour.
Comedy often, and rightly, engages with challenging and sensitive
subjects such as social class. In this respect Ofcom must regulate
potentially offensive material in a manner that also respects freedom of
expression – the broadcasters' right to transmit information and the
viewers' right to receive it. Ofcom must therefore seek an appropriate
balance between protecting members of the public from harm and offence
on the one hand and the broadcaster's right to freedom of expression on
the other, taking into account such matters as context.
Although this sketch may have caused offence to some individuals, it
explored the issue of social class in an absurd way which was not
intended to reflect real life. In our view this was the approach and
effect of this sketch. On balance, it is Ofcom's view that the material
did not breach generally accepted standards because it was justified by
the context.
Not in Breach
|
| 8th December |
|
|
| |
Croatia police arrest Facebook activists Permalink
|
Based on
article
from
news.bbc.co.uk
|
Croatia's
prime minister has ordered an inquiry following arrests of several
opposition activists who made plans via the social networking website
Facebook.
This is not about this or that government or party, but about
freedom, Croatian PM Ivo Sanader said.
Police in Zagreb questioned a Facebook activist who had put up posters
ahead of an anti-government protest planned for Friday, Croatian TV
reported.
In the Zagreb case, an opposition Facebook group with nearly 60,000
members included volunteers who had downloaded posters over the
internet, Croatian TV reported.
The man arrested in the Croatian capital was charged with disturbing the
peace, under an old law from 1990 which applied to the then-Yugoslavia,
the TV reported.
In a statement Sanader said he had asked Interior Minister Tomislav
Karamarko and Police Director Vladimir Faber to submit a report today
on the latest events and arrests in Zagreb and Dubrovnik and to take
appropriate steps if police did not respect regulations. No-one should
be detained or arrested in Croatia for expressing different views.
The activist in Dubrovnik had set up a Facebook group called I bet I
can find 5,000 people who dislike Sanader. Police argued that his
group had illegally shown a photo montage of Sanader in a Nazi uniform.
Sanader said he deplored any use of Nazi symbols for the purposes of
political satire.
|
| 6th December |
|
|
| |
Turkey asks Google to identify insulting YouTube posters Permalink
|
Based on
article
from
cyberlaw.org.uk
|
A
Turkish prosecutor says the United States should identify the
individuals responsible for posting YouTube videos.
Ankara public prosecutor Kursat Kayral has asked U.S. officials
to identify whoever posted videos on the video-sharing Web site
that offered derogatory views of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the
founder of the Republic of Turkey.
Kayral said the videos not only insult Ataturk, but also Turkey
and its flag. He has asked U.S. officials to hand over the
identities of the responsible individuals once they are
determined.
Hurriyet said if Turkey is able to ascertain the identities of
those responsible, they will likely face arrest if they ever
step foot on Turkish soil.
|
| 6th December |
|
|
| |
Red lights to be extinguished at Ning social networking Permalink
|
Based on
article
from
avn.com
|
The
social networking site Ning has announced that it will discontinue
hosting adult-oriented networks in its Red Light District as of
January 1.
Ning was designed to allow anyone to create a social network on its
platform. Network creators were allowed to do their own moderating.
Ning claims the decision was informed by the practical, not the
philosophical. CEO and co-founder Gina Bianchini described the move as a
logical step, taking into account all the problems adult content has
caused for the site, including sub-par ad revenue, an increase in
illegal adult social networks, and numerous DMCA take-down notices.
We're not discontinuing the Red Light District because we no longer
believe in the freedom to create your own social network for anything as
long as it's legal. We do. Practically though, supporting adult networks
no longer makes sense, Bianchini wrote on the Ning blog.
|
| 5th December |
|
|
| |
Barmaid sacked after blogging about drunk politician Permalink
|
Based on
article
from
telegraph.co.uk
|
Nathalie
Lubbe Bakker was fired from her job after government officials rang the
bar owner to complain about the claims relating to Pieter De Crem.
Miss Lubbe Bakker, also a Belgian, said she was shocked when she
recognised the defence minister among a rowdy party of her countrymen
who stumbled into the B-Café.
Writing on her Living in New York blog the next day, Miss Lubbe
Bakker claimed the minister's sang bawdy songs and made
persistent demands to take over the serving of drinks behind the bar.
She went on to claim one of de Crem's officials told her he was in the
city to attend a United Nations meeting.
Four days later, after her posting had been picked by Belgium's De
Standaard newspaper, Miss Lubbe Bakker reported on her blog that she had
been sacked after a defence ministry telephone call to her boss: I
was astonished to learn from a well-informed source that the defence
minister's spokesman had telephoned the bar's owner.
What the contents of that conversation were are unknown to me but
when my next shift finished, he dismissed me on the spot without any
explanation.
Now de Crem has faced questions over the barmaid affair in the Belgian
parliament. While admitting a call was made to Miss Lubbe Bakker's boss,
the minister insisted there was never any insinuation that she should
lose her job.
De Crem went on threaten legal action against bloggers and warned
Belgian MPs every one of you is a potential victim. I want to take
this opportunity and use this non-event to signal a dangerous phenomenon
in our society, said during a debate last Friday.
We live in a time where everybody is free to publish whatever he or
she wants on blogs at will without taking any responsibility. This
exceeds mud-slinging. I find that it's nearly impossible to defend
yourself against this.
Belgian bloggers are up in arms over what they perceive to be a threat
to free speech and a Facebook campaign has been set demanding Miss Lubbe
Bakker is reinstated in her job.
Many people on Belgium's blogosphere have noted that de Crem appears to
have changed his mind since he wrote on his own website that the
internet helps close the gap between the citizen and the politician.
|
| 5th December |
|
|
| |
Philippines court confirms ban on Joseph Estrada's biopic Permalink
|
Based on
article
from
philstar.com
|
The
Philippines Court of Appeals (CA) has affirmed an order of Malacañang to
prohibit the showing of former President Joseph Estrada's bioflick Ang
Mabuhay Para sa Masa.
The court said the documentary film could be allowed for public viewing if it
would be modified and balanced to recognize the legality of the Arroyo
presidency.
The portion entitled ‘Power Grab' by its descriptive appellation, connotes
illegal seizure of power purportedly by the present President, the CA said.
The CA ruled that the bioflick claiming an illegitimate government on public
television is politically sensitive and runs contrary to the Supreme Court
ruling that declared legal the assumption of power of President Arroyo after
Estrada was ousted from office.
The CA added the film might even qualify as libelous and defamatory on
insinuations of a unified action to overthrow Estrada by political and business
personalities.
|
| 4th December |
|
|
| |
How Google and YouTube interact with the world of censorship Permalink full story: Internet Censorship in Turkey...Website blocking insults the Turkish people
|
See
article
from
nytimes.com
by Jeffrey Rosen
|
Google
implemented a technique that would prevent access to videos that clearly
violated Turkish law, but only in Turkey.
For a time, her solution seemed to satisfy the Turkish judges, who restored
YouTube access. But last June, as part of a campaign against threats to symbols
of Turkish secularism, a Turkish prosecutor made a sweeping demand: that Google
block access to the offending videos throughout the world, to protect the rights
and sensitivities of Turks living outside the country.
Google refused, arguing that one nation's government shouldn't be able to set
the limits of speech for Internet users worldwide. Unmoved, the Turkish
government today continues to block access to YouTube in Turkey.
Read full
article
|
| 3rd December |
|
|
| |
YouTube restrict suggestive material to adults and demote it in searches Permalink full story: YouTube Obscurity Censorship...YouTube censor suggestive videos via obscurity
|
Based on
article
from
uk.youtube.com
|
Our
goal is to help ensure that you're viewing content that's relevant to you, and
not inadvertently coming across content that isn't. Here are a few things we
came up with:
- Stricter standard for mature content - While videos featuring
pornographic images or sex acts are always removed from the site when
they're flagged, we're tightening the standard for what is considered
sexually suggestive. Videos with sexually suggestive (but not
prohibited) content will be age-restricted, which means they'll be
available only to viewers who are 18 or older.
- Demotion of sexually suggestive content and profanity - Videos
that are considered sexually suggestive, or that contain profanity,
will be algorithmically demoted on our Most Viewed, Top Favourited,
and other browse pages. The classification of these types of
videos is based on a number of factors, including video content and
descriptions. In testing, we've found that out of the thousands of
videos on these pages, only several each day are automatically demoted
for being too graphic or explicit. However, those videos are often the
ones which end up being repeatedly flagged by the community as being
inappropriate.
- Improved thumbnails - To make sure your thumbnail represents your
video, your choices will now be selected algorithmically.
- More accurate video information - Our Community Guidelines have
always prohibited folks from attempting to game view counts by
entering misleading information in video descriptions, tags, titles,
and other metadata. We remain serious about enforcing these rules.
Remember, violations of these guidelines could result in removal of
your video and repeated violations will lead to termination of your
account.
|
| 3rd December |
|
|
| |
Animated bare limbs covered for muslim gamers Permalink
|
Based on
article
from
techradar.com
|
A
Dubai company has made a version of an online role playing game tailored
specially for Muslims.
The firm in question is Game Power 7 and it has made a few adjustments to Gala's
role-player Rappelz to make it supposedly more appealing to customers in
Islamic countries.
As well as changing the background music, the noises monsters make and taking
out non-Muslim religious symbols, such as crosses, Game Power 7 has given some
characters a little more to wear.
We're told that female players will be properly covered up so that they're no
longer showing too many flesh-coloured pixels. Arms and legs get special
attention, with chainmail and long stockings pasted on.
|
| 3rd December |
|
|
| |
European Parliament delegation compare Turkey to pariah states Permalink full story: Internet Censorship in Turkey...Website blocking insults the Turkish people
|
Based on
article
from
hurriyet.com.tr
|
A
delegation from the European Parliament urged Turkish officials to make the
necessary legal arrangements to enhance freedom of expression and eventually
lift the ban on access to YouTube.
Banning YouTube, Google's blogging site, the websites of a teachers' trade
union, Richard Dawkins and even a Turkish dictionary stands alongside more than
40 cases against writers and journalists even since the reform of the so-called
anti-Turkishness article of the penal code, Richard Howitt, the vice
president of the European Parliament's Human Rights Sub-Committee, said in a
written statement on Friday.
The British Euro MP called for the ban to be overturned at a meeting with
Turkish Justice Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin in Ankara on Thursday, the statement
added.
Howitt criticized the ban, saying that around 1,000 websites are blocked in
Turkey and this places the country alongside some of the world's worst nations
for cyber censorship. As a modern country looking forward to European Union
membership, Turkey should be embracing new communications rather than putting
itself in the same bracket as some of the world's pariah states, Howitt added in
the statement.
|
| 3rd December |
|
|
| |
89% of Egyptians supposedly in favour of internet censorship Permalink
|
Based on
article
from
editorsweblog.org
|
A
sampling by the Egyptian Information and Decision Support Center shows that 89%
of Egyptians age 18 to 35 are in favor of an Internet censorship law.
A majority of those in the 1,338 person sampling distrust the Internet, with 72%
seeing it as a bad influence, and 71% finding it dangerous for
children. Internet relationships and friendships are also seen as
untrustworthy, and 43% have found it negatively impacting family ties.
|
| 30th November |
|
|
| |
Pakistan to resolve its terrorism problem by banning vulgar dance Permalink
|
Based on
article
from
thepost.com.pk
|
Commissioner
Lahore Division Khusro Pervez Khan has banned vulgar dance, gestures and
immoral dialogues in the stage dramas being played in the four
districts.
The Commissioner Lahore Division issued directives to four
districts Kasur, Nankana, Sheikhupura and Lahore to impose a ban
immediately on theaters which stage obscene dances and dialogues.
The directive added that time for theaters will be only from 8pm to 11pm
and no theater will be allowed to continue show after this stipulated
time.
In addition, the commissioner directed the producers not to cast the
actors who use vulgar dialogues. The details of the members of the
committee that has been constituted to censor dramas on stage be also
submitted in three days, the commissioner said in the letter. The
commissioner ordered producers to accommodate the senior actors who had
been popular for family shows but they were ousted due to dirty
stage dramas in the recent years.
|
| 29th November |
|
|
| |
Indonesia president advised to make gesture and not sign porn bill Permalink full story: Anti-Porn Law in Indonesia...A front for the implementation of shariah
|
Based on article
from
old.thejakartapost.com
|
Presidential
Advisor Adnan Buyung Nasution recommended President Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono not sign or ratify the recently passed pornography bill, as
its enforcement could threaten the country's plurality.
I have recommended the President not sign or ratify the porn bill. He
has the right to do so and it is not against the Constitution, he
told The Jakarta Post.
Buyung said that by not signing the bill, the public would see that the
President considers maintaining the unity of the nation a priority.
The House of Representatives passed the controversial porn bill last
month despite opposition from the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI-P) and the Prosperous Peace Party (PDS). The bill has
endured strong protest from human rights activists and pluralist
organizations, as some articles in the bill were deemed contentious
enough to spark disintegration.
The Constitution says a bill passed by the House is supposed to be
signed by the president within 30 days. If not, the bill will still
become a legitimate law. However, by not signing it, the president
rejects the mainstream ideas and political interests of the House,"
Buyung said.
|
| 28th November |
|
|
| |
MEP suggests that the EU consider Turkey's website blocking when considering EU membership Permalink full story: Internet Censorship in Turkey...Website blocking insults the Turkish people
|
Based on
article
from
richarddawkins.net
See also
Turkey, EU need press freedom
from
todayszaman.com
|
Letter
to the European Parliament on Turkey's banning of RichardDawkins.net by Sophie
in 't Veld MEP:
I am writing to express my concern at reports of a Turkish
court compromising freedom of expression in the context of Turkey's application
to join the EU.
I would like you to investigate the specific example given below and attempt to
see if it forms (as we fear) part of a wider picture of concern, and take the
matter up with the Turkish authorities.
The example we cite relates to the blocking of the website of Professor Richard
Dawkins, the world-famous evolutionary biologist. A criminal court in Istanbul
reportedly banned the site in September 2008 on the grounds that it violated
Adnan Oktar's personality after Professor Dawkins criticised Oktar creationist
book Atlas of Creation, which is being distributed in Europe in large
numbers.
The basis of our complaint is the web/press reports shown in
Appendix 1, which were drawn to my attention by the UK's National Secular
Society of which I am a Honorary Associate. I am also writing as the Chair of
the EU Working Group for the Separation of Religion and Politics.
Such blockings are in stark contrast to the progress you have been calling for
as one of the conditions for Turkey's succession to the EU. What is happening is
worse than Turkish authorities not standing up for freedom of expression; it
appears that the state's mechanism itself is enforcing the restriction on
freedom of expression.
Our concern about the banning does not rest in principle on Professor Dawkins'
eminence; however the court's decision is all the more worrying, given it is
difficult to think of anyone more qualified than him to speak on science
matters, being the Chair for the Public Understanding of Science at Oxford
University.
We believe it essential that the EU remains committed to insisting that
countries are not permitted to accede until they conform to fundamental rights.
We admire your work in this area and note in
Appendix 2 below a number of references you have made to requiring Turkey to
improve freedom of expression, for the benefit of others who read this letter,
which we regard as an open one.
I look forward to receiving confirmation that you intend to investigate the
matter, and subsequently what action you intend to take, including making
references to renewed concerns in your reports about the progress being made by
candidate states in the vital areas of fundamental rights.
|
| 28th November |
|
|
| |
Adultery is still a criminal offence in South Korea Permalink full story: Adultery in South Korea...Adultery law used to exact revenge by spouses
|
Based on
article
from
news.bbc.co.uk
|
South
Korean prosecutors have demanded an 18-month jail term for a popular actress who
admitted breaking the country's strict laws on adultery.
