All articles tagged with #freedom of expression
A Hong Kong court convicted veteran pro-democracy activists Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung of incitement to subversion for organising the Tiananmen vigil, a verdict tied to a broader crackdown on dissent under the national security framework; they could face up to 10 years in prison, with sentencing to come.
France's Constitutional Council struck down the government's plan to bar under-15s from social media, saying the measure infringes freedom of expression and lacks sufficient safeguards such as age-verification; Macron will push a revised draft aimed for early 2027 after addressing the council's concerns.
France’s Constitutional Council blocked a plan to ban under-15s from social media, ruling the blanket restriction infringes minors’ freedom of expression and prompting a revised bill with greater parental flexibility and a new target date in spring 2027.
Edinburgh Fringe defends Amanda Knox’s one-woman show Cartwheel amid calls to cancel, stressing open-access and free expression; Knox says the show explores motherhood and truth-telling and honors Meredith Kercher’s memory, while Kercher’s family and critics argue it trivializes violence against women, backed by a petition with thousands of signatures; the venue and Fringe Society emphasize the decision lies with the artist and venue.
British trip-hop group Massive Attack says police detained its members in Singapore after they unfurled a Palestinian flag on stage, with the crowd chanting 'Free Palestine'; authorities warned the act could harm racial and religious harmony and two members were given stern warnings and barred from re-entry, while the band called the display an impromptu expression of solidarity and a defense of freedom of expression.
British trip-hop group Massive Attack says Singapore barred them from performing after they displayed a Palestinian flag and led a crowd chant of 'Free Palestine' at a July 29 show, with police detaining members and some passport seizures; the ban stems from Singapore’s public-speech rules banning foreign emblems without a permit. The band frames the act as spontaneous solidarity and criticizes restrictions on civil rights, urging ratification of the UN ICCPR and protection of expression.
An Istanbul court ordered pre-trial detention for stand-up comedian Deniz Göktaş after complaints over a June routine that mocked President Erdoğan and referenced the Quran; prosecutors accuse him of inciting hatred and insulting the president. The arrest fits a broader Turkish crackdown on dissent, with detentions and media restrictions escalating ahead of NATO summit-related security measures.
Zambia canceled RightsCon 2026 in Lusaka just days before its May start, saying it needed time to ensure the event aligns with national values, policy priorities, and public interest. The move, described by activists as censorship, comes amid concerns of political pressure and transnational repression, with more than 2,600 delegates expected and many having already traveled and paid for arrangements to discuss digital rights, online hate, surveillance, and internet governance.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer says some pro-Palestine protests could be banned and chants like 'globalise the Intifada' should be completely off limits, with potential prosecutions; he has discussed stricter action with police, and his comments come amid a spike in anti-Semitic incidents and a heightened security alert in Britain.
RightsCon, the global conference on human rights and technology, was canceled in Lusaka just days before it was to start after the Zambian government demanded full alignment with national values and public-interest considerations, prompting organizers to advise registered participants not to travel. The decision comes amid Zambia’s tightened digital laws and ahead of an August election, drawing criticism from digital-rights groups and observers who say the move undermines civil society and free expression.
A British-Israeli academic says Israeli police detained him for wearing a kippah embroidered with Israeli and Palestinian flags; the Palestinian-flag section was later cut off when the item was returned. A complaint has been filed with the Police Internal Investigations Division, and authorities note there is no explicit law banning Palestinian flags, while critics argue the incident signals broader tensions over symbols and public order in Israel.
A sessions court in Islamabad sentenced lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her husband Hadi Ali Chattha to 17 years in prison on multiple charges tied to controversial social-media posts, triggering swift condemnations from digital rights groups, activists and politicians who describe the trial as illegal, politically influenced and a chilling blow to dissent and freedom of expression.
Adelaide Writers’ Week 2026 was cancelled amid a mass walkout after the festival board disinvited Palestinian Australian author Randa Abdel-Fattah over “cultural sensitivities” following a Bondi attack. More than 180 authors and speakers withdrew, the board resigned (save for the city council representative), and Louise Adler, the director, also resigned. A new board led by Judy Potter was named to steer a scaled-back Adelaide Festival, with refunds for ticketholders. Abdel-Fattah rejected the board’s apology, calling the move racist and an attack on free speech; the government emphasized safeguarding the festival’s future.
A report by PEN America highlights a surge in book bans across U.S. schools during the 2024-25 school year, with over 6,800 bans affecting 3,752 titles, predominantly targeting LGBTQ-themed books and controversial topics, reflecting a trend reminiscent of Cold War-era censorship.
Colombia's Constitutional Court ruled that Meta wrongfully shut down adult actress Esperanza Gomez's Instagram account, citing it as an arbitrary restriction of her freedom of expression and ordering Meta to review its policies. The court criticized Meta for inconsistent content moderation and emphasized the need for transparent mechanisms for challenging moderation decisions.