15 Nov 10 | Middle East and North Africa, Uncategorized
Waleed Al-Husseini has been making waves and offending religious sensibilities in the Middle East for years. A committed atheist, the 26 year-old resident of the occupied West Bank is known for a prolific online presence — much of which centres on criticisms of all major religions.
Here’s a good example of his writing from his blog The Light of Reason. The headline loosely translates as “The personification of God and the lack of logic in his creation of the universe.” Al-Husseini even created a Facebook page claiming to speak in the name of God, and used his excellent command of Arabic to write altered versions of verses from the Koran.
So perhaps it was no surprise that Al-Husseini’s work infuriated both Muslims and Christians, and only a matter time before he ran afoul of the authorities. He disappeared at the end of October, and finally last week came the official confirmation that Al-Husseini had been arrested. Palestine’s semi-official Maan News Agency reported that security services had “pursued the man for more than two months” before catching up with him in an internet cafe in the West Bank of Qualqiya.
Numerous online defences of Al-Husseini have sprung up, in Arabic and English, demanding his release, and lobbying foreign governments to offer him asylum. Prominent regional blogger Marwa Rakha, who has met Al-Husseini, issued a passionate defence of his right to express himself regardless of whether anyone agrees or disagrees with his beliefs, writing
Waleed did not record his ideas on tapes and force you to listen to them in public transportation… Waleed did not stop you in the street for wearing a veil or for having a beard and force-feed you his arguments. Why are you afraid of him? Is your faith that fragile? Are your religious beliefs that vulnerable?
04 Nov 10 | Uncategorized
On 29 October, journalist José Alejandro Godoy, became the first blogger in Peru to be convicted on defamation charges. Judge Flor La Rosa sentenced the author of political blog Desde el Tercer Piso (From the Third Floor) to a three-year suspended prison sentence, a fine of 300,000 soles (£65,000), and 120 days of social work. His crime? Ironically referring to a powerful politician as a “political jewel”.
Jorge Mufarech — a minister during Alberto Fujimori’s government (1990-2000) — initially launched legal action against Godoy in August 2009, after the blogger published an article that included links to criminal allegations levelled against Mufarech by other media sources. The article reported accusations that he had threatened another politician, Julio Arzibu. The controversial links appeared only in the first paragraph of the