Ok So-ri had sought to overturn the 50-year old legislation, which carries a
maximum jail sentence of two years.
She said it was an infringement of human rights and amounted to revenge.
But in October the constitutional court ruled for the fourth time that adultery
must remain a crime, saying it was damaging to social order.
Ms Ok has admitted having an affair with a well-known pop singer and her
husband, Park Chul, is said to be seeking a severe sentence.
Ms Ok's lawyers have said the legislation has degenerated into a means of
revenge by the spouse, rather than a means of saving a marriage.
The Korean Times says that in the past three years about 1,200 people have been
indicted annually for adultery, but very few have been jailed. The case has
created a sensation in South Korea, say correspondents, where many have
denounced what they see as an archaic law.
|
| 27th November |
|
|
| |
A Critical Assessment of Internet Content Regulation and Censorship in Turkey Permalink full story: Internet Censorship in Turkey...Website blocking insults the Turkish people
|
See
article
from
privacy.cyber-rights.org.tr
By Dr. Yaman Akdeniz & Dr. Kerem Altiparmak
|
Freedom
of expression has been one of the key issues in Turkey's democratisation
process. The European Court of Human Rights has found Turkey in violation of the
ECHR in a number of article 10 cases.
The new Turkish law on Internet contains provisions that have potential to cause
similar violations. Thus, this study examines the new regulations bearing this
situation in mind. The book also contains an overview of international
developments with regards to Internet content regulation at the European Union,
and Council of Europe levels.
...See full
article
|
| 26th November |
|
|
| |
China whinges about the new Guns n' Roses album Permalink
|
Based on
article
from
news.bbc.co.uk
|
China
has dismissed the new Guns N' Roses album, Chinese Democracy, as
a venomous attack on the nation.
An article in the Global Times, published by the ruling communist party,
says the album, launched this week, turns its spear point on China.
The title track of the album, which has not been released in China
because of the sensitive material, refers to the banned Falun Gong
spiritual group.
On the title track, lead singer Axl Rose sings: If your great wall
rocks, blame yourself.
Artwork for the album includes the oil painting Red Star by Beijing
artist Shi Lifeng - which depicts Chinese people as powerless.
The album's official website has been blocked in China.
|
| 26th November |
|
|
| |
Bloggers under duress in Egypt Permalink full story: Blogging in Egypt...Heavy handed Egyptian authorities jail bloggers
|
Based on
article
from
advocacy.globalvoicesonline.org
|
BBC
Blogger Mohammad Adel who runs the blog Maeit (already dead!)
disappeared since Friday, November 21, 2008.
On His blog, Adel's Friend published post reporting that Egyptian State
Security Forces stormed into the house of blogger Mohamed Adel on Friday
predawn, searched the house, and seized many of his books and CDs.
Ikhwanweb, the official English language web site of the Muslim
Brotherhood, published statements from Adel Fahmi (Mohamed's father).
Adel Fahmi reported the disappearance of his son expecting that he was
arrested on fabricated charges. State security also broke into Mohamed's
house a month ago due to his participating in the Anti-Gaza Siege
Campaign.
A protest to the disappearance of Adel was held in front of the Genral
Prosecutor Office, by some young political activist, with the attendance
of the missing blogger's father. Adel Fahmi, said he is proud of his
son, and called for his immediate release.
Meanwhile blogger Mohamed Khairi is still in custody despite he received
a release warrant few days ago. The Egyptian blogger who writes on “Jarr
Shakal” blog (teasing) has been arrested at the dawn of the 17th of this
November from his house in Fayoum governate in Nile Delta.
Khairi is a student in the faculty of engineering in Cairo University,
and he was previously arrested. Mohamed Khairi was first arrested last
October 22 because of his participation in the people's campaign to lift
the siege on Gaza Strip, but he was released after the decision of
Fayoum Prosecution to imprison him for 15 days. He has been arrested
twice in less than a month.
Update:
Call For Release
9th December 2008. See
article
from
advocacy.globalvoicesonline.org
Egyptian cyberactivists are gathering for a conference being held in
Cairo on December 4, to
call for the release of young Egyptian blogger Mohamed Adel.
The event, at the Press Syndicate, is being organized by the syndicate's
Freedoms Committee, and is expected to attract a number of bloggers,
political activists and public figures.
In the meantime, and according to some of Adel's friend, the young
blogger went on a hunger strike since his arrest more than 10 days ago.
A source in the Muslim Brotherhood told the blogger, Abdel-Monem Mahmoud
, that Adel is being detained because of a photo of him with a leader in
Hamas movement. The photo was taken in Gaza last January when Adel was
participating in a humanitarian caravan to the Gaza Strip.
|
| 25th November |
|
|
| |
UN votes in favour of blasphemy laws backed by islamic countries Permalink full story: Defamation of Religion...OIC pushes for global blasphemy laws at UN
|
Based on
article
from
canada.com
|
Islamic
countries won United Nations backing for an anti-blasphemy measure Western
critics say risks being used to limit freedom of speech.
Combating Defamation of Religions passed 85-50 with 42 abstentions in a key UN
General Assembly committee, and will enter into the international record after
an expected rubber stamp by the plenary later in the year.
It provides international cover for domestic anti-blasphemy laws, and there
are a number of people who are in prison today because they have been accused of
committing blasphemy, said Bennett Graham, international program director
with the Becket Fund, a think tank aimed at promoting religious liberty:
Those arrests are made legitimate by the UN body's (effective) stamp of
approval.
While the current resolution is non-binding, Pakistan's Ambassador Masood Khan
reminded the UN's Human Rights Council this year that the OIC ultimately seeks a
new instrument or convention on the issue. Such a measure would impose
its terms on signatory states.
Western democracies argue that a religion can't enjoy protection from criticism
because that would require a judicial ruling that its teachings are the
truth.
Defamation carries a particular legal meaning and application in domestic
systems that makes the term wholly unsuitable in the context of religions,
says the U.S. government in a response on the issue to the UN High Commissioner
for Human Rights: A defamatory statement . . . is more than just an offensive
one. It is also a statement that is false.
|
| 25th November |
|
|
| |
Another Chinese crackdown on porn Permalink full story: Internet Censorship in China...All pervading Chinese internet censorship
|
Based on
article
from
newstrackindia.com
|
China
is launching a national campaign to crack down on pornographic
books, videos and websites, the country's press censor said.
The General Administration of Press and Publication (GAPP) and
the National Office of Anti-Pornography and Anti-Illegal
Publications (NOAAP) agreed to step up supervision over book
sellers near schools and on websites.
Li Qimin, deputy secretary general of the China National
Committee for the Wellbeing of the Youths, called on the
government and the public to pay more attention to how children
could be dissuaded from reading materials filled with sex and
violence.
In a survey of juvenile delinquents in the southwestern Sichuan
province, Li and his colleagues found that more than 93% had
read about or seen books, videos and websites promoting sex or
violence.
The reason children have more access to morally questionable
materials is that pirated DVDs are being illegally sold and
there is greater Internet access, he said.
|
| 23rd November |
|
|
| |
Burma sentences comedian to 45 years for organising disaster relief Permalink full story: Repression in Burma...Long jail sentences for opposition to government
|
Based on
article
from
chortle.co.uk
|
Burmese
comedian Zarganar has been sentenced to 45 years in jail following his
most recent run-in with his country's military regime.
Secret police took him from his home in June and seized his computer
after he organized a group of around 400 volunteers to provide disaster
relief in the areas devastated by Cyclone Nargis.
He defied the junta by talking to international press and soliciting
donations, and mocked an article in a state-run newspaper which said
cyclone survivors could exist on what they could scavenge in the land
rather than on chocolate bars from Western aid groups.
When Zarganar was arrested, police also seized several banned films,
including the latest Rambo movie, in which Sylvester Stallone takes on
Burma's rulers, footage of the devastation caused by the cyclone and
film of the lavish wedding of leader Than Shwe's daughter, whose
extravagance fuelled outrage among the nation's poor.
Update:
Remote from Humanity
5th December 2008. See
article
from
news.bbc.co.uk
A dissident comedian serving a 59-year jail sentence in Burma has been moved to
a remote jail in the north of the country, his relatives say.
Zarganar is believed to be one of seven dissidents to have been moved from
Insein in Rangoon to Kachin State.
His family have said the decision is a cruel act which will make it
difficult for them to visit him.
|
| 23rd November |
|
|
| |
Australian author still held in Thai prison for lèse majesté Permalink full story: Lese Majeste in Thailand...Criticising the monarchy is a serious crime
|
Based on
article
from
theage.com.au
|
Harry
Nicolaides is languishing in Bangkok Remand Centre, yet to face trial,
over a few sentences in an unread novel.
On August 31 this year, Nicolaides was at Bangkok airport waiting to
board a flight to Melbourne when he was detained by Thai police on
charges of lese majeste, the crime of insulting the monarchy. The arrest
warrant alleged Nicolaides had insulted the Thai royal family in his
second book, Verisimilitude, a novel Nicolaides self-published in
Thailand in 2005.
For the past 82 days, Nicolaides has been held at the Bangkok Remand
Prison, where he shares one toilet with up to 60 other prisoners,
including men accused of violent and sexual crimes. He was only formally
charged yesterday.
He has retracted the book and publicly apologised to the royal family
and the Thai people for any offence caused by his reckless choice of
words, but bail has been denied three times.
Few novels as commercially unsuccessful as Verisimilitude — only seven
copies were sold — can have caused so much strife for their authors. The
alleged offence is believed to concern three sentences in the book in
which the narrator refers to rumours concerning the romantic life of an
unspecified crown prince.
It is simply one of the most bizarre cases I've ever come across,
says Arnold Zable, author and president of the Melbourne branch of
International PEN, an organisation that campaigns on behalf of writers
in detention around the world.
Nicolaides' case is more unusual than the average unusual case,
says Dr David Streckfuss, a historian from the University of Wisconsin
who lives in Thailand and specialises in the country's lese majeste
laws: It's not clear that any Thai ever read the book in the first
place.
When he published Verisimilitude three years ago, Nicolaides took the
precaution of sending his book to the National Library, the Thai
Ministry of Culture, the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Bureau
of the Royal Household to check that its contents were acceptable. He
received no response. When his book was released no one reviewed it and
hardly anyone read it. Only 50 copies were printed. There was nothing to
suggest that the novel, which was only published in English, hadn't sunk
directly into deep obscurity.
But Thai authorities issued a warrant for Nicolaides' arrest on March 17
this year. He was not told he was under investigation. Between March and
August, Nicolaides left and re-entered Thailand five times with no sign
of trouble. When he was pulled aside by police at passport control on
the night of August 31 he was, his brother, Forde Nicolaides, says,
alarmed. When Australian embassy staff arrived and explained the
allegations, he was absolutely astonished.
Update:
Bail Refused Again
11th December 2008. See
article
from
prachatai.com
Reporters Without Borders repeated its call for the release of
Australian author Harry Nicolaides, facing a charge of the crime of
lese-majesty, after he was yesterday refused bail by the Bangkok
criminal court for the fourth time.
Nicolaides, aged 41, who was formally charged on 21 November 2008, has
been held at the capital's remand prison since 31 August. The charge
relates to his book, Verisimilitude, which came out in 2005 in which he
referred to the way an unamed Crown Prince treated one of his
mistresses. Only 50 copies were ever printed.
|
| 23rd November |
|
|
| |
Iran blocks 5 million websites Permalink full story: Iranian Internet Censorship...Extensive internet blocking
|
Based on
article
from
ynetnews.com
|
Five
million internet websites are currently being blocked by the Iranian
government, a website called 'Rooz' reported, quoting the Iran's
prosecutor general as its source.
The report is the first ever in which a legislative source from Iran has
divulged information about the regime's censorship policies.
During a conference in the country Prosecutor General Abdolsamad Khoram
Abadi explained that most of the sites were blocked because they
contained unethical content, a reference to pornography and other
anti-Islamic entertainment.
Ismail Radkani, a spokesman for the company responsible for the blocking
of websites in Iran, also spoke during the conference. He said over a
thousand such sites were being automatically withdrawn from the
public eye every month, according to legislature passed down from the
government.
Abadi estimated the internet as a more imminent danger than satellite
dishes, because of the fact that the internet is more accessible.
Thus, he called for the establishment of an internet police in
his country.
Update:
Bloggers Under Duress
24th November 2008. See
article
from
advocacy.globalvoicesonline.org
Iranian authorities recently jailed two cyber writers. Paris based
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) reports online journalist Shahnaz
Gholami's arrest at her Tehran home on 9 November. She was the editor of
Azarzan blog. RSF reports also that theologian and online journalist
Mojtaba Lotfi was arrested on 8 October for posting a sermon by a
well-known opponent of Supreme Guide Ayatollah Ali Khamenei online.
At the end of October Mojtaba Saminejad, a former jailed blogger, writes
that security forces threatened his wife and him because of his blog and
political ideas. The blogger adds that his wife has been under pressure
by security agents to complain against him. he has not updated his blog
since 29th of October.
|
| 23rd November |
|
|
| |
Brazil politicians get critical documentary temporarily banned Permalink
|
Based on
article
from
advocacy.globalvoicesonline.org
See also
Gagged in Brazil
|
London
based Brazilian filmmaker Daniel Florêncio had a surprise on September
22, when his film Gagged in Brazil was taken off the Current TV
internet video sites.
The documentary, an investigation into the seemingly increasingly
curtailed press in Brazil, depicts freedom of press and the
relationship between media and politics, looking closely at the
involvement of Aécio Neves, the powerful governor of the second most
populous area in the federation, Minas Gerais.
It explores the way that the local media offers only favorable news
about the Brazilian Social Democracy Party run government, and the lack
of journalistic investigation or debate about the errors of the same
administration.
A day after, his former commissioning editor on Current TV contacted him
to explain the reasons:
According to her, in the previous week, the
channel's seniors executives in the U.S. received letters containing
severe criticism and serious considerations regarding the film. These
letters were sent by the Minas Gerais' PSDB (Brazilian Social
Democracy Party).
PSDB stated that my film had a
political-party character and it did not represent the reality of the
situation in the state, and they challenged my ethical conduct in the
production of the film. Alongside the letters, they also sent copies
of the English version of the video produced by PSDB and posted on
YouTube.
Current TV launched a month long investigation into the allegations and
into Florêncio's journalism procedures, resulting in Gagged in Brazil
being put back online.
Released on the Current TV in UK on May 27, 2008, and in the US a week
before, Gagged in Brazil had a Portuguese subtitled version uploaded on
YouTube, triggering a huge reaction: its link made the rounds on
e-mails, networking websites and the video achieved over 2,000 hits on
Google, over 100,000 views on YouTube, not to mention the 6,000 hits on
the Current TV version, in English.
|
| 21st November |
|
|
| |
Iranian blogger arrested Permalink
|
Based on
article
from
advocacy.globalvoicesonline.org
|
Iranian
blogger, Hossein Derakhshan (aka Hoder), a prolific blogger often
described as the godfather of the Iranian blogosphere, has been arrested
In Tehran.
Hossein returned to Iran about three weeks ago and is being investigated
on suspicion of espionage for the state of Israel. According to the same
source, Hossein seems to have admitted participating in spying
activities for Israel.
