Belgrade Gay Pride ban a blow to Serbia’s EU hopes

11 Oct 2012 | Europe and Central Asia

The third ever Belgrade Pride parade took place last Saturday behind closed doors in the city’s Media Centre, due to a last minute ban imposed by authorities. The move attracted widespread international criticism as a violation Serbian citizens’ constitutional right to freedom of expression.

Last Wednesday, only three days before the long-planned march through the city, Prime Minister Ivica Dačić announced a blanket ban on all public gatherings set for 6 October, citing “security concerns“.

“Pride parades are a litmus test for freedom and human rights adherence in Europe”, said Swedish Minister for EU Affairs, Birgitta Ohlsson — heavily implying is was a test Serbia had failed. She was due to deliver the keynote speech at the parade during her state visit to the country.

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Bahrain medics arrested in dawn raids

2 Oct 2012 | Index Index, Middle East and North Africa, minipost

Bahraini police arrested five medics in a set of dawn raids this morning, one day after the nation’s highest court upheld their prison sentences in a case international rights groups have condemned as politically motivated. Doctor Ali al-Ekry, who faces five years in prison for “possession and concealment” of weapons and “illegal assembly”, was arrested at his home at 5:30am local time. The other medics were reportedly arrested in subsequent raids. Separately, Mohamed al-Mushaimaa, who was jailed last year for his alleged role in protests, died in a Bahraini prison overnight. A sickle cell anaemia sufferer, al-Mushaimaa had complained of not receiving proper medical treatment in prison, his lawyer said.