Stories about Human Rights from June, 2015
Jailed in Singapore for Criticizing a Former Prime Minister, But Still Blogging
"Everyday my cellmates would eagerly wait for that light to dissipate, knowing that another day has passed, and they’re one day closer to attaining their freedom."
Israel Intercepts International Gaza-Bound Freedom Flotilla
"It is disappointing that the Israeli government chose to continue the absolutely fruitless policy of 'no tolerance', meaning it will continue to enforce an inhumane and illegal collective punishment..."
Gaza-Bound Flotilla III Expected to Dock in the Palestinian Enclave at Dawn; Israel Threatens to Stop it
The Freedom Flotilla lll is about 170 miles away from Gaza and is expected to dock at dawn. Will Israel attack the boats? The next few hours will be decisive.
Same-Sex Couples in Mexico Win Another Victory Against Discrimination
"In this sense, the First Chamber reaffirmed that there exists no rational justification to deny access to marriage to homosexual couples..."
‘Transitioning Cambodia’ Photo Book Illustrates Cambodia’s Uneven Development
"People tell us they are happy there is a book that looks at Cambodia as it is—not just the temples of Angkor or photos of children riding an oxcart."
Abel Wabela: “To Fight Bystander Apathy…This is My Mission as a Human”
"Warnings, intimidations, arrest and torture have not stopped me from exercising my free speech rights," says Abel Wabela, one of Ethiopia's Zone9 bloggers who have been jailed since April 2014.
New Black Hand Street Art Surfaces in Tehran in Response to #LetWomenGoToStadium
In the image, a man wears the national Iranian football team's jersey, thrusting a bottle of dishwashing liquid reminiscent of players holding up the World Cup trophy.
New Art Project Seeks to Paint the Lives Lost in Palestine
#BeyondWordsGaza seeks to paint the lives lost last summer in Palestine and donate the portraits to the families of the victims.
Arrested for Criticizing a Former Prime Minister, Singaporean Teen Blogger Amos Yee is Now Being Evaluated for Autism
The 16-y/o blogger who criticized Lee Kuan Yew was suggested to be suffering from autism spectrum disorder, and the judge ruled him to be remanded for another two weeks to assess his suitability for Mandatory Treatment Order.
Social Media Analysis: How an Iranian Kurdish Woman's Death Triggered a Regional Social Media Conflict
Social media controversy following the accidental death of a hotel chambermaid underscored systemic discrimination ethnic minorities face in Iran and the emerging role of Internet censorship in this milieu.
An Official White House Visit to Ethiopia? Africans Tell Obama ‘Don't Do It!’
Despite recent elections that swept the one opposition member from parliament, US President Barack Obama is planning a visit to Ethiopia.
The ‘Civic Death’ of Dominicans of Haitian Descent
Even though the deadline date for deportations has been extended, the future of Dominicans of Haitian descent remains uncertain, with many calling the DR's stance an attack on human rights.
New Report Details Unanimous Support Amongst Iran's Civil Society for the Iran Deal
Global Voices collaborators the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran released a newly written report yesterday entitled “High Hopes, Tempered Expectations: Views from Iran on the Nuclear Negotiations.”...
Police Shootings, Helicopter Crashes and Bystanders With Cameras: Weighing the Rights of ‘Accidental Journalists’
The rise in eye-witness documentation of police violence in the United States raises many interesting questions about the rights of witnesses and the public interest value of their work.
Iranian Journalist Ahmad Zeidabadi Sent Into Exile After Six Years in Prison
Zeidabadi, who worked for reformist newspapers, was convicted in 2009 of “propaganda against the state,” “assembly and collusion to create riots after the presidential election,” and “insulting the Supreme Leader.”
Macedonian Activist Ends Hunger Strike for Migrant Rights
On Saturday, June 20, human rights expert and activist Suad Missini ended the hunger strike he started six days prior in protest of inhumane treatment of migrants passing through Macedonia....
Citizen Media Shows Why India Is Unlikely to Reach Its Millennium Goals Target for Maternal Mortality
India is behind both Nepal and Bangladesh in terms of reducing maternal mortalities. States where the caste system is embedded, religious minorities and migrants suffer most.
How a Facebook User in Thailand Was Sentenced to 50 Years in Jail for ‘Defaming’ the Monarchy
"How can they arrest Father? Father didn’t kill anybody; the judgment is excessive."
Infographic Shows Thailand Junta Arrested Hundreds in the Past Year for Criticizing the Government
The free speech advocate iLaw uploaded an infographic which showed that 166 people have been arrested in the past year in Thailand for expressing an opinion against the military-backed government....
Bahraini Political Prisoner Ibrahim Sharif Released after “Completing his Sentence”
In a surprise move, Bahrain released politician Ibrahim Sharif, jailed in March 2011, following massive anti-government protests. Is Bahrain moving towards actual reform?
Long After the African Union’s Golden Jubilee: A Letter to Jailed Blogger Natnael Feleke
"I think of your particular fate and wonder how any of us who are free continue to go about our lives as if there’s nothing to lose."