In January 2006, Hossein visited Israel as a Canadian citizen and
blogged openly about his trip as breaking a major taboo:
This might mean that I won't be able to go
back to Iran for a long time, since Iran doesn't recognize Israel, has
no diplomatic relations with it, and apparently considers traveling
there illegal. Too bad, but I don't care. Fortunately, I'm a citizen
of Canada and I have the right to visit any country I want. I'm going
to Israel as a citizen journalist and a peace activist.
|
| 21st November |
|
|
| |
Vietnam arrests a dozen people involved in adult website Permalink
|
Based on
article
from
itexaminer.com
|
The
largest pornographic website in Vietnam is on the verge of being shut
down with the arrest of a dozen people, mostly students aged between 20
and 30, reports the Earth Times.
Senior lieutenant colonel Tran Van Hoa, head of the country's Anti High
Technology Crimes division, said: This is the first time we have
arrested so many people involved in spreading pornography in Vietnam.
The website www.mocxxx.com - started in 2006 as a forum to educate young
people on how to have a healthy sex life - is still operational. Hoa
said that the website will be closed after the retrieval of enough
proof.
The website has apparently evolved into a pornographic site taking a
feed from RedTube and adding a local forum exchanging information about
prostitutes etc.
Alexa Internet, in its web traffic data by country, ranks www.mocxxx.com
84th among the top 100 most-visited websites in Vietnam.
According to Vietnamese laws, those who make, circulate or sell books,
photographs or material deemed to be pornographic are liable to fine of
up to $3,000 and a sentence of three years in prison.
Update:
Jailed
29th December 2009. Based on
article
from
saigon-gpdaily.com.vn
The Ho Chi Minh City People's Court on December 25 handed down
sentences from one year three months to two years imprisonment to four
defendants for helping create the country's largest pornographic
website.
The website www.mocxi.com launched in 2006, billing itself as a forum
to educate young people on how to have a healthy sex life. It evolved
into a pornographic site with movies and photos, and was also used to
exchange information about prostitutes.
The four were reportedly members of the website's management board
and allegedly posted sex movies and photos to sell advertising space on
it.
|
| 21st November |
|
|
| |
Arabic Network for Human Rights most blocked website Permalink
|
Based on
article
from
europenews.dk
|
The
Arabic Network for Human Rights reports that the website of Arab
Secularists 3almani.org is facing a campaign to block it in Arab states.
Five states have already blocked the site, making it the most-blocked
website.
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Tunisia and Bahrain have blocked
both sites and they have now been joined by Syria in blocking the Arab
Secularists website.
The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information said: It is not
surprising that these websites have been blocked by these states, but it
is strange that the most-blocked websites have a secularist trend, which
reveals the stance of these states against the secularist and democratic
values called for by these websites. Strangest of all is the fact that
the United Arab Emirates have joined the list of countries that have
this animosity to the Internet.
|
| 20th November |
|
|
| |
Mohammed cartoon blog in Indonesia closed by WordPress Permalink
|
Based on
article
from
news.bbc.co.uk
See
Mohammed and Zainab cartoon
|
The
Indonesian government says it has called on a blogging website to take
down two cartoons which depict Muslim Prophet Muhammad in sexual
situations.
The communications minister said the drawings were very inappropriate,
and said if necessary he would ask internet service providers to block
the entire WordPress site.
The cartoons, which appeared on the website last month, have provoked
fierce debate among viewers. The two cartoons, which are several pages
long, each tell a sexually explicit story involving the Prophet,
interspersed with verses apparently lifted from the Koran.
A ministry spokesman said the cartoons were offensive, not just to
Muslims, but to all religions.
There were protests in Indonesia two years ago when cartoons depicting
Muhammad appeared in a Danish newspaper.
Based on
article
from
fatihsyuhud.com
To show how easy it is to get bloggers to support censorship:
I am grateful to wordpress.com which acted
quick enough to close down the controversial blog on the Prophet
cartoon comic strip written by –who else?–an anonymous irresponsible
blogger. Otherwise, the Indonesia government would have closed down
the entire Indonesia's wordpress.com community as stated by
Indonesia's Communication Minister Muhammad Nuh.
The blog which has been closed by wordpress.com is
lapotuak.wordpress.com,
|
| 19th November |
|
|
| |
Opposition party propose an extension of lese majeste laws Permalink full story: Lese Majeste in Thailand...Criticising the monarchy is a serious crime
|
Based on
article
from
nationmultimedia.com
|
A
group of MPs from the opposition Democrat Party have proposed a draft
legislation that would penalise people making defamatory remarks or
contemptuous tones against the monarchy on the Internet or via computers.
The proposed law would also punish those who wrongly accuse or attempt to
frame up others of such a wrongdoing.
Under the proposed law, anyone putting inaccurate content about the
monarchy on the Internet or a computer system faces a jail term of between
three to 20 years or a fine ranging from Bt200,000 (£3800) to Bt800,000
(£15,400).
Those uploading defamatory or contemptuous content about the monarchy face
an imprisonment of five to 20 years or a fine of between Bt300,000 to
Bt800,000.
The law will also punish anyone falsely accusing others of such
wrongdoings, with imprisonment of three to 20 years and a fine ranging
from Bt200,000 to Bt800,000.
The law also seeks to punish people hiring others to do the job for them,
the Internet service provider or computer system administrator who fails
to cooperate, as well as repeat offenders.
Based on
article
from
bangkokpost.com
Critics have blasted the Democrat proposal.
Boonsong Chaisinghananon, a Silapakorn University philosophy lecturer,
said the amendments were more likely to serve or be exploited by the
Democrats and the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), which has often
accused others of insulting the monarchy.
The proposers rejected a political movitation behind the amendments and
said the ICT minister appoint military personnel to help track internet
violators.
|
| 19th November |
|
|
| |
Brazilian internet users protest against Digital Crimes Bill Permalink
|
Based on
article
from
advocacy.globalvoicesonline.org
|
Brazilian
bloggers and netizens took to the streets of São Paulo to protest
against the Digital Crimes Bill, which typifies the cyber-crimes
punishable by law and stipulates penalties accordingly.
They claim the law has so many flaws that, instead of punishing real
criminals, it might end up deeming as crime trivial conduct when surfing
the Internet.
Proposed by senator Eduardo Azeredo, the bill has passed through the
Senate, has proceeded to the House of Representatives and has been
labelled as urgent, which means that voting might happen at any time.
|
| 18th November |
|
|
| |
West Papua promises to secede from Indonesia over sharia bill Permalink full story: Anti-Porn Law in Indonesia...A front for the implementation of shariah
|
Based on
article
from
thejakartapost.com
|
The
head of the West Papua Provincial Legislative Council (DPRD) repeated
the province's intention to secede from Indonesia if the
anti-pornography bill passed into law, during a rally in front of the
Bali governor office in Denpasar, on Saturday.
Jimmy Demianus Ijie told Balinese protesters that West Papua would
galvanize international support for secession if the government enforces
the anti-pornography bill in West Papua.
Jimmy said the West Papuans could not accept the bill because it
smelled of Sharia law and it had no respect for the constitution,
which, he said, embraces Indonesia's five major religions and its
hundreds of cultures.
He said the bill was an insult to church congregations in West Papua,
who had expressed their stand against the bill: The church played a
major part in assisting the government in returning West Papua to
Indonesia, and because the church is West Papua's representative, this
is a stab in the back, too.
He further supported the Bali People's Component's (KRB) attempt to file
a judicial review at the Constitutional Court: If the judicial review
fails, we will secede.
KRB coordinator Ngurah Harta said the judicial review would be filed
next week, pledging to hold a civil disobedience campaign if the review
fails.
|
| 18th November |
|
|
| |
Indian state of Maharashtra bans film Deshdrohi Permalink full story: Deshdrohi...Indian state of Maharashtra bans film
|
Based on
article
from
hindu.com
|
With
Deshdrohi is a film based on north Indians migrating to Mumbai
which has been creating a controversy in the Indian state of Maharashtra,
Lok Janshakti Party leader and Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan
questioned the banning of the film in the State despite getting Censor
Board clearance: What is the harm in screening the film? It has got
clearance from the Censor Board. No other State has banned it.
The Maharashtra government has imposed a two-month ban on the film
fearing backlash from the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS)
and others if it was allowed to be released in the present format.
The Maharashtra police had asked the film's writer, producer and actor
Kamaal Khan for a separate screening before the film's release.
The MNS has welcomed the ban on the film saying the movie had the
potential for to create a law and order problem.
Update:
Still Banned
18th November 2008. See
article
from
dnaindia.com
The Bombay high court on Monday refused to interfere with the state's
order suspending the screening of the film.
There was, however, a silver lining for Khan as a division bench of
Chief Justice Swatanter Kumar and Justice Sharad Bobde asked principal
secretary (home) to give a hearing to the film's producer and pass a
fresh order by November 20.
|
| 18th November |
|
|
| |
Chinese blogger Guo Quan arrested Permalink full story: Human Rights in China...Chinese round up the usual suspects
|
Based on
article
from
rsf.org
|
Reporters
Without Borders condemns the arrest of blogger Guo Quan, for posting
blog entries deemed to be too radical. He is currently being held
in a Nanjing police station on a charge of inciting subversion of
state authority.
What the authorities regard as ‘too radical' is open letters to the
government calling for democratic change, Reporters Without Borders
said. Guo's arrest is further evidence, if any were needed, that the
Chinese dictatorship systematically punishes those who express views
different from the Party's. We unfortunately fear that Guo could be
jailed for a long time, like the 49 other cyber-dissidents currently
held in China.
Guo had been under house arrest since February after calling for the
creation of a Chinese Netizen Party to combat online censorship. He also
announced on 4 February that he intended to sue the US company Google
for ensuring - at the Chinese government's request after he created the
Chinese New People's Party - that searches for his name on its
Chinese-language search engine (http://www.google.cn) yielded no
results.
Guo has been posting open letters on his blog calling for pro-democracy
reforms ever since he was fired from his post as philosophy professor at
Nanjing university.
|
| 17th November |
|
|
| |
City authorities dismantle satellite dishes Permalink
|
Based on
article
from
rapidtvnews.com
|
Officials
in Ashgabat in Turkmenistan are continuing to dismantle satellite
dishes. In place of the dismantled equipment their owners are offered
a chance to sign up for cable television with a fixed choice of
channels.
Along with that, authorities are introducing payment for setting up and
running cable networks. According to BBC Monitoring which carried the
report, citizens are alarmed that the set of channels can be changed
arbitrarily by authorities, and authorities also have the possibility of
turning off broadcasts.
The satellite dish dismantling campaign was triggered by the Turkmen
president's remark at the beginning of this year that satellite
dishes make the city look ugly. Rights activists have even more
cause to be concerned about authorities' actions aimed at suppressing
human rights, in particular, denying the right for free information
access.
|
| 16th November |
|
|
| |
Another Bali protest against sharia dress code law Permalink full story: Anti-Porn Law in Indonesia...A front for the implementation of shariah
|
Based on
article
from
google.com
|
Hundreds
of people rallied Saturday in the Hindu-majority holiday island of Bali
against a tough anti-pornography law branded by critics a threat to
religious freedom.
About 400 people marched through the Balinese capital Denpasar in
defiance of the law passed by mainly Muslim lawmakers in Jakarta last
month.
Protesters denounced as too broad the law's definition of pornography,
saying it was a threat to Indonesia's diverse non-Muslim minorities and
could shatter national unity.
High-spirited protesters in traditional sarongs and translucent temple
blouses marched toward the provincial governor's office, cheering wildly
at traditional dances and performances by local pop singers in
curve-hugging pants.
The chair of the West Papua provincial parliament, Jimmy Demianus Ijie,
said the law passed after years of deliberation in Jakarta criminalised
Papuan culture, where many people go semi-naked.
A challenge to the law would be launched in Indonesia's Constitutional
Court next week, activist Ngurah Harta told the protest: We have to
win this judicial review or we will hold a massive civil disobedience
campaign.
|
| 16th November |
|
|
| |
Canadian customs publish list of banned titles Permalink full story: Canadian Customs...Taking a particular interest in banning gay material
|
Based on
article
from
xtra.ca
See
latest list of films banned by Canadian Customs [pdf]
|
The
Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has released its third quarter
listing of videos it won't allow into the country because it has decided
they are obscene.
Agents carefully screened 119 porn DVDs between July and September for
what the CBSA calls obscene content. Seventy nine of those titles were
turned back at the border.
The CBSA publishes a lengthy list of qualifiers that determine its
definition of obscenity. Along with the usual chestnuts of bestiality,
necrophilia and sexual assault, agents are instructed to ban films that
include things like watersports, bondage and domination and what it oddly
calls sex with pain.
Apparently attitudes at the CBSA have become more liberal over the last
few years. Before Nov 2005, any film that included watersports action
netted an instant ban at the border. But in a CBSA internal memo released
to Xtra through an access to information request, screeners were told,
The Canadian community will now tolerate consensual urination onto another
person. [onto but not into!]
Here's a list of some of the more interesting banned films that were
arbitrarily deemed obscene:
Europeein Vol 1, Europeein Vol 2
Frat Piss: The Hazing of Kaleb Scott
Kaleb Scott's Piss Party Weekend
San Francisco Lesbian Bondage Club 1 & 2
Triga's Piss Tapes Vol 1
Yellow! Triga's Piss Tapes, Vol 2
Amazing Lactations #2: Bondage
Mutterficker
Sex Slaves of Satan
Femmes De Sade
The Jackbooth Job
|
| 15th November |
|
|
| |
Uganda bans porn Permalink
|
I can hardly believe it was legal before
Based on
article
from
xbiz.com
|
The
Media Council of Uganda has banned the publication and circulation of
pornographic and obscene material.
The Chairperson of Uganda's Media Council, Dr. Goretti Nassanga, said
the ban follows widespread concerns by Ugandans on the increase of
pornographic and obscene materials in Uganda's media.
The functions of the Media Council include censoring films, videotapes,
plays and other related apparatuses for public consumption. Dr. Nassanga
said the ban is backed by Uganda's Press and Journalist Act and Penal
Code Act, and also Article 17 of the United Nations Convention on the
rights of the child.
Dr. Nassanga has warned newspaper publishers, editors, broadcasters,
journalists, video hall operators and media practitioners to stop
publication and/or circulation of pornographic and obscene material — or
risk closure and arrest. The order shall stay in force until the
government passes a law on publication and circulation of pornographic
and obscene matter.
|
| 15th November |
|
|
| |
Saudi religious police arrest and beat poet blogger Permalink full story: Religious Police in Saudi...A law unto themselves
|
Based on
article
from
menassat.com
|
The
Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) has reported that
blogger Roshdi Algadir was arrested by religious police in Saudi Arabia
on 4th November.
He was taken from his place of work in Al-Dammam city, held for three
hours, beaten up and forced to sign an agreement never again to publish
his work on the internet. The reason behind the attack is a poem that
Algadir has posted on his
blog (in Arabic).
Roshdi Algadir, winner of an international award for his collections of
poetry, had posted some of them on his blog. Following this he was
surprised by members of the Hisba apparatus who snatched him from his
work, beat him and accused him of apostasy.
Algadir is insistent that poetry should only be subject to the critiques
of literature, but the way he was arrested confirms the insistence of
the apparatus to act against the interests of freedom of expression in
the name of religious repression.
