internet restriction
Wednesday 16.12.2020 Nicaragua - Latest Developments -
Laws on Foreign Agents and Cybercrimes restrict civic space further in Nicaragua
On 15th October 2020, Nicaragua’s lawmakers approved the “Foreign Agents Law” which expands government powers to control and muzzle civil society. Read more
Friday 4.12.2020 Guinea - Latest Developments -
Controversial presidential elections: at least 21 killed in post electoral protests and violence
Controversial and disputed presidential elections took place in Guinea on 18th October 2020, after a constitutional referendum in March 2020 and a new Constitution, allowing incumbent president Alpha Condé run for a third term Read more | Read in French
Wednesday 2.12.2020 Belgium - Latest Developments -
Protests against COVID-19 measures, Extinction Rebellion Facebook page suspended
In late September 2020, after a 16-month deadlock, seven political parties agreed to form a coalition federal government that replaced the caretaker administration. Similar to several other European countries, several protests erupted in Belgium after the measures against the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic were enacted. On 26th October 2020, a few hundred took to the streets in Brussels to attend unauthorised gatherings. 71 people were reportedly arrested. Freedom of expression also came under threat, with a school teacher suspended for showing a cartoon by Charlie Hebdo’s cartoonist Coco, depicting the Prophet Mohammed kneeling naked. The Facebook page of climate action group, Extinction Rebellion was suspended without any explanation. Read more
Wednesday 2.12.2020 Azerbaijan - Latest Developments -
Protesters arrested, temporary internet restrictions imposed
CSOs participate in meetings with government officials ; More than 40 people arrested during protest; Russian Journalist accused of terrorism and illegally crossing the border of Nagorno-Karabakh; Access to the internet temporarily limited following the declaration of Martial Law Read more
Friday 27.11.2020 Cuba - Latest Developments -
Cuban rapper Denis Solís of Movimiento San Isidro imprisoned; several artists on hunger strike
85 civil society organisations expressed their concern at Cuba’s re-election to a fifth term on the UN Human Rights Council on 13th October 2020. For the organisations, this not only rewards Cuba’s poor human rights record, but it also undermines the integrity of the Council to hold abusive governments accountable for their actions in the region and across the globe. Read more | Read in Spanish
Monday 23.11.2020 Egypt - Latest Developments -
Sisi government targets HRDs from prominent human rights organisation
Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) from the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) have been targeted by the authorities. Administrative manager, Mohammed Basheer; director of the criminal justice unit, Karim Ennarah and executive director Gasser Abdel Razek were all detained. In a separate development, several protests took place during September 2020 in villages, towns and some poorer remote areas in the country over COVID-19 and rising rates of poverty, amongst other issues. However, security forces used teargas, batons, birdshot and live ammunition to disperse the largely peaceful protests, with two people being killed and hundreds detained. In a further crackdown on expression, Egyptian authorities’ blocked at least 600 websites since May 2017 including media and political and human rights platforms. Read more
Monday 9.11.2020 Turkey - Latest Developments -
Free speech under siege as government launches new unit to tackle ‘misinformation’
On 27th August 2020, lawyer Ebru Timtik died after she had been on a death fast for the right to a fair trial for 238 days. Timtik had been in detention for three years, after she and other lawyers from the People's Law Bureau were arrested in September 2017 and sentenced to 13 years and six months in prison for membership of a terrorist organisation. Human rights organisations believe that her death was preventable. In addition, , police used pepper spray and fired rubber bullets at crowds who were making their way to the city’s Gazi cemetery, where the lawyer was being laid to rest. Freedom of expression continues to remain under threat in Turkey- with journalists facing physical violence, detention, lawsuits, investigations and/or criminal complaints. In addition free speech continues to be restricted with 9,554 people being sentenced to prison terms for insulting the president in 2019 only. In a worrying development, Turkey’s president launched a new unit to wage information warfare. The purpose of the new unit was described as “taking under control any kind of manipulation and disinformation against Turkey.”
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Monday 26.10.2020 Venezuela - Latest Developments -
United Nations report on Venezuela documents evidence of crimes against humanity
A report by the UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, published on 16th September 2020, found evidence of crimes against humanity in the country. Read more
Wednesday 21.10.2020 Palestine - Latest Developments -
Calls for #UNInvestigateApartheid as Israel attempts to silence civil society groups at UN
During the 45th session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), Palestinian human rights organisations, through a joint statement, shed light on the systematic violations taking place due to the Israeli occupations. Palestinian organisations stated that such occupations were aimed at silencing their activities, including their advocacy work at the United Nations. On 1st October 2020, Israel attempted to silence civil society groups at the UNHRC for condemning its imposition of apartheid on the Palestinian people. This attempt comes as a global letter signed by 452 civil society groups worldwide called on the UN to take responsibility for investigating and eradicating Israeli apartheid. In addition, Israel’s judicial harassment of human rights defenders (HRDs) continue to take place. In a separate development, many of the protests which took place during the reporting period were due to the normalisation agreements signed between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain and the Israeli occupation forces. Despite COVID-19 and its impact on public activities, there has been an increase in violations against journalists and media outlets while covering Palestinian activities. Read more
Friday 16.10.2020 Somalia - Latest Developments -
Journalists face persistent onslaught, new media law further threatens expression
Protesters arrested while demonstrating around upcoming elections; journalists detained while covering protests; media outlets fined over content; new legislation further stifles journalists' work; internet shutdown after Prime Minister impeachment Read more
