Chinese journalist imprisoned for her Covid reporting due to be released after four years. But will she be free?

By Nectar Gan, CNN A Chinese citizen journalist who has been behind bars for four years over her reporting on the initial Covid-19 outbreak in Wuhan is due to be released Monday after serving her sentence, according to supporters and a court verdict. Zhang Zhan, a former lawyer, was one of the few independent Chinese journalists reporting in Wuhan… Read More Chinese journalist imprisoned for her Covid reporting due to be released after four years. But will she be free?

Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof sentenced to eight years in prison and flogging

NB: The Iranian regime is a tyrannical theocracy, which permits no criticism, no deviation from so-called divinely sanctioned modes of behaviour. To punish people with flogging and imprisonment for speaking truth about corruption is itself a criminal act. It should never be forgotten that the regime’s leader, Ayatollah Khomeini, issued a fatwa for the execution… Read More Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof sentenced to eight years in prison and flogging

Israel is banning Al Jazeera, America is banning TikTok. We know why

What the two laws have in common is desire to silence Israel-Gaza war critics Seth Stern The White House rightly said it was “concerning” when Israel’s parliament laid the groundwork to shut down Al Jazeera within its borders in April. On Sunday, Israel made its move. The Foreign Press Association called it a “dark day for democracy”. If the… Read More Israel is banning Al Jazeera, America is banning TikTok. We know why

India Has Seen At Least 134 Violations of Free Speech in 2024: Free Speech Collective

“Free speech in India has sunk into a perilous abyss and steadily falling press freedom indices underscore the dangers of crossing a line that is becoming increasingly contentious,” the collective said in its report. The first four months of 2024 in India have already seen at least 134 instances of free speech violations, with journalists,… Read More India Has Seen At Least 134 Violations of Free Speech in 2024: Free Speech Collective

Workers accuse Google of ‘tantrum’ after 50 fired over Israel contract protest

Tech giant fired number of people who protested against $1.2bn Project Nimbus, which supports Israeli military and government Michael Sainato Google has been accused of throwing a “tantrum” after sacking more than 50 workers in response to a protest over the company’s military ties to the Israeli government – firings that have shone a light… Read More Workers accuse Google of ‘tantrum’ after 50 fired over Israel contract protest

Free Speech Or Fear Tactics? The Unchecked Rise Of Right-Wing Online Abuse

Yusra Khan A microblogging site is no town square, but the influence of X (formerly Twitter) cannot be understated when it comes to deciphering the health of public discourse. Indian pro-government media personalities often hold more sway in this regard than algorithmic bot activity when it comes to harassment and targeted bullying in the online… Read More Free Speech Or Fear Tactics? The Unchecked Rise Of Right-Wing Online Abuse

Scoop: Assam Rifles blames Manipur CM

http://www.reporters-collective.in For the past 11 months, Manipur has been locked in an ethnic conflict. The conflict that has killed more than 219 people, injured 1,100 and displaced 60,000 is frequently oversimplified as a struggle between the Hindu Meitei and Christian Kuki-Zo communities, mirroring the religious polarisation seen in communal conflicts and assaults on religious minorities… Read More Scoop: Assam Rifles blames Manipur CM

Pondicherry Violence Sparks Question: Why Can’t India Interpret Hindu Gods?

More concerning is the university and police’s promptness to align with ABVP’s ideology, disregarding their obligation to operate within the framework of the Constitution of India. Instead of penalising those who commit violence, they punish the victims of violence… The list of such institutions is long where the administration has acted like the authorities of… Read More Pondicherry Violence Sparks Question: Why Can’t India Interpret Hindu Gods?

Where Are the ‘Don Quixotes’ of Indian Academia?

NB: Anyone concerned about the intellectual health of their country should recall what Mao’s regime did to China’s academic life under the so-called Cultural Revolution in the late 1960’s. This was Mao Zedong’s motivated assault on academics, intellectuals and on his critics in the Communist Party leadership. Professor Frank Dikotter’s research study of this momentous… Read More Where Are the ‘Don Quixotes’ of Indian Academia?