Gamal Eid, executive director of ANHRI stated: The members of the
Hisba apparatus threaten the legal system and all the citizen's rights
in the name of protecting the Islamic religion. The existence of this
apparatus is an insult to Islam, depicting it as it does, as anti
freedom of speech and anti freedom of expression.
|
| 14th November |
|
|
| |
Life sentences for opposing Burma's tyrants Permalink full story: Repression in Burma...Long jail sentences for opposition to government
|
Based on
article
from
timesonline.co.uk
|
An
internet blogger and a writer who disguised an attack on Burma's
dictator in the form of a love poem were among dozens of activists
sentenced to draconian jail terms as the junta ordered a fresh crackdown
on dissidents.
Nay Myo Kyaw who wrote blogs under the name Nay Phone Latt, was
sentenced to 20 years and 6 months in jail by a court in Rangoon.
The poet, Saw Wai, received a two-year sentence for an eight-line
Valentine's Day verse published in a popular magazine. Saw Wai's poem,
entitled 14th February, was ostensibly a Valentine's Day verse but the
first word of each line, however, spelt out a message about the leader
of the country's military government: Power Crazy Senior General Than
Shwe.
Aung Thein, the lawyer for the men, was given four months in prison for
contempt of court during his defence.
More than a dozen people arrested during the protests last year against
the ruling junta were handed harsh prison terms yesterday. Altogether
23 activists were sentenced today at Insein prison. They were sentenced
to 65 years each, a family member of one jailed activist said
Other sources said that 14 people from the Generation 88 Students group,
who spearheaded the revolt against Burma's military rulers in 1988, were
jailed for 65 years. Ten rank-and-file members of a provincial branch of
the opposition National League for Democracy party were given sentences
ranging from 8 to 24 years.
The dissidents will join more than 2,000 political prisoners in Burma's
jails, half of whom have been incarcerated since the Saffron Revolution
last year, when tens of thousands of Buddhist monks and political
activists took to the streets in a failed uprising against the military
regime.
|
| 13th November |
|
|
| |
New Zealand complaints about Jono's New Show Permalink full story: Boobs on Bikes...Hassles for topless bike parade in New Zealand
|
Based on
article
from
3news.co.nz
See also
Jono's New Show
|
New
Zealand's C4 has received a number of viewer complaints after a raunchy
episode of Jono's New Show.
The show featured uncensored footage from boobs on bikes parades, a
dwarf involved in bondage & discipline and an explicit interview with
porn stars that involved simulated sex.
One nutter, who called the show terrible and pornographic,
stated that young people were still up at the time it screened and that
programmes were getting worse and worse.
Jono's New Show executive producer Angela Mann says: There
were clear warnings at the beginning of the show saying it would contain
sexual material. We covered a topic that was of great interest to the
majority of our audience.
|
| 13th November |
|
|
| |
Pakistan passes law with a death sentence for cyber crime Permalink
|
Based on
article
from
blog.wired.com
|
Pakistani
president Asif Ali Zardari has signed a law making cyber terror a crime
punishable with death.
Executions will only be allowed if the hack attack causes [the] death
of any person, the Prevention of Electronic Crimes law states.
But the definition of what is considered cyber terror is
alarmingly broad in the law, proposed last year and signed Thursday by
the Pakistani president. Not only does it apply to any person, group
or organization who, with terroristic intent utilizes, accesses or
causes to be accessed a computer or computer network or electronic
system or electronic device or by any available means, and thereby
knowingly engages in or attempts to engage in a terroristic act. The
ordinance also considers cyber terrorism to be:
- altering by addition, deletion, or change or attempting to alter
information that may result in the imminent injury, sickness, or death
to any segment of the population
- transmission or attempted transmission of a harmful program with
the purpose of substantially disrupting or disabling any computer
network operated by the Government or any public entity
- aiding the commission of or attempting to aid the commission of an
act of violence against the sovereignty of Pakistan, whether or not
the commission of such act of violence is actually completed
- stealing or copying, or attempting to steal or copy, or secure
classified information or data necessary to manufacture any form of
chemical, biological or nuclear weapon, or any other weapon of mass
destruction.
|
| 12th November |
|
|
| |
Japanese gamers unimpressed by PC censorship of Fallout 3 Permalink full story: Fallout 3...World censors ban Fallout 3
|
Based on
article
from
g4tv.com
The cut version of the game is available at
UK Amazon
|
Fallout
3 is scheduled for release in Japan next month and developer
Bethesda has decided to make some PC changes to the Japanese
version.
For starters, the possible detonation of an unexplored nuclear
bomb has been edited out, along with Mr. Burke, the non-playable
character.
Bethesda also noted that one weapon title was changed because it
was inappropriate and this is most likely the Fat Man,
as it was the code name for the atomic bomb that was detonated
over Nagasaki, Japan, by the US during WWII.
The irony is that despite Bethesda's best intentions to be
culturally sensitive to a country and their history, online
reactions from Japanese users, however, indicate complete
irreverence and disappointment regarding the censorship.
|
| 12th November |
|
|
| |
Argentina search engines ordered to remove celebrity searches Permalink
|
Based on
article
from
news.cnet.com
|
Both
Yahoo and Google are locked in a legal battle with dozens of
fashion models and other public figures like Maradona over
whether the Internet companies should have to censor search
results relating to those persons' names.
Since last year, Internet users have been left with abbreviated
search results from Yahoo Argentina and Google Argentina, as a
result of temporary restraining orders handed down by Argentine
judges.
The move effectively holds the search companies responsible for
content on other Web sites, a legal maneuver that would not be
possible in the United States or the European Union, according
to a Google representative. In the United States, federal law
generally says that search engines are not responsible for the
content of pages they index.
Google first received an injunction to block references to the
individuals on its Argentina search engine in mid-2007. A group
of about 70 fashion models, represented by the same lawyer,
initially asked the Internet company to block all search results
with their names with the intent of blocking pornographic sites
that used the models' pictures. Google responded that it would
only block specific problematic links, provided it could notify
users.
The matter was taken to court, and judges in Argentina have so
far sided with the models. Other public figures--including
Maradona and Judge María Servini de Cubría--have in recent
months sought out the same lawyer to successfully block search
results about them on Google and Yahoo as well.
The lawyer representing all the plaintiffs, Martin Leguizamon
Peña, has sought damages between 100,000 and 400,000 pesos for
his clients (about $30,000 to more than $121,000.
Both Google and Yahoo have unsuccessfully appealed the
restraining orders and are now complying with them while the
underlying lawsuits filed by Peña's clients are pending.
|
| 12th November |
|
|
| |
Sri Lankan broadcasting restrictions criticised Permalink
|
Based on
article
from
lankabusinessonline.com
|
Reporters Without Borders condemns the government pressure that led to the
debate programme Ira Anduru Pata being cut short as it was being
broadcast live on the evening of 4 November on state TV station Rupavahini.
The abrupt censorship, which has become a talking point among TV viewers,
ended a discussion of a new broadcasting law by three guests, including
Uvindu Kurukulasuriya, convener of the Free Media Movement, a local media
rights group.
The presenter announced a break for advertisements after 45 minutes, but
the rest of the programme, which normally lasts two hours, was suppressed,
the RWB statement said Kurukulasuriya had been criticising the
government's media policies before he was censored, it said.
This censorship came as widespread criticism forced the government to
retreat on its newly-introduced Private Television Broadcasting Station
Regulations, the RWB statement said.
The new rules would restrict development of privately-owned TV by
increasing the government's control over the issuing and withdrawal of
broadcasting licences, which would have to be renewed annually.
After receiving representatives of journalists' organisations and media
owners, media and information minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa announced
that implementation of the new regulations would be suspended for a month.
Noting the government's decision to suspend the regulations, Reporters
Without Borders said: This law is extremely dangerous for media
freedom. Delaying its implementation is not enough. Its content needs to
be changed radically.
|
| 11th November |
|
|
| |
Police will enforce the new sharia dress code law Permalink full story: Anti-Porn Law in Indonesia...A front for the implementation of shariah
|
Based on
article
from
thejakartapost.com
|
 |
|
Burkha is the new
bikini |
Bali Police chief Insp. Gen. Teuku Ashikin Husein said his institution
had no option but to enforce the new pornography law in the province.
I have no option. The police must enforce every positive law in the
country, he said in Denpasar, as quoted by Tempointeraktif.com.
Ashikin said the law would be implemented through a government
regulation which had yet to be established.
Last week, Bali's governor and speaker of the provincial legislature
announced that the province would not be able to enforce the newly
passed law, saying it was not in line with Balinese philosophical and
sociological values.
Bali leaders and members of the public have united in an organization
named the Bali People's Component to challenge the new law through the
Constitutional Court.
|
| 11th November |
|
|
| |
New media censor created in Armenia Permalink
|
Based on
article
from
armenialiberty.org
|
The
Armenian government has set up a new agency tasked with monitoring and
regulating the work of the local media outlets, prompting serious
concern from some of them.
The Center for Public Relations and Information (CPRI) was set up during
a weekly cabinet session upon the recommendation of President Serzh
Sarkisian's administration.
A government statement said that the body will be tasked with
conducting, among other things, a monitoring and analysis of
activities of the Armenian media, including newspaper circulations and
the size of TV and radio audiences. It will also come up with
initiatives relating to the legal regulation of media outlets'
activities.
Some independent outlets expressed concern at the development on Friday,
saying that it could herald government restrictions on press freedom and
even censorship.
Mesrop Movsesian, owner and chief executive of Independent TV channel
A1+, claimed that the CPRI's main mission is to censor independent news
reporting: It looks like the idea is to have one center from which
information will be controlled and delivered to the public.
|
| 10th November |
|
|
| |
Erotic dancers arrested in Jakarta under new sharia morality law Permalink full story: Anti-Porn Law in Indonesia...A front for the implementation of shariah
|
Based on
article
from
time.com
|
 |
|
Burkha is the new
bikini |
Indonesia watched its new anti-pornography law leap into action last
weekend, as police raided a Jakarta nightclub and arrested three
employees. The officers detained three erotic dancers in the raid. The
women now face up to 10 years in prison.
The new law retains a broad definition of pornography that many fear
could be abused by law enforcers and radical organizations. The law
is wide open to interpretation and could even apply to voice, sound,
poetry, works of art or literature, says Kadek Krishna Adidharma,
one of many Balinese who see the law as an attempt by the Indonesian
Muslim majority to impose their will on the rest of the country:
Anything that supposedly raises the libido could be prosecutable.
The law has a long list of possible offenses. Anyone displaying
nudity could be fined up to $500,000 and jailed for up to 10 years.
Public performances that could incite sexual desire have been
banned, and civil society groups will be allowed to help enforce
the legislation.
While it is true that pornographic magazines and pirated DVDs are easily
available in Indonesia, advocates for the rights of religious and ethnic
minorities say the problem will not be righted by the new legislation.
They point to existing provisions in the criminal law as sufficient to
deal with the problem, and complain that the new law poses a threat to
non-Muslim Indonesians. The law imposes the will of the majority that
embrace Islam, is a form of religious discrimination and against the
spirit of tolerance taught by the country's founders, says
Theophilus Bela, chairman of the Christian Communication Forum.
Four provinces with sizeable non-Muslim populations — Bali, Yogyakarta,
Papua and North Sulawesi — have already rejected the law and said it
will not be enforced in their regions. It remains to be seen how and if
that will be tolerated by Jakarta. Major protests are planned for this
month in Bali, where the governor has been a vocal opponent of the law
and pledged that it will not be implemented. Many Balinese are now
calling for greater autonomy and say dire consequences lie ahead if
their demands are not met. There is even a possibility that Bali will
ask to separate from Indonesia, says Rudolf Dethu, a Balinese who
has helped organize protests against the law: It's that serious.
|
| 9th November |
|
|
| |
Malaysian christians waiting to see of they can use the word 'Allah' Permalink full story: Oh My God...Only muslims can use the word Allah in Malaysia
|
Based on
article
from
christiantoday.com
|
A
Malaysian court hearing the appeal by an evangelical church to use the
word "Allah" in its Sunday School materials has been adjourned to next
month.
The Evangelical Church of Borneo, otherwise known as SIB (Sidang Injil
Borneo), and its president Pastor Jerry Dusing filed the appeal at the
High Court against the Internal Security Ministry and the Malaysian
Government.
The hearing will resume on November 12.
On August 15 last year, SIB was preparing to bring in three cartons
containing six different publications from Indonesia to be used as Sunday
School materials when they were withheld by a customs officer and later
handed over to the Internal Security Ministry (ISM.
Nearly a month later, Dusing received a letter from the ISM stating that
the import of the publications had been denied, that Christian
publications containing the word “Allah” cannot be distributed in
Malaysia. The letter also stated that the publications can raise
confusion and controversy in Malaysian society.
In response the church sent an appeal letter dated September 24 to the
minister, stating that the previous prime minister had allowed the use of
the word “Allah” in their publications.
|
| 8th November |
|
|
| |
Turkey censors Swiss film festival Permalink
|
Based on
article
from
europenews.dk
|
Alleged
Turkish interference in a culture festival in Switzerland results in the
removal of a movie and five articles written by leading journalists from
the printed program.
I shouldn't have followed the pressure but the pressure was so
strong, says the director of CultureScapes
Claims of a censorship attempt by Turkey on a movie featuring a love
affair between a Turkish woman and a Kurdish man from northern Iraq have
overshadowed the Swiss festival CultureScapes.
The artistic director of the festival said yesterday that the movie
Gitmek was taken out of the printed program after a threat from the
Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry.
The Culture Ministry threatened to withdraw money if the movie was
not removed from the program. And they did it very offensively,
Jurriaan Cooiman told the Hrriyet Daily News.
Starring Turkey as guest of 'honor' this year, the annual
festival's 800,000 euro budget is equally financed by the Turkish and
Swiss governments.
|
| 6th November |
|
|
| |
No plans to follow Australia's internet censorship lead Permalink full story: Internet Censorship in New Zealand...New Zealand considers internet blocking
|
Based on
article
from
computerworld.co.nz
|
The
New Zealand government has no current plan to follow Australia into
compulsory filtering of internet connections by ISPs, says ICT minister
David Cunliffe.
New Zealand's response to undesirable online material emphasises
education, says Cunliffe, referring to NetSafe's educational programme
aimed at parents and children.
There is currently no legislative authority in the Films, Videos and
Publications Classification Act for website filtering, Cunliffe notes.
The Australian proposal, first mooted by the Howard government, has
attracted criticism. The extent of the planned filtering is still
unclear. Australian civil liberties campaigners have called it the Great
Firewall of Australia, in allusion to China's strict state online
censorship.
In New Zealand a trial web filtering programme is being conducted by the
DIA in association with a number of ISPs, who have volunteered. The
trial currently blocks access to about 7,000 websites that are known to
deal exclusively with child sexual abuse imagery, Cunliffe says:
There are no plans for the programme to be expanded to other types of
illegal material.
|
| 5th November |
|
|
| |
Japanese police target internet sites with suicide gas instructions Permalink
|
Based on
article
from
telegraph.co.uk
|
More
than 870 people have killed themselves this year by mixing particular
brands of toilet cleaner & bath salts and then inhaling the hydrogen
sulphide gas produced.
The method has sparked a series of mass-evacuations in homes and hotels
because the gas forms noxious clouds that can also poison those nearby.
The internet has long been studied by suicide fads in Japan, which is
home to the one of the highest rates in the industrialised world.
Police are now clamping down on the most popular sites, including those
that provide instructions on how to commit suicide by gassing.
The move follows the release of government figures that show that 876
people killed themselves between January and September this year by
inhaling gas in this way. In 2007 the number was just 29.
There are fears that the suicide rate in Japan will increase even more
sharply over the coming months amid the nation's deepening economic
crisis. In the past, recessions have always gone hand in hand with a
spike in the number of suicides in Japan.
