Free Expression

Libya: Stop Blocking Independent Web Sites

Human Rights Watch — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 01:33:51 -0800

(New York) - Libya's moves in late January, 2010, to block access to at least seven independent and opposition Libyan web sites based abroad and to YouTube is a disturbing step awayfrom press freedom, Human Rights Watch said today. The government should restore web site access immediately, Human Rights Watch said.

Venezuela: Stop Abusing Broadcast Powers

Human Rights Watch — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 06:03:07 -0800

(Washington, DC) - The Chávez administration should not abuse its authority to compel broadcast of presidential speeches that promote the government's political agenda, Human Rights Watch said today.

World Report 2010: Abusers Target Human Rights Messengers

Human Rights Watch — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 01:00:00 -0800

(Dubai) - Governments in the Middle East were responsible for serious human rights violations over the past year, including harassment and attacks against human rights defenders and organizations that document abuse, Human Rights Watch said today.

Egypt and Libya: A Year of Serious Abuses

Human Rights Watch — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 01:00:00 -0800

(Cairo, Egypt) - Egypt should revoke its draconian Emergency Law and revamp its abusive security forces as top priorities in 2010, Human Rights Watch said today in its comprehensive World Report 2010. Libya should free unjustly detrained prisoners and reform laws that criminalize free speech and association, Human Rights Watch said.

US: A Big Step Toward Online Freedom

Arvind Ganesan — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 12:51:13 -0800

In a groundbreaking speech at the Newseum on Thursday, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton reset U.S. policy on Internet freedom, emphasizing the vital need for governments, companies and technology providers to ensure that the World Wide Web is a force for human rights. Of course, the real test will come in how the Obama administration puts the new policy into practice.

Tunisia: Worsening Repression of Human Rights Defenders, Journalists

Human Rights Watch — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 20:45:00 -0800

(New York) - The Tunisian government carried out a wide range of repressive measures against journalists and human rights defenders during 2009, an election year, with no improvement in basic freedoms, Human Rights Watch said today in its new World Report 2010.

Egypt: Free Activists Detained on Solidarity Visit

Human Rights Watch — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 23:40:35 -0800

Egyptian authorities should immediately release at least 29 young activists who were arrested yesterday in Nag’ Hammadai while on their way to pay their condolences to the families of six Coptic Christians shot and killed on the Coptic Christmas Eve, Human Rights Watch said today.

Chile: Abolish Criminal Defamation Provisions

Human Rights Watch — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 07:23:16 -0800

(Washington, DC) - Chile should not use criminal libel laws to prevent individuals, in particular journalists, from fulfilling their role in disseminating information on matters of serious public concern, Human Rights Watch said today.Pascale Bonnefoy, a freelance reporter, will go on trial for libel on January 14, 2010, facing cr

Morocco: Address Unfair Convictions in Mass Terror Trial

Human Rights Watch — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 09:13:02 -0800

(New York) - The Moroccan court currently hearing the appeal of 35 people convicted on terrorism-related charges should address allegations that confessions were falsified or obtained through torture and other violations of their right to a fair trial, Human Rights Watch and Adala, a Moroccan organization working for judicial independence, said today.

Tunisia: President, Emboldened by Vote, Cracks Down on Critics

Human Rights Watch — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 09:23:22 -0800

(New York) - Tunisian authorities should quash the convictions on the journalists Taoufik Ben Brik and Zouhair Makhlouf after unfair trials and immediately set them free, Human Rights Watch said today. The government should also investigate an attack on another journalist, Slim Boukhdir, and halt the harassment of journalists, Human Rights Watch said.