Çağatay Gürtürk, owner of the collaborative dictionary website ITÜ Sözlük, was detained while trying to enter Turkey on the night of January 14.
CATEGORY: Europe and Central Asia
Seymur Hezi: Letter from an Azerbaijani prison
Journalist Seymur Hezi, who works for Index award-winning Azadliq newspaper, has written to his supporters from prison where he is awaiting trial on trumped up charges.
Padraig Reidy: Enough of the “moderate Muslim”
There can be few more insulting coinages than the tedious phrase “moderate Muslim”. What does it mean? Who does it benefit?
Richard Howitt MEP: European Parliament targets Turkey’s record on free expression
As millions mourn the shooting of journalists in France, the European Parliament convening this week in Strasbourg today extended the fight for freedom of expression to legal threats, harassment and character assassination against free journalism in Turkey.
Azerbaijan: Sham trial of rights activist Rasul Jafarov begins
Prominent human rights campaigner Rasul Jafarov has been detained since 2 August on trumped up charges
Rashid Razaq: As a Muslim, I know there is no God-given right not to be offended
Satire is scary for people who can’t live with doubt. Because satire is all about creating doubt
Targeted cartoonists show support for Charlie Hebdo
Cartoonists have been among the most visual in their reaction to the attack on French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. Musa Kart and Xavier Bonilla, who have both been targeted by their governments, share their thoughts.
Meltem Arikan: Colours Dripping Red
Playwright and poet Meltem Arikan contributes a new poem reflecting on the Charlie Hebdo attack. How can thoughts be free?
Nadhim Zahawi MP: It’s time for the Islamic world to support free speech – and repeal blasphemy laws
You can’t kill an idea by killing people. The sickening attack on Charlie Hebdo has shown that to be true. As France mourns her dead, millions around the world are discovering the work of her bravest satirists. Nous sommes Charlie.
Don’t just click – speak out for free speech
If you said ‘I believe in free expression, but…’ at any point in the past week, then this is for you. If you declared yourself to be ‘Charlie’, but have ever called for an offensive image to be removed from public viewing, then this is for you.