In a bid to curb the nation's soaring suicide rates, the government is
running an anti-suicide programme to help those suffering from mental
health problems.
|
| 5th November |
|
|
| |
Two Arabic channels removed from Egypt's Nilesat Permalink
|
Based on
article
from
rapidtvnews.com
|
BBC
Monitoring stated that local reports suggest that two controversial
Arabic channels had been removed from Nilesat's platform of services.
One report emanated from the Muslim Brotherhood website in Cairo
and said that the Egyptian government has suspended the transmission
of the space channel, al-Hikmah, on Nilesat without giving any reasons
for the action.
The website's reason for the suspension was that the al-Hikmah channel
launched a campaign to lift the blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip,
adding: however, the public relations officer of the space channel
denied that the reason was the campaign launched to lift the Gaza
blockade and said that the real reason was the financial difficulty
which the [satellite] channel was undergoing and which precluded payment
of its debts to Nilesat.
The second problem channel is the al-Barakah satellite channel, also
transmitting on Nilesat. The report, carried by BBC Monitoring, said
that Egyptian security services had suspended transmissions of the al-Barakah
space channel on Nilesat, claiming that the channel was transmitting
programmes that threatened the Egyptian national security.
|
| 3rd November |
|
|
| |
Censorship causes games piracy in Saudi Permalink
|
Based on
article
from
gamepolitics.com
|
Spin
coming from the Arabian Anti-Piracy Alliance (AAA) suggests that piracy
is ruining the video game market in Saudi Arabia.
But the GameCulture website explains, it is actually game censorship
by the Saudi government which pushes gamers into pirating the titles
they want.
AAA official Scott Butler claims that Saudi officials aren't doing
enough to combat piracy: In the UAE they are sending pirates to
prison a lot, whereas in Saudi Arabia there has never been a judgment
like that for any kind of pirate. When they mete out the judgement of
imprisonment, that's when the market will finally crack.
But, as GameCulture editor Aaron Ruby points out:
That might be the first time the Saudi legal
system was chastised for being too lenient. And therein lies the
absurdity of Butler's proposal... Censorship in that country has
effectively driven the videogame industry underground. The kingdom's
fear of media that challenges its cultural values has created a thriving
entertainment black market, of which games are a key segment...
Iran, whose entertainment is also heavily regulated by the state, is
also a hotbed of piracy. According to Mehrdad Agah, chariman of Puya
Arts Software, 99% of all games sold in Iran are pirated...
It's no coincidence that the countries with the highest piracy rates
(Saudi, Iran, China) have some of the most draconian censorship policies
on the planet. The true counter to piracy is more freedom, not less.
|
| 3rd November |
|
|
| |
A Chilling New Anti-Obscenity Law in Indonesia Permalink full story: Anti-Porn Law in Indonesia...A front for the implementation of shariah
|
See
article
from
asiasentinel.com
|
 |
|
Indonesia Goes Burkha |
The House of Representatives pushes through an overly broad bill that
could energize Islamic fundamentalists even more
Analysts and critics are warning that the bill will embolden the
country's already-unswerving Muslim fundamentalists.
Provisions of the Bill
- Article 29
Any person who manufactures, produces, duplicates, reduplicates,
distributes, broadcasts, imports, exports, makes for sale, trades in,
leases or makes available pornography shall be punished with a prison
term of 6 months to 12 years and/or a fine of Rp250 million or Rp6
billion.
- Article 30
Any person who makes available pornography …shall be punished with a
prison term of 6 years and/or a fine of Rp250 million to Rp6 billion
- Article 31
Any person who loans or downloads pornography…shall be punished with a
maximum prison term of 4 years and/or a fine not to exceed Rp2 billion
- Article 32
Any person who exhibits, possesses or stores pornography shall be
punished with a maximum prison term of 4 years and/or a fine not to
exceed Rp2 billion
- Article 34
Any person who consents to be a pornographic object or model shall be
punished with a maximum prison term of 10 years and/or a fine not to
exceed Rp5 billion
- Article 36
Any person who exhibits themselves or others in a performance…that
contains nudity, sexual exploitation, coital acts or other
pornographic content shall be punished with a maximum prison term of
10 years and/or a fine not to exceed Rp5 billion.
...Read full
article
Update:
Papua Protests
5th November 2008. Based on
article
from
radioaustralia.net.au
About a thousand Christians in the Indonesian province of Papua have
protested against an anti-pornography bill passed by parliament last
week, saying it conflicts with their traditional culture.
The protesters say the bill, which has the support of a number of
Islamic parties, could threaten Indonesia's national unity.
Minority groups, especially Christians and Hindus, say the new law is
too vague, and a threat to artistic, religious, and cultural freedom.
|
| 2nd November |
|
|
| |
Azerbaijan to shut out foreign broadcasters Permalink
|
Based on
article
from
austinnews.net
|
Authorities
in Azerbaijan say they plan to halt local broadcasts by foreign stations
by the end of the year.
The chairman of Azerbaijan's National Television and Radio Council,
Nushiravan Maharramli, says his country is not interested in granting
local frequencies to foreign broadcasters. He says the change will
affect the BBC and U.S. financed Voice of America and Radio Liberty.
The official says his country has been gradually implementing changes,
having previously eliminated broadcasts by Russian, French and Turkish
stations.
|
| 2nd November |
|
|
| |
Unimpressed by Indonesia's new sharia dress code bill Permalink full story: Anti-Porn Law in Indonesia...A front for the implementation of shariah
|
Based on
article
from
thejakartapost.com
|
 |
|
Indonesian bikini
compromise |
In a move of defiance against the controversial Indonesia pornography
bill, Bali's governor and speaker of the provincial legislative council
declared Friday the province would not be able to enforce the newly
passed law.
In a two-point written statement, signed by Governor Made Mangku Pastika
and Speaker Ida Bagus Putu Wesnawa, Bali made its historic mark as the
first region ever to publicly declare an inability to implement a law
passed by the House of Representatives.
With the passing of the porn bill on Thursday, we hereby declare that
we cannot carry it out because it is not in line with Balinese
philosophical and sociological values, Pastika said at the council
building here.
We further implore every element of the Balinese public to keep calm,
stay alert, not be easily provoked and maintain the appropriate
atmosphere to maintain the integrity of the Unitary State of the
Republic of Indonesia.
However, the legal force of the declaration remains unclear. Pastika did
not elaborate on how the declaration would affect the island, calling it
simply a statement from the people of Bali.
Asked whether the provincial administration would pursue a
Constitutional challenge, Pastika said he and other leaders were still
considering it, adding a legal challenge was the next most viable
option.
The previous governor, Made Dewa Beratha, even stated during the bill's
first introduction to the public in 2006 that Bali might as well
declare independence if the bill was passed.
Update:
Support
6th November 2008. Based on
article
from
thejakartapost.com
Members of Bali's tourism industry declared their support Tuesday for
efforts to legally challenge the recently passed pornography bill,
calling the bill a violation of individual rights and an egregious
monopoly on cultural values.
Head of Bali Tourism Board (BTB) Ida Bagus Ngurah Wijaya said the
industry was ready to support any legal challenge made to the
pornography bill, including the plan by the Bali People's Component (KRB)
to file a judicial review with the Constitutional Court.
He regretted the passing of the bill, saying it was a violation of
personal rights and a blatant attempt to standardize public values:
Thus we are in full support of KRB's attempt to have a judicial review
of the bill.
He further applauded the island's leaders, Bali Governor Made Mangku
Pastika and Speaker of the Bali Provincial Legislative Council (DPRD)
Ida Bagus Putu Wesnawa, who last Friday had declared that the province
would not carry out the law because it was not in line with the island's
philosophical and social values: That was indeed representative of
our Balinese feelings as a community. We salute and support the governor
and DPRD speaker.
|
| 31st October |
|
|
| |
Indonesia retreats from the civilised world Permalink full story: Anti-Porn Law in Indonesia...A front for the implementation of shariah
|
Based on
article
from
news.bbc.co.uk
|
 |
|
Indonesian bikini
compromise |
Indonesia's parliament has passed an anti-pornography law despite
furious opposition to it.
Islamic parties said the law was needed to protect women and children
against exploitation and to curb increasing immorality in Indonesian
society.
The law would ban images, gestures or talk deemed to be pornographic.
Artists, women's groups and non-Muslim minorities said they could be
victimised under the law and that traditional practices could be banned.
The law has prompted protests across Indonesia, but particularly on the
predominantly Hindu island of Bali - a favourite destination for
tourists.
Critics particularly do not like a provision in the bill that would
allow members of the public to participate in preventing the spread of
obscenity. We're worried it will be used by hard-liners who say they
want to control morality, Baby Jim Aditya, a women's rights
activist, told Associated Press news agency.
This law will ensure that Islam is preserved and guaranteed, said
Hakim Sori Muda Borhan, a member of parliament from President Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono's Democratic Party.
The bill must be signed by the president before it comes into effect.
Violators face up to 12 years in prison and hefty fines.
|
| 31st October |
|
|
| |
Reporters Without Borders condemns Turkey's censorship of Google's blog services Permalink full story: Internet Censorship in Turkey...Website blocking insults the Turkish people
|
Based on
article
from
rsf.org
See also
Turkish creationist threatens to sue website for an article about the
approach to blocking websites in Turkey
from
cyberlaw.org.uk
|
Reporters
Without Borders condemns Turkey's censorship of Google's blog services,
Blogger and Blogspot, by a magistrate's court in the southeastern city
of Diyarbakir as a result of a complaint by the Turkish TV station
Digitrk. The station claims that video footage over which it has
exclusive rights has been posted on blogs hosted by these services.
The blogs on these services were suddenly closed without any warning
to users and without any court summonses being issued, Reporters
Without Borders said: This is not just about copyright and piracy.
This is yet another example of how, in Turkey, entire websites are
closed just because of problematic content on a single page or blog. We
call for Blogger and Blogspot to be reopened. Their closure has
handicapped thousands of Internet users in Turkey.
Access to some 10 websites, including very popular ones such as YouTube,
Dailymotion and Google Groups, have been blocked in the course of this
year in Turkey as a result of court decisions. In most cases, access was
blocked under Law 5651 on the Prevention of Crime Committed in the
Information Technology Domain, which was adopted by parliament in May
2007 and took effect the following November.
Reporters Without Borders warned of the danger this law represents for
online free expression when it was approved by President Ahmet Necdet
Sezer on 22 May 2007.
Commenting on the latest developments, Reporters Without Borders said:
All this arbitrary blocking of websites has demonstrated that this
law is the main source for the deterioration in online free expression.
Furthermore, ISPs are forced to do the blocking of access to sites that
break this law. This makes them accomplices to censorship.
The press freedom organisation added: We call for Law 5651 to be
amended as quickly as possible. Rather than block an entire website,
only the content regarded as 'sensitive' should be the challenged before
the courts.
List of websites currently blocked in Turkey
- www.blogger.com
- www.blogspot.com
- www.youtube.com
- www.slide.com
- www.googlegroups.com
- www.antoloji.com
- www.gundemonline.com
- www.wordpress.com
- www.geocities.com
- www.kliptube.com
- istanbul.indymedia.org
- www.eksisozluk.com
- www.gazetevatan.com
- ateizm.org
- superonline.com
- richarddawkins.net
|
| 31st October |
|
|
| |
China orders the closure of 10 online video sites Permalink
|
Based on
article
from
itworld.com
|
China's
Internet censor has ordered 10 online video sites to shut down and
warned another 17, resuming an aggressive policy on such sites that had
been relaxed during the summer.
The State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) said in a
notice on its Web site that under the Internet Audio Video Program
Service Management Regulations, there are still some Web sites posting
audio and video programs containing pornography, violence and terror,
endangering national security.
The 10 sites ordered to shut down include minor local sites, such as
TVSou.com, TSXZ.com and Feesee.com.
Another 17 sites were officially warned to comply with SARFT
regulations, including 371dvd.com, which on Tuesday prominently
displayed director Gu Changwei's banned film Spring Begins (Li Chun)
as one of its offerings, VeryCD.com and JPSeek.com.
|
| 31st October |
|
|
| |
Canadian court that hyperlinks to defamatory material are not themselves defamatory Permalink
|
Based on
article
from
out-law.com
|
The
publisher of a link to defamatory material does not have any liability
for that defamation, a Canadian court has ruled. Liability could only
exist if the link publisher made any statement relating to the
defamatory material itself, the court said.
Mr Justice Kelleher in the Supreme Court of British Columbia in Canada
ruled that a hyperlink was like a footnote in that it led to material
produced by a third party which the reader did not have to follow. The
publisher of the link could not be liable for someone else's content, he
said.
Although a hyperlink provides immediate access to material published
on another website, this does not amount to republication of the content
on the originating site. This is especially so as a reader may or may
not follow the hyperlinks provided, he said.
|
| 30th October |
|
|
| |
Reversing the social decay in Indonesia Permalink full story: Anti-Porn Law in Indonesia...A front for the implementation of shariah
|
Based on
article
from
pr-inside.com
|
 |
|
Indonesian bikini
compromise |
Hundreds of demonstrators in the Indonesian capital called on the
government Wednesday to push through a controversial anti-pornography
bill, saying it was the only way to reverse signs of social decay in the
world's most populous Muslim nation.
The nearly 300 protesters in Jakarta pointed to everything from racy
television ads and movies to touts selling Playboy magazine at
stoplights as reasons the bill must pass.
I don't want my children to go to hell because we allow pornography,
said Siti, a demonstrator.
More than 100 lawmakers stormed out of Parliament on Thursday to protest
an anti-pornography bill.
But a vote on the legislation was expected to go ahead later in
the afternoon.
The bill, which outlaws pornographic acts and images, is opposed by
members of two parties, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP)
and the Christian-based Prosperous Peace Party, which together have 122
seats in the 550-seat Parliament.
They showed their displeasure by walking out, but the speaker of the
house said a quorum had been reached, so the vote could go ahead.
|
| 29th October |
|
|
| |
Thailand to buy firewall system to censor the internet Permalink full story: Internet Censorship in Thailand...Thailand implements mass website blocking
|
Based on
article
from
bangkokpost.com
|
The
Information and Communications Technology Ministry is to introduce an
internet gateway system to block websites containing content Thailand
doesn't like. ICT Minister Mun Patanotai will also hold a meeting with
webmasters today to discuss measures to suppress lese majeste material.
The gateway system, which could cost between 100 and 500 million baht,
could will be used to block websites considered inappropriate, such as
those of terrorist groups or selling pornography.
However, the ministry will focus first on websites with content deemed
insulting to the Thai monarchy, Mun said. Ministry officials are looking
into about a thousand websites, he said. Mun said the ministry has been
working with the National Intelligence Agency and the police in cracking
down on anti-royal sites.
Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat said he has assigned relevant agencies,
particularly the ICT Ministry, to take strong action against offenders.
Special Branch Police are monitoring five community radio stations that
are also airing political content that could be considered lese majeste,
a source said.
Ayutthaya Governor Preecha Kamolbut has ordered authorities to monitor
all provincial community radio and cable TV stations around the clock.
The police ordered officers to take immediate action against offenders
without waiting for complaints.
|
| 29th October |
|
|
| |
Multinational computer companies unveil initiative to better support human rights Permalink full story: Supporting Internet Censorship...US multi-nationals support repressive censorship
|
Based on
article
from
marketwatch.com
See
Roadmap for free expression
from
indexoncensorship.org
|
Congressman
Howard L. Berman, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, welcomed the
unveiling of the Global Network Initiative by a diverse group of information and
communication companies and human rights organizations.
