25 January is once again a celebration of authoritarianism, says Tom Rollins
Egypt: Memories of Police Day
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CATEGORY: Middle East and North Africa
Egypt: Arab Spring anniversary a “horrible day for journalists”
As thousands of Egyptians demonstrated in support of the country’s military, journalists were attacked, 49 people were killed and 247 others were injured in anti-government marches across Egypt on Saturday on the third anniversary of the uprising that led to the overthrow of autocrat Hosni Mubarak. Shahira Amin reports
Libya’s revolution “will not stop until we have freedom”
After 42 years of political oppression in Libya, it was hoped that the apparatus of Gaddafi’s regime would be dismantled after he was swept from power. Vestiges of the despot’s suffocating grip on free speech still remain, and are still being used to suppress political expression. Alastair Sloan reports
Iran: Friends with (social media) benefits?
During the World Economic Forum currently taking place in Davos, Iran’s president Hassan Rouhani dropped some major news — he doesn’t write his own social media messages.
Sudanese civil society calls for change to US digital technology sanctions
Campaign argues that current policy hinders Sudanese citizens’ free access to knowledge and information online, as well as tools like crowdsourcing and crisis mapping, writes Dalia Haj-Omar
Three years after Arab Spring officials thwart digital dissent
The “social media revolutions” once had tyrants fearing their imminent demise. Now Twitter users from Marrakech to Manama know — call for political reforms, joke about a sensitive topic, or expose government abuse and you could end up in jail. Adrian Shahbaz reports
Twitter suspends Hamas military wing account
The social media ban on the Al Qassam Brigade could have a knock on effect for civil society in Gaza. Ruth Michaelson reports
The Palestinian Authority is worse than Hamas for free speech, activist claims
Head of human rights group says situation for free speech in West Bank worse than Gaza. Daniella Peled reports
Tunisia’s draft constitution raises concerns about democratic transition
Tunisia’s National Constituent Assembly (NCA) is voting on a new constitution, following a political crisis which put on hold the country’s democratic transition after the assassination of opposition deputy last July, Afef Abrougui writes
Egyptians to vote on new constitution amidst boycotts and apathy
Egyptians head to polling stations on Tuesday to vote on a revised constitution heralded by Egypt’s military-backed government as a” first step in the country’s democratic transition” and billed as a blueprint for the “new Egypt.” Shahira Amin reports