Free speech issues making news around the world
TUNISIA
Commentary: Graffiti case shows Tunisia’s new battle with free speech
Tunisia, it turns out, does not consider political graffiti a public order offence, nor “harmful to the state of emergency”. (The National)
BURUNDI
Human Rights Watch penned a letter to President Pierre Nkurunziza on new media law
Kenneth Roth, Executive Director of HRW, urged Burundi’s leader not to sign the new media law adopted by the country’s Senate on April 19, 2013, and to prevent it from being enacted in its current form. (AllAfrica.com)
UNITED STATES
Pro-life advocates prosecuted for lawful free speech activity
Life Legal Defense Foundation is urging the United States Supreme Court to review a First Circuit decision which severely limits free speech of pro-life advocates. (LifeNews.com)
ACLU takes up case of anti-abortion group
The American Civil Liberties Union of Alaska is urging Alaska Governor Sean Parnell to provide more information about an incident involving state workers during a street protest in Juneau. The workers parked vans to block a banner from view of the state’s Captiol building. (Anchorage Press News)
Judge dismisses libel case against Tennessee state senator
A judge in northeast Tennessee is dismissing a $750,000 libel lawsuit against state Republican Sen. Stacey Campfield for publishing false information online about a Democratic candidate for the state House in 2008. (Greenwich Time)