The initiative recognizes that all companies have a responsibility to protect
against human rights violations, especially by authoritarian governments like
China, Iran and the UK.
It's about time, Berman said: This initiative is an important, yet
only a first step in better protecting freedoms of expression and privacy.
Technology companies and human rights groups that join the initiative agree to
abide by a set of operating principles that are based upon internationally
recognized human rights standards.
Under the agreement, participating companies would face yearly reviews to ensure
that they are advancing rights of expression and privacy in their business
operations. Members of the initiative intend to make the program a standard for
companies around the world.
|
| 29th October |
|
|
| |
Indonesia dress code lynch mob bill set to be passed Permalink full story: Anti-Porn Law in Indonesia...A front for the implementation of shariah
|
Based on
article
from
old.thejakartapost.com
|
 |
|
Indonesian bikini
compromise |
Most factions in the House of Representatives are pushing for the
controversial pornography bill to be passed Thursday, despite a threat
by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) to boycott the
move and rejection from several provinces.
The passage of the bill was made possible after eight of the 10 factions
at the House accepted the draft Tuesday. The PDI-P walked out of the
deliberation process and the Prosperous Peace Party (PDS) rejected it.
Yes, we will pass the bill on Oct. 30, chairman of the special
committee deliberating the bill Balkan Kaplale said.
The PDI-P walked out of deliberations for the second time after it was
unsuccessful in its last-ditch attempt to change the definition of
pornography and to remove an article that allows public participation in
preventing pornography.
The current draft defines pornography as man-made sexual materials
either in the forms of drawings, sketches, illustrations, photographs,
texts, voices, sound, moving pictures, animations, cartoons, poetry,
conversations, gestures, or other forms of communicative messages
through various kinds of media; and or performances in front of the
public, which may incite sexual desire and or violate moral ethics in
the community.
Articles 21 to 23 allow for the public to play a role in preventing
pornography. It will justify people taking the law into their own hands,
PDI-P lawmaker Eva K. Sundari said. Eva said she had already received
text messages from several groups saying they would ensure the law was
enforced.
It confirms our suspicion that it can spark conflict given that even
though there is no law now, some groups have dared to attack others
right under the nose of police. What will happen if they take the law
into their own hands, given our weak law enforcement?.
|
| 29th October |
|
|
| |
Prosecutors appeal for longer sentence for British couple caught kissing on the beach Permalink full story: Dangerous Fun in Dubai...Sex outside marriage illegal for all
|
Based on
article
from
telegraph.co.uk
|
Two
Britons who fornicated on a Dubai beach could face longer jail terms
after prosecutors appealed the sentence.
Michelle Palmer and Vince Acors were convicted at Dubai's Court of First
Instance earlier this month. They were sentenced to three months behind
bars, fined 1,000 dirhams – £155 – and issued with deportation orders.
Hassan Matter, who represents Palmer and Acors, said prosecutors have
now lodged an appeal against the sentence, saying it was not enough.
Mr Matter said the prosecution appeal would be heard on November 18 – at
the same time as the defence argument. Last week, Mr Matter lodged an
appeal against the convictions.
Following the convictions of Palmer and Acors, on October 16, senior
persecutor Faisal Abdelmalek Ahli said he was disappointed at the length
of the sentence: It's very light. It's normal for a sentence to be
six months to a year for an offence such as this.
|
| 28th October |
|
|
| |
Moroccan youngster jailed for insult of king with a minor quip Permalink full story: Royal Censorship in Morocco...Law puts the Moroccan king above comment
|
Based on
article
from
news.bbc.co.uk
|
A
Moroccan youngster, aged 18, has been jailed for insulting the king,
after replacing the monarch's name with that of his favourite football
club.
He altered the phrase God, The Nation, The King on the school
blackboard to read God, The Nation, Barcelona.
FC Barcelona says it has appointed a lawyer to look into whether they
can help the boy, within the framework of Moroccan law.
The family of the boy, Yassine Belassal, is appealing against the
ruling, and his father told the BBC he was preparing to write a letter
to King Mohamed VI asking for a royal pardon.
An internet campaign is also under way to have Belassel freed.
Update:
Unappealing Result
13th November 2008. Based on
article
from
amnesty.org
The Marrakesh Court of Appeals in Morocco has upheld a lower court's
guilty verdict against an 18-year-old student for insulting the King.
Yassin Bellasal was sentenced to a one-year suspended prison term and a
fine of 1,000 dirhams (approximately US$115).
Amnesty International said that the verdict serves to confirm that the
monarchy remains a taboo topic in Morocco and shed a different
light on the image projected by the Moroccan authorities of a state,
where respect for human rights has greatly improved.
|
| 26th October |
|
|
| |
South Korea restricts soldier's reading matter Permalink
|
Based on
article
from
koreatimes.co.kr
|
In
an unprecedented move, a group of military law officers filed a petition
with the South Korean Constitutional Court, demanding the Ministry of
National Defense's ban on dozens of bad influence books be
lifted.
Seven officers submitted the petition, arguing the censorship infringes
on soldiers' basic rights.
It is a basic right guaranteed by the Constitution to read books for
gaining knowledge and pursuing happiness,' said Choi Kang-wook, a
lawyer representing the petitioners: There is no argument for
limiting their rights just because they are in the military, or that
they must accept unfairness because they are soldiers.'
Their action angered the ministry. It's not appropriate as the
officers are tasked with enforcing law within the military, Defense
Minister Lee Sang-hee said during a parliamentary audit of his ministry.
I will order the Army Chief of Staff to take steps after reviewing
whether their act violates work-related discipline.
In July, the ministry announced 23 books that soldiers should not read.
The seditious books include Bad Samaritans, by Chang Ha-joon,
a professor at Cambridge University, Year 501: The Conquest Continues
by Noam Chomsky, a U.S. author and linguist and Hyeon Gi-yeong's novel,
A Spoon on Earth.
Those books were categorized by the ministry into three categories and
claimed the books could have a bad influence on soldiers.
- pro-North Korea
- anti-government
- anti-U.S. or anti-capitalism
Ironically, many of the books banned by the ministry have drawn
public interest and made the best sellers list at large bookstores in
recent months.
|
| 26th October |
|
|
| |
Internet censorship in Canada Permalink full story: Internet Surveillance in Canada...Telecommunications monitoring
|
See
article
from
xtra.ca
|
For
most people sex and the internet are as natural a pairing as apple pie
and motherhood.
But increasingly the easy access to pornography that so many have
enjoyed for so long is being regulated, filtered and censored by a
combination of government, law enforcement, internet service providers
(ISPs) and moral busybodies.
Free speech activists say what we're seeing now is the beginning of
internet censorship, with the regulation and removal of child porn as
the initial motivation.
There are efforts to combat images of the sexual abuse of
prepubescent children and the major ISPs are involved, says Nart
Villeneuve, a research fellow at the University of Toronto's Citizen Lab
— which has done work with Chinese bloggers and dissidents on how to
avoid internet censorship — in an email. "They filter access to a
small amount of sites that host this stuff and have review/complaint
procedures and do not appear to be overblocking.
But once the infrastructure for filtering is in place — for any reason,
though porn is usually the first excuse — there is an incentive to
increase its use. I see 'mission creep' all the time where once in
place, filtering is extended to cover content areas that were not in the
original mandate.
...Read full
article
|
| 25th October |
|
|
| |
Apologies all round for Enfield's Filipina maid gag Permalink full story: Harry Enfield...LoadsaComplaints about Harry Enfield
|
Based on
article
from
newsflash.org
See the
sketch
|
The
BBC has apologized to the Philippines for the skit in the comedy show
Harry and Paul that was said to have portrayed Filipino women
as sex objects.
BBC director general Mark Thompson apologized, in a letter dated Oct.
10, 2008, to Philippine Ambassador to the Court of St. James Edgardo
Espiritu, for the offense caused by the episode of Harry and Paul.
The apology came following a letter sent last Oct. 3 by Espiritu to BBC
Trust Chairman Sir Michael Lyons expressing the ambassador's dismay.
The episode angered some of the 200,000-strong Filipino community in the
United Kingdom and prompted some leaders of the community to put up an
online petition where Filipinos could lodge their protest against BBC
and the show's producer, Tiger Aspect Productions. The online petition
gathered more than 2,000 supporters within three days.
Simultaneous silent vigils were also held on Oct. 17 in front of the BBC
office in White City, just outside central London, and Tiger Aspect
Productions in Soho in central London.
Tiger Aspect Productions Chief Executive Andrew Zane issued an apology
before the members of the Filipino community who joined the Soho vigil:
We're sorry to anyone who was in any way offended by the programme.
This certainly was not our intention.
|
| 25th October |
|
|
| |
Bahrain councillors get all het up over underwear Permalink
|
Based on
article
from
gulf-daily-news.com
|
Advertising
across a large area of Bahrain could soon be torn down for being too
sexy.
The Central Municipal Council is drafting a law that would allow them to
ban advertising that is too provocative, claiming it was
equivalent to pornography.
It is also seeking a clampdown on lingerie shops that display immoral
skimpy underwear in their windows, which councillors have claimed flouts
religious values.
Street advertisements are getting outrageous, said councillor
Sadiq Rabea'a, who co-sponsored the proposal: Some are crossing the
line with women wearing tight-fitting dresses, dancing around and
legalising sexual scenes for our children to witness.
Councillor Abdulrazzaq Al Hattab also sponsored the initiative, saying
his constituency in Riffa was a hotbed of illicit imagery: Showcasing
lingerie for everyone to see is against our Islamic culture and is
considered immoral.
The issue has now been referred to the council's technical and financial
committee, which will study the proposal and present a report at the
council's next meeting.
|
| 25th October |
|
|
| |
Turkey blocks considerable number of bloggers at Blogger.com Permalink full story: Internet Censorship in Turkey...Website blocking insults the Turkish people
|
Based on
article
from
cyberlaw.org.uk
|
As
of today access to the popular blogging website Blogger.com has been
blocked in Turkey.
A blocking order was issued by Diyarbakir First Criminal Court
of Peace.
The reason for issuing the order ban is unknown but a considerable
number of Turkish users are affected.
Update:
Football Rights Freakery
27th October 2008
It is now being reported by Turk.internet.com that the blocking order
is related to an intellectual property infringement. Digitrk is a
subscription based digital TV platform in Turkey which owns the right to
transmit the live coverage of the Turkish football league games.
Digitrk obtained the blocking order through the Diyarbakir court
according to the Turk.internet.com news as there were blog entries
providing information and links to known websites which transmit pirated
transmission of the live football league games.
|
| 25th October |
|
|
| |
Author censored by Algerian police Permalink
|
Based on
article
from
ifex.org
|
The
Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) has condemned a recent
Algerian police order which prevents the publication of respected Algerian
journalist Mohamed Benchicou's book, The Free Man's Journal (Journal
d'un homme libre). The injunction has prevented the journalist from
presenting his book at the 13th International Book Fair in Algiers.
This is the second time that Algerian police have used such brutal
censorship against the author. At the same time last year, police issued an
order to stop the production of Benchicou's book, The Jails of Algiers.
This is a blatant intervention in publishing affairs, which are legally
protected by the Algerian constitution, which outlaws censorship unless it
happens as a result of a judicial order.
The refusal to print Benchicou's new book is part of a systematic campaign
of harassment against him by the Algerian government. He was held in prison
from 2004 to 2006 and his newspaper Le Matin was closed down two
years ago in retaliation for releasing a book called Bouteflika: The
Algerian Trick in 2004. In this book, Benchicou courageously criticised
the prevailing corruption in Algeria under current president Abdelaziz
Bouteflika.
|
| 23rd October |
|
|
| |
Gears of War 2 banned in Germany and maybe Japan Permalink
|
Based on
article
from
edge-online.com
Available at
UK Amazon for release on
7th November 2008
|
A
Microsoft spokesperson has told Edge that Epic's long-awaited Gears
of War 2 game will not be released in Japan.
We can confirm that Gears of War 2 will not be available in Germany
or Japan indefinitely said the spokesperson.
The reasons why the game will not be released remain unclear. In May
this year Germany's ratings organization declined to issue the game an
age certificate.
The BBFC passed Gears of War 2, 18 uncut.
Update: Evidently this story is causing
waves within Microsoft. A spokesperson has contacted us to clarify
that no announcement has been made about plans for Gears of
War 2 in Japan.
|
| 23rd October |
|
|
| |
Fallout 3 banned in India Permalink full story: Fallout 3...World censors ban Fallout 3
|
Based on
article
from
gamingindians.com
The cut version of the game is available at
UK Amazon
|
Microsoft
India has announced that it has cancelled its plans to release
Fallout 3 for the Xbox 360 in India. A press statement
issued by Microsoft states that the game included certain
content that could potentially hurt Indian sensibilities.
Here's the statement from Microsoft India:
Microsoft constantly endeavors to bring the best games to Indian
consumers in sync with their international release. However, in
light of cultural sensitivities in India, we have made the
business decision to not bring Fallout 3 into the
country.
Games fail to release in India for various reasons - high
prices, lack of distribution - but cultural sensitivities
is a first.
Perhaps something to do with the ever more
unstable country next door with nuclear weapons.
|
| 23rd October |
|
|
| |
Who's behind the mysterious shutdown of jihad sites Permalink
|
Based on
article
from
guardian.co.uk
|
 |
|
No Comment |
Websites being used to disseminate propaganda by al-Qaida appear to have
come under systematic cyber-attack, forcing the closure of three for
well over a month and fuelling speculation that governments are
targeting them in a shadowy new front in the war on terror.
Al-Ekhlas, al-Buraq and al-Firdaws, all linked to al-Fajr - the media
distribution arm of al-Qaida - have been down since just before
September 11, when the broadcast of a video commemorating the 2001
attacks was inexplicably delayed.
All have suffered occasional disruption but this is the longest period
they have been out of action. Al-Fajr blamed technical problems and
denied that the sites had fallen into the hands of the enemy.
Yet suspicions of a deliberate disruption campaign have been fuelled by
the fact that a fourth website, al-Hesbah, continues to operate
unimpeded, with several experts suggesting it may be being used by Saudi
intelligence to monitor and entrap jihadi militants.
But the episode remains shrouded in mystery. All four sites posted
material produced by as-Sahhab, al-Qaida's slick media production arm -
mostly video clips of martyrdom operations in Iraq, Afghanistan
and elsewhere - as well as statements by Osama bin Laden and his
Egyptian deputy, Ayman al-Zawahiri.
Two of the sites suffered problems in June but then resumed normal
service. I think what happened in June was a trial run for what took
place in September, said William McCants, a consultant at West Point
military academy who runs the Jihadica.com website.
Rumours of joint Anglo-US operations have surfaced but neither
government will confirm involvement. Such sabotage would be illegal. UK
security officials have spoken of an aggressive new effort to
counter al-Qaida internet propaganda.
I think it's probably being orchestrated by several governments and
it would have to be on the black operations [illegal but deniable] side,
McCants said. Whoever is doing this knows what they are doing. They
are being surgically precise.
Anne Hennesen, of Norway's Defence Research Establishment, said:
There must be a big organisation behind this. It seems to me perfectly
reasonable to assume that this is the work of an intelligence agency.
Another theory is that al-Qaida sympathisers closed the forums
themselves because they were too good a source of intelligence for their
enemies.
|
| 21st October |
|
|
| |
British couple caught kissing on the beach appeal Permalink full story: Dangerous Fun in Dubai...Sex outside marriage illegal for all
|
Based on
article
from
thescotsman.scotsman.com
|
Two
Britons found guilty of having sex on a Dubai beach have lodged an
appeal against their conviction.
