Stories about South Asia from May, 2017
Online Trolls Attack Critics of India's Aadhaar State ID System
Critics of the Aadhaar biometric ID system are being criticized by state agencies and trolled by anonymous handles on Twitter.
Police Threaten Maldivian Bloggers Abroad With Arrest Over Twitter
Four independent Maldivian bloggers and activists living overseas have been issued arrest warrants by police over the past week. Apparently, they were targeted because they promote secularism or secularists.
Old Names Dominate Nepal’s First Local Polls in 20 Years
Despite the slow counting and the continued dominance of big parties, some are cheering the victory of thousands of women candidates in Nepal's first local polls in 20 years.
How Sri Lanka Is Coping With the Worst Flooding in a Decade
More than 100 were killed and over 400,000 people have been affected by a flooding and mudslide disaster. It's the country's worst flooding in a decade.
In India, Medical Treatment and Justice Remain Elusive for One Survivor of Domestic Violence
“Her in-laws demanded 50,000 rupees. I couldn’t afford it. So her husband attacked her,” Rajvati's father said. Rajvati herself cannot speak because her larynx was left severed.
Netizen Report: In India and Jamaica, Women Face Threats for Resisting Misogyny Online
In Malaysia and Azerbaijan, officials go after media for political coverage. Meanwhile, with major social media sites banned, Kashmiris have turned to local platform KashBook.
Mumbai Technologists Are Using TV Spectrum to Bring More Internet Access to India
Poor Internet infrastructure leaves the vast majority of Indians limited to mobile Internet only, making it difficult to engage deeply with Internet technology.
Why Doctors and Students Are Protesting Against Sri Lanka's Only Private Medical College
"It remains to be seen, if the Medical Mafia will continue to deprive the right to a private medical education for our youth."
‘Cyber Warrior’ Group Threatens to Extort Indian Women on Facebook
Threats of character assassination and extortion can carry severe real-life consequences, especially for women.
Bangladesh: Where Heavy Metal Dies at the Doorstep
Heavy metal fans in Bangladesh were heartbroken after Brazilian death metal bands Krisiun and NervoChaos were forbidden from performing at their sold-out concert in the capital Dhaka.
Bangladesh's LGBT Community Launches a Blog Commemorating Slain Activists
"How can I live in this country, where if I were to be killed people would rejoice over a cup of tea that there is one less LGBT person?"
Pakistanis Are Outraged Over a Washing Machine Ad That Makes Light of Domestic Violence
"Disgusting ad....giving concept that a man should be proud among his friends on beating his wife"
The Objectification of Women in the Sri Lankan Press
The representation of women in Sri Lankan media over the years has breached many ethical standards, resulting in the reinforcement of negative stereotypes.
Is India's Aadhaar System an Instrument For Surveillance?
"Repeat after me: Aadhaar is surveillance technology masquerading as secure authentication technology."
Iranian News Agency Publishes ‘Fabricated’ Story Accusing UN Special Rapporteur of Misdeeds With Saudi Arabia
It's not the first time Iranian officials have tried to discredit the office of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights Situation in Iran.
The World’s Largest Biometric Database is Leaking Indian Citizens’ Data — But Keeps On Growing
Over the last few months, the Indian twittersphere has been awash with citizens concerned about government websites leaking millions of individual digital ID numbers. On May 1, the Centre for Internet and...
Indians Are Speaking Up About Depression to Do Away With the Social Stigma Surrounding It
"In my heart, I believe that the time is now right for the world to deal with depression a kinder way."
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