All articles tagged with #freedom 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.
Paramount condemned the recent boycott of Israeli filmmakers, emphasizing the importance of storytelling and communication over silencing artists based on nationality, amidst ongoing tensions related to the Palestine conflict.
The 2024 US Human Rights Report criticizes Germany for restrictions on free expression and antisemitism, but Germany rejects these claims, asserting high levels of freedom. The report also discusses issues in Israel and El Salvador, and reflects political biases following recent US administration changes, drawing criticism from human rights groups.
The number of arrests at a London protest supporting banned group Palestine Action has risen to over 500, with the police citing security concerns and the group's alleged involvement in criminal activities, sparking debates over the use of terrorism laws and freedom of speech.
London police arrested 466 people supporting the pro-Palestinian group Palestine Action, which was recently banned under UK anti-terror laws, leading to protests and legal challenges against the ban.
The United States has imposed sanctions on Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes for serious human rights abuses, including arbitrary detention and efforts to silence political critics through secret orders and restrictions on online speech, citing violations of fair trial guarantees and freedom of expression.
Turkish police detained four employees of the satirical magazine LeMan over a controversial cartoon allegedly depicting Prophet Muhammad, sparking protests and a government investigation. The magazine claims the cartoon was misinterpreted and intended to highlight Muslim suffering, but authorities and protesters see it as an insult, leading to arrests and clashes. The incident raises concerns over freedom of expression and religious sensitivities in Turkey.