Hassan Matter, who represents them, said the appeal hearing would take
place in Dubai on 18 November.
I made the appeal today, said Mr Matter. We say they are not
guilty.
Michelle Palmer and Vince Acors remain on bail ahead of next month's
hearing.
|
| 20th October |
|
|
| |
Turkish military to 'teach' journalists about terrorism reporting Permalink
|
Based on
article
from
turkishdailynews.com.tr
|
A
proposal by the head of the television and radio watchdog to enlist the
military to 'teach' reporters about writing articles on terrorism has
raised fear among journalists who believe this may lead to censorship or
self-censorship
The first striking thing about the proposal is that it covers only
terrorism news, said Ercan Ipekçi, the chairman of the Turkish
Journalists' Union: and secondly, it is run by an institution that
has authority over the public. It is not a vocational training. It will
tell journalists how to censor news on terrorism rather than how to
write it objectively.
Zahid Akman, president of the Supreme Board of Radio and Television, or
RTK, proposed several days ago that reporters be given 'education'
seminars on terrorism at the National Security Academy: We are doing
this to prevent coverage that does not help combat terrorism.
|
| 20th October |
|
|
| |
Indonesia dress code bill to exempt tourist bikinis Permalink full story: Anti-Porn Law in Indonesia...A front for the implementation of shariah
|
Based on
article
from
old.thejakartapost.com
|
 |
|
Indonesian bikini
compromise |
The Indonesian House of Representatives' special committee debating the
controversial 'pornography' bill will allow tourists to wear bikinis at
tourist resorts in a bid to ensure tourism is not negatively affected by
the controversial legislation.
Tourists are allowed to wear bikinis in tourism resorts like Bali and
Parang Tritis beach (in Yogyakarta). The porn bill will treat
recreational and leisure areas differently, lawmaker Husein Abdul
Azis of the Democratic Party said.
There have been fears among domestic tourism operators that the bill
would deter tourists from visiting because it would recquire them to
wear appropriate covering.
Head of the House's special committee deliberating the morality bill,
Balkan Kaplale, said his team had made some changes to contentious
articles in the bill, finalizing the terms before lawmakers begin their
recess period starting on Oct. 30.
I can say there have been drastic changes in the bill, said
Balkan of the Golkar Party. The changes act as a compromise to the
growing opposition movements to the bill.
Lawmakers are still discussing the much criticized definition of
pornography which includes anything in life even remotely sexy. Article
1 of the bill defines pornography as any man-made work that includes
sexual material in the form of drawings, sketches, illustrations,
photographs, text, sound, moving pictures, animation, cartoons, poetry,
conversations or any other form of communicative message.
|
| 20th October |
|
|
| |
Filmakers detained over interviews with Tibetan residents Permalink
|
Based on
article
from
cpj.org
|
The
Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the detention in western China
of a filmmaker and his assistant, who have been held for nearly seven
months after taping interviews with Tibetan residents about their lives
under Chinese government rule. Police in the western province of Qinghai
arrested filmmaker Dhondup Wangchen and assistant Jigme Gyatso, a
Buddhist monk, in March, their production company, Filming for Tibet,
recently disclosed.
The arrests came shortly after they sent footage filmed in Tibet to the
production company, which is headed by a relative of Wangchen in
Switzerland. A 25-minute film titled Jigdrel, or Leaving Fear
Behind, was produced from the footage and is available online. The
film was intended to shed light on the lives of Tibetans in China in the
run-up to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
|
| 20th October |
|
|
| |
Indian Supreme Court petitioned to censor TV Permalink full story: TV Censorship in India...India considers the regulation of TV for adults
|
Based on
article
from
itexaminer.com
|
The
Supreme Court of India is displeased with the quality of television
programmes shown these days, and after hearing a Public Interest
Litigation by an NGO, is considering regulating TV programmes to curb
obscenity.
The NGO raised the question, Can there be a day in 365 days a family
can sit together and watch TV without an assault on basic values?.
On receiving the petition, the court immediately issued a notice, in
response to which TV channels have formed a separate body, headed by
former Chief Justice of India JS Varma, for self regulation. State
government is now being consulted on the proposed bill to regulate TV
channels.
The petition so far has received mixed reactions from Judges on the
bench. Justice Aftab Alam said, It is a delicate issue. I cannot be
deciding what people want to see and appoint myself a guardian.
Justice GS Singhvi's reaction seemed to be in favour of regulation. He
referred to two unforgettable incidents shown on TV: a person in Patiala
immolating himself , and a man in Hyderabad who threw himself from the
fifth floor of a building.
The judges have three weeks to consider the case, but it is hard to see
how strict rules can be applied. Indian epics such as the Mahabharata
contain a considerable amount of bloodshed and violence. Will such shows
disappear from television?
|
| 19th October |
|
|
| |
Beijing to demand photos of internet cafe users Permalink
|
Based on
article
from
technology.timesonline.co.uk
|
All
visitors to internet cafés in Beijing are to be required to have their
photographs taken in a stringent new control on the public use of
cyberspace.
According to the latest rules, by mid-December all internet cafés in the
main 14 city districts must install cameras to record the identities of
their web surfers, who must by law be 18 or over.
It has been several years since internet cafés were required to register
users to ensure that customers were not under-age. All photographs and
scanned identity cards will be entered into a city-wide database run by
the Cultural Law Enforcement Taskforce. The details will be available in
any internet café.
The Times searched for online comments on the rules but was unable to
find any — often a sign that most commentary has been critical and has
therefore been erased. However, a survey by the internet version of the
People's Daily showed that 72% of respondents were opposed to the
measure, calling it an infringement of their rights. Just over 26%
supported the photographing because it would benefit children.
|
| 18th October |
|
|
| |
Foreign press interviews will continue to not need Chinese government consent Permalink
|
Based on
article
from
news.bbc.co.uk
|
China
has extended some of the rules that gave foreign reporters greater
freedom during the Beijing Olympics.
State news agency Xinhua said the temporary arrangement for the games,
due to expire on Friday, would become standard practice.
It means journalists can continue to conduct interviews without applying
to the authorities for permission.
Correspondents say the move to extend the rules has been eagerly awaited
and is a sign of China's commitment to allow foreign journalists more
freedom to report on a permanent basis.
But it is not clear whether other measures will remain in place, such as
those which allowed journalists to travel freely around the country
without the supervision of a foreign ministry official.
They were introduced in January last year and covered foreign
journalists who wanted to report on Olympic-related issues.
|
| 17th October |
|
|
| |
Turkey blocks major newspaper website after complaints from creationist nutter Permalink full story: Internet Censorship in Turkey...Website blocking insults the Turkish people
|
Based on
article
from
guardian.co.uk
|
The
website of Turkey's third largest-selling newspaper has been blocked
after a complaint by an Islamic creationist.
Turkish internet users are now denied access to the Vatan newspaper's
website,
gazetevatan.com, after a court decided it had insulted Adnan Oktar,
a prolific nutter writer who disputes the theory of evolution. It is
believed to be the first major newspaper site to be blocked. About 850
sites are already blocked.
Oktar, who last month successfully had the website of the British
evolutionist Richard Dawkins blocked in Turkey, complained that he had
been defamed in readers' comments to stories on the online edition of
Vatan, a liberal publication.
His spokeswoman, Seda Aral, claimed the comments included obscenities
and said the newspaper had ignored requests to remove them. We are
trying to protect ourselves, she said: Vatan is always
propagating against Mr Oktar and constantly publishes allegations about
him. When people read these they are provoked into using these insults
against him.
Critics say Turkey's penal code makes it too easy to obtain blocking
orders, although in practice prohibitions are often easily overcome
through proxy servers.
|
| 17th October |
|
|
| |
Dubai kisses goodbye to its popularity as a tourist destination Permalink full story: Dangerous Fun in Dubai...Sex outside marriage illegal for all
|
Based on
article
from
telegraph.co.uk
|
Two
Britons who have been jailed for three months for a sexual liaison on a
beach in Dubai insist they are "innocent" and will appeal against their
sentence.
Michelle Palmer and Vince Acors met at a £60 all-you-can-drink champagne
brunch in July and were arrested hours later by police who claimed they
had been having sex on the public Jumeirah beach.
Judge Hamdi Abul Khair, who has presided over their case at Dubai's
Court of First Instance, sentenced them to three months imprisonment,
fined them 1,000 dirhams (£155) each for drinking alcohol and ordered
their deportation after their sentence.
But he did not make clear whether the sentence related purely to the
charge of indecent behaviour or the charge of sex outside marriage.
The unfortunate couple will remain on bail in Dubai pending the appeal,
which will be lodged after the judge issues a formal explanation of his
verdict, in two weeks.
Hassan Mattar, defence lawyer for the pair, said: "The verdict shows
that the judge was convinced that they did not have sexual intercourse
but he punished them for the indecent act of kissing (in public).
Senior persecutor Faisal Abdelmalek Ahli said: The sentence is rather
light. I expect the prosecution to appeal.
Under the law of the United Arab Emirates, of which Dubai is part, the
maximum sentence for sexual intercourse outside of marriage is one year
imprisonment and the minimum is three months, he said. The same applies
for committing an indecent act in public.
Ahli said he expected Acors and Palmer to serve their full three-month
term in Dubai: Sometimes people serve half their sentence, but this
is so short I expect they will serve it all.
|
| 14th October |
|
|
| |
Balinese protest again against pornography bill Permalink full story: Anti-Porn Law in Indonesia...A front for the implementation of shariah
|
Based on
article
from
afp.google.com
|
Thousands
of protesters rallied on the Indonesian holiday island of Bali on
Saturday to demonstrate against an anti-pornography bill denounced by
critics as a threat to national unity.
More than 5,000 protesters surged through the streets of the mostly
Hindu island's capital in opposition to the bill under deliberation in
Jakarta.
The bill, which looked set to be passed several weeks ago but has been
pushed back amid a public outcry, criminalises all public acts and
material capable of raising sexual desires or violating community
morality.
Protesters denounced the proposed law as too broad and a threat to local
customs on the island, where naked temple statues proliferate and
skimpily dressed foreign tourists relax on beaches.
Demonstrators turned up to the rally in traditional Balinese clothes
including semi-see-through temple blouses, saying such clothes could be
deemed too suggestive if the law was passed.
|
| 12th October |
|
|
| |
Another Canadian rights tribunal clears Maclean's magazine Permalink full story: Human Rights in Canada...Canada's Human Rights works against free speech
|
Based on
article
from
ca.reuters.com
|
Another
rights tribunal has dismissed a case against Canada's Maclean's
magazine, which was accused of spreading hatred against Muslims in an
article by conservative writer Mark Steyn.
The 2006 article The New Word Order may have caused some to fear
Muslims as a threat to western society, but that did not mean that it
promoted religious hatred, the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal
ruled.
The article, with all of its inaccuracies and hyperbole, has resulted
in political debate which in our view (the human rights code) was never
intended to suppress, the three-member panel ruled.
Media and civil rights groups had opposed the complaint against
Maclean's by the Canadian Islamic Congress, fearing that a ruling
against the national newsweekly would lead to restrictions on freedom of
the press.
The Canadian Islamic Congress lost similar complaints against the
Maclean's article in Ontario and before the Canadian Human Rights
Commission.
|
| 12th October |
|
|
| |
Extreme version promises for No More Heroes 2 Permalink
|
Based on
article
from
bit-tech.net
|
Grasshopper
Manufacture has confirmed that the sequel to last year's slash 'em up
No More Heroes will be getting two different UK releases to help
please fans who want an extra-gory version.
The original version of No More Heroes was an extra-gory and
in-your-face game that had buckets of blood, harsh language and men on
toilets - though a lot of this was toned down for the UK version after
pressure about the needless violence.
Suda 51 is now hoping that by offering two versions of the game the
sequel will be able to keep all the fans happy.
We won't be able to make the same game for all territories, Suda
51 said in interview with Eurogamer at the Tokyo Game Show: For
Europe, we're going to release two versions. One extreme version, and
one with less violence.
The sequel will be called No More Heroes: Desperate Struggle
Comment:
No More Censors
12th October from Alan
Just a small correction. It's stated that after pressure the UK got a
toned down version of the first game.
In fact, here in the UK we got the proper, original, directors cut
version.
It was only for the American release that extra blood etc was added in
an attempt to appeal to a certain market segment.
So we didn't lose stuff from our proper version - they got extra stuff
that the designers really didn't want to have there.
|
| 10th October |
|
|
| |
Turkey will block and ban until internet is child safe Permalink full story: Internet Censorship in Turkey...Website blocking insults the Turkish people
|
Based on
article
from
hurriyet.com.tr
|
Websites
will continue to be banned as long as they post content
inappropriate for Turkish families, a Turkish minister has said.
Practices are needed to protect young people and the public
at large from harmful material online, the Turkish Daily
News (TDN) quoted Transportation Minister Binali Yildirim as
speaking at the international CeBit Information Technology
Summit.
Law 5651 sees as appropriate the establishment of precautions
against material that might hurt children, youth and families.
If these precautions are not enough, then the law sees a Website
ban as necessary, he said.
Turkey is listed together with Tunisia, North Korea, Saudi
Arabia, Turkmenistan, Iran and Vietnam, as the “black listed”
countries that implement government censorship controls.
The purpose of the law was not to actually shut down Websites...BUT...was
to encourage the appropriate use of the Internet for the
betterment of society, he added.
|
| 8th October |
|
|
| |
Hong Kong review their obscenity laws Permalink
|
Based on
article
from
xbiz.com
|
Hong
Kong's government has begun reviewing its laws governing obscene
material in a public process that is expected to continue through
January.
Public opinion surveys and an online discussion forum will be used to
gather opinion for the review, and area representatives will be invited
to participate in focus group discussions.
The current Control of Obscene and Indecent Articles Ordinance was
enacted in the late 1980s.
The topics for consideration and possible revision in the law review
include the definitions of obscenity and indecency, the adjudicating
system, the classification system, regulation of new forms of media,
enforcement and penalties, and publicity and public education.
The Hong Kong government plans to use information from the review
process to prepare proposals for a second round of public consultation
in 2009.
|
| 7th October |
|
|
| |
Thai newspapers addicted to nonsense surveys Permalink full story: Grand Theft Auto IV...Grand Theft Auto IV brings out the nutters
|
See
editorial
from
nationmultimedia.com
|
A
survey from the Thai Culture Ministry revealed that children spent
around 2 hours a day playing computer games. About 80% of them
choose the combat-style, action-packed games, some of which come
with graphic and violent images. The addiction can affect their
personality as they become more prone to bursts of anger and
violence. Without proper guidance, some are unable to distinguish
between fantasy and the real world.
But why do children prefer to spend hours and hours playing these
games? A survey conducted last year showed that:
- 79% of youngsters said they became addicted to computer games to
relieve stress
- 68% said they were lonely
- 21% cent said that they wanted to improve the computer skills
- 18% said they wanted to meet new friends in cyberspace.
[So 80% of Thai youngsters suffer from
stress? Strange that no youngsters play games simply because they are
fun]
Now that the youngsters have told us about their problems, it's time
for the adults to step in to help them. The adults should provide them
with better and constructive recreation activities to help them deal
with stress. Constructive activities such as sports or music for
instance can also help them develop their thinking and personalities
during their formative years.
|
| 7th October |
|
|
| |
Actress suicide spurs further repression of Korean forum posters Permalink full story: Internet Censorship in South Korea...Repressive new internet censorship law
|
Based on
article
from
koreatimes.co.kr
|
The
suicide of iconic actress Choi Jin-sil has policymakers moving quickly to
strengthen identity verification at South Korean websites supposedly to
discourage cyber bullying and malicious online messages.
The 40-year-old Choi, one of the country's most popular entertainers of the past
two decades, was found dead at her home in southern Seoul in an apparent
suicide, and family members and friends claim she had been distressed from
harassment on the Internet.
The Korea Communications Commission (KCC), the country's broadcasting and
telecommunications regulator, said Internet users will be required to confirm
their identity to post comments or participate in online discussions at popular
Web sties starting next month.
This means that users will have to type in their resident registration numbers,
a 13-digit code that indicates birth date, sex and registration site, or
I-PIN numbers, a personal identification code for online use, to leave messages.
The identity verification system is already mandated to 37 of the biggest
Internet portals and online news sites that have more than 200,000 visitors in
daily traffic. The KCC is looking to expand the rules to sites with more than
100,000 visitors, whose number currently reaches 178 sites.
The operators of the Web sites will be required to disclose the identities of
bloggers accused of cyber attacks on request of police or victims seeking legal
action, government officials said.
It could be said that the system will be expanded to virtually all, commonly
used Web sites that have message boards,' said Kim Yeong-joo, an official
from KCC's network ethics team. Granting approval by the Cabinet, the new
regulations will kick in sometime in November, Kim said.
And the KCC plans to rewrite the telecommunications law to mandate Web sites to
immediately pull any articles deemed as slanderous for a minimum 30 days before
arbitration were subjected to heated debate among lawmakers.
|
| 6th October |
|
|
| |
Psychiatrists look to ban Dementium: The Ward game Permalink
|
Based on
article
from
multiplayerblog.mtv.com
Dementium: The Ward is available at
UK Amazon
|
Japanese
newspaper Sankei Shimbun reported that the Japanese Association of
Psychiatric Hospitals has asked the distributor Interchannel to pull DS
game Dementium: The Ward from store shelves.
Released in Japan in June, Dementium is survival horror
first-person shooter with a plot that has the protagonist in a
dilapidated hospital filled with gruesome surgical experiments.
It seems that the organization was concerned that the game might
encourage discrimination and prejudice against those with
psychiatric disorders.
Maker Gamecock's said that this story, like many before it, boils
down to a lack of understanding or appreciation (and therefore fear of)
games outside our little sub-culture. I'm sure the people involved have
only the best intentions. The co-publisher/distributor for the game in
Japan, Interchannel, will deal with the situation appropriately. In the
meantime, we're thrilled that this quick bout of paranoia has brought so
much attention to our first lovechild.
The BBFC have kindly described the game in their
decision to rate it 15 uncut
DEMENTIUM:
THE WARD is a first-person shooter/survival-horror game for the Nintendo
DS console in which the player takes on the role of a man who wakes up
in a derelict hospital with no idea of his identity. In order to find
out his identity he must battle his way through the grotesque results of
medical experiments carried out in the institution. The game was
classified '15' for strong violence and moderate horror.
Although a significant part of progressing through the game depends on
the player finding clues and solving puzzles, there is a frequent
requirement to fight and kill enemies in order to survive and move
through to the game's conclusion. This results in the violence having a
cumulatively strong impact over the duration of the gameplay as the
player takes on these enemies with a limited arsenal of guns, a club and
a hand-held circular saw. The enemies themselves are fantastical in
appearance (skeletal figures with open chest cavities), behave in a
manner reminiscent of 'zombies' and are not realistically human.
Encounters with these figures see bullet impacts, blows with the club or
'cutting up' with the circular saw, containing no strong detail, and
although there is some bloodshed in the first moments of such attacks,
it is neither realistic nor sustained. These enemies merely disappear to
register that they have been killed. Although some close-range gunfire
can take off a zombie's head this is without gory detail and there are
no other opportunities to dismember or decapitate such victims. In
addition, because they vanish from view on being killed, there is also
no opportunity to inflict post-mortem damage. Other obstacles that
require fighting are giant slugs and larger 'boss' enemies of an equally
fantastical nature. The frequency of the violence in the game places it
outside what may be allowed at the '12' category where the Guidelines
state that 'There should be no emphasis on injuries or blood […]
Occasional gory moments only.' However, it meets with the requirements
of the Guidelines at '15' where strong violence is allowed provided it
does 'not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury'.
The nature of the enemies faced by the player both reinforces the
fantasy elements of the game and contributes a sense of moderate horror
which is emphasised by the appearance of the environment in which the
game is played: blood-soaked walls and floors around which bodies are
strewn. However, the bloody images are lacking in strong realism and do
not amount to 'the strongest gory images [which] are unlikely to be
acceptable' at the '15' category.
|
| 5th October |
|
|
| |
Just like the UK Government propose to do Permalink
|
Based on
article
from
online.wsj.com
|
A
group of Canadian researchers said they found evidence suggesting that a
Skype joint venture in China is monitoring its users' Internet text
chats and storing messages that contain politically sensitive content on
publicly-accessible servers.
In a report, the researchers allege that the monitoring-and-storage
program led to the disclosure of millions of records containing personal
information of users of the Chinese service, as well as who participated
in voice calls using the service. It said the data was stored on eight
servers operated by the service, which is a joint venture between Skype,
a unit of eBay, and TOM Online, a unit of Hong Kong-based TOM Group Ltd.
The report was published by the Information Warfare Monitor and OpenNet
Initiative–Asia, and written by Nart Villeneuve, a researcher at the
University of Toronto who specializes in Internet censorship and evasion
tactics used to bypass it.
Jennifer Caukin, a spokeswoman for Skype, said that the idea that
China's government might be monitoring communications in and out of
the country shouldn't surprise anyone.
Caukin claimed that: once we informed TOM about the apparent security
issue, that they were able to fix the flaw.
In a separate statement, TOM Group said that as a Chinese company, we
adhere to rules and regulations in China where we operate our
businesses.
Some users believe that Skype uses encryption that protects users from
government monitoring, and the service has been widely used by
dissidents in China for that reason.
The report leaves unclear what relationship, if any, the Chinese
government may have had with the monitoring and storage effort it
describes. But it says the records it uncovered on unsecured TOM-Skype
servers included an encryption key that could be used to decrypt the
data, and therefore could easily have been accessed by the government.
The report said the messages stored on the servers contained keywords
relating to sensitive political topics such as Taiwan independence,
political opposition to the Communist Party, and Falun Gong, the
outlawed spiritual group. The evidence confirms that TOM-Skype is
censoring and logging text chat messages that contain specific,
sensitive keywords and may be engaged in more targeted surveillance,
the report says.
|
| 4th October |
|
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Censorial Japan, Germany and Australia may miss out on MadWorld Permalink full story: MadWorld...Nutters rant against MadWorld video game
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Based on
article
from
shacknews.com
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PlatinumGames'
MadWorld, the action-adventure Wii game, is so violent that
publisher Sega isn't optimistic about getting the game released in
Japan.
Sega doesn't even plan to show the game at next week's Tokyo Game Show,
according to MTV Multiplayer. In fact, any Japanese release
will be evaluated after MadWorld is released here.
The plan is undoubtedly in response to a recent spate of Japanese
bannings for violence, the most recent being EA Redwood Shores' Dead
Space. But the other usual suspects in censorship cases--Germany and
Australia--are being treated the same way. [The German and
Australian] markets could see MadWorld, but it's not part of Sega's
strategy right now, reads MTV's report.
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| 4th October |
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Syria gets more effective at controlling internet use Permalink
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Based on
article
from
thenational.ae
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Syrian
authorities are tightening their control over the internet and shutting
loopholes that used to allow access to banned websites, according to a
Damascus free-speech watchdog.
New research by the Syrian Centre for Media and Freedom of Expression
suggests that internet censorship is on the rise.
Mazen Darwich, director of the independent media centre, said Syria's
efforts to muzzle the net have been successful: more sites are being blocked
and more controversial articles are taken offline than ever before: There
are clear signs that the crackdown on the internet is increasing. More sites
are being blocked; there are more restrictions on internet cafes and there
is increasing pressure from the security apparatus with daily interference
about what articles are appearing online.
At least 161 separate sites cannot be accessed in Syria, a majority related
to opposition political parties, Kurdish groups and media organisations
deemed hostile to the Arab republic. The actual number of blocked sites is
much larger, including many blogs and comment sites.
Many English-language and international websites that can be critical of
Syria are readily accessible. It is domestic and Arabic language sites that
are subjected to tighter scrutiny.
In its latest annual report, the media centre said Syrian website
administrators were being personally telephoned by government officials and
told to take down politically sensitive material – something that never
previously happened.
One website – called clean hands – set up to campaign against
corruption, was shut down, apparently after a formal written banning order
was issued. That decision became the subject of a legal challenge by the
site administrator, lawyer Abdullah Ali, who insisted the move was
unconstitutional. He recently dropped the legal case because he was put
under pressure, according to commentators familiar with proceedings.
To avoid any future legal challenges to website bans, the Syrian authorities
are now issuing verbal shutdown orders, the media centre said, rather than
leaving a paper trail.
People running websites will get a phone call from someone saying: 'This
is not good, what you're doing is not good.' It's a threat, it's an implied
threat, Darwich said.
Initially Syria blocked free web-based e-mail services, such as Yahoo and
Hotmail, but few restrictions were placed on browsing, with sites belonging
to radical Islamic groups and the Kurdish opposition blocked. That situation
has since reversed. E-mail is freely available – although the centre warns
e-mail is in all likelihood heavily monitored – while browsing is more
strictly limited.
A committee of officials is tasked with drawing up a blacklist of banned
sites, which during the summer numbered around 100 but has since grown by at
least 25 per cent. Popular networking sites YouTube and Facebook are on the
prohibited list.
Internet censorship is highly contested, with Syrian computer users looking
for ways to hack past any limitations placed on their web browsing. While
the controls used to be fairly crude, advanced new monitoring and
restriction software provided by Platinum Inc has, according to Darwich's
centre, given the authorities here the upper hand.
And activists are concerned that conditions for web users will further
worsen with the introduction of a new e-publishing law. Although still in
draft form it is widely expected the legislation will require all Syrians
running any kind of website to apply in advance for a government licence.
All public internet centres need operating approval from the security
services and are required to keep detailed records of their customers'
surfing habits. With Syria still in a state of war with neighbouring Israel
and struggling with a domestic threat of Islamic extremism, the government
justifies tight internet controls on grounds of 'national security'.
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| 4th October |
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China censors religious music Permalink
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Based on
article
from
telegraph.co.uk
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Musicians
and tour organisers have told The Daily Telegraph that a series of
significant performances have been affected amid a tightening of political
control over the arts and Christianity.
Among the victims are the Academy of Ancient Music, one of Britain's leading
orchestral and choral groups, which was invited to sing The Messiah
at the Beijing International Music Festival in October.
The performance will go ahead but has been made by invitation only to
get round the ban. Ironically, among the invitees are members of the
Politburo and other senior government leaders.
The Sinfonica Orchestra di Roma has dropped plans to play Mozart's
Requiem in the Sichuan earthquake zone in honour of the dead and to
raise money for survivors. It will play a programme of smaller, mostly
non-religious works instead.
Stefano Palamidessi, the Rome orchestra's general manager, said he had been
advised to drop Mozart's Requiem from an open-air performance in the main
square in the city of Dujiangyan, part of a China-wide tour.
An official said: A smaller piece as part of a bigger programme might be
OK, but a big work like Mozart's Requiem would definitely be out.
Attitudes in the top leadership to religion and western culture in general
are thought to be divided. Some regard an explosion in evangelical
Christianity across the country as having social benefits, while others
regard it as an alien threat to Communist Party control.
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| 3rd October |
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Turkey owns up to blocking 1112 web sites Permalink full story: Internet Censorship in Turkey...Website blocking insults the Turkish people
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Based on
article
from
guardian.co.uk
See also
richarddawkins.net
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The
head of Turkey's Telecommunications Board has stated that 1,112
Web sites have been banned in the country since November 2007
following complaints by individuals over content on these sites.
Speaking to the Anatolia news agency, Telecommunications Board
President Tayfun Acarer said a center was established within the
Postal and Telecommunications Directorate (PTT) on Nov. 23,
2007, allowing people to report Web sites on which they have
complaints. He said people also have the option to report their
complaints by email or telephone.
This center has received a total of 24,598 complaints since
its establishment last year. Following these complaints, 1,112
Web sites, 861 automatically and 251 with judicial decisions,
were banned.
Acarer said: The duty of the state is to protect its citizens
and warn them against harmful Internet content. He noted
that Web site bans are necessary to prevent the public from
falling victim to sites with criminal or ignoble intent.
According to Acarer, 12 Web sites were banned because of
prostitution, 51 for insulting Atatrk, 79 for gambling, 415 for
exploitation of children and 390 for obscenity.
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| 3rd October |
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Heavy fine for Chinese man for possessing adult video Permalink
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Based on
article
from
xbiz.com
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A
Chinese man was fined $277 for a 30-minute adult video found on his hard
drive.
Chinese authorities were looking for harmful information from a
new business' IP address when they discovered the video on Ren Chaoqi's
computer, according to CNET.com.
Chaoqi told the authorities he obtained the video through BitTorrent.
The fine has apparently ignited a controversy on some
Chinese-language websites, CNET details online opinion polls that
are overwhelmingly in Chaoqi's favor.
According to an Internet survey conducted by Sina.com, in which 55,259
persons voted, 96.52% thought that this person did not illegaly
distribute and exhibit pornographic videos and that the negligible
impact should not have incurred such a heavy fine.
Ren told a reporter he is waiting for an administrative review that he
hopes will lead to a lower fine — or no fine at all.
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| 2nd October |
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3rd Thai journalist murdered in 3 months Permalink
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Based on
article
from
cpj.org
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The
Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Thai authorities to launch an
immediate investigation into the shooting death of Jaruek Rangcharoen, a
journalist with the daily Thai-language newspaper Matichon.
Jaruek was shot and killed on September 27 in a market in the Don Chedi
district of Thailand's western Suphanburi province, according to the
Thai Journalists Association, a local press freedom advocacy group.
The association said in a statement that the murder was believed to be
linked to Jaruek's reporting on corruption issues in a local
administrative organization, and that he had previously expressed his
fear to provincial Governor Somsak Phurisrisak that people were plotting
against him.
Local police have not yet commented publicly on the case. CPJ continues
to investigate to determine if Jaruek's murder was clearly related to
his work as a journalist.
The murder of Jaruek Rangcharoen is another disturbing indicator of
the disintegration of law and order and protection of press freedom in
Thailand's provincial areas, said Bob Dietz, CPJ's Asia program
coordinator: We call upon the relevant national Thai authorities to
swiftly bring the perpetrators in this case to justice.
Jaruek is the third Thai journalist to be killed in the past two months.
Atiwat Chaiyanurat, also a reporter with Matichon, was shot to death in
his home on August 1 in the southern Thai province of Nakorn Sri
Thammarat. Shortly before his death, he had reported on local corruption
and a police manhunt for an alleged assassin who had arrived in the area
in the run-up to a local election.
Chalee Boonsawat, a reporter with the country's largest Thai-language
daily, Thai Rath, was killed on August 21 while covering an explosion in
Thailand's violence-plagued southernmost provinces bordering Malaysia,
where Muslim insurgents and government forces have been locked in a
violent struggle over autonomy issues since 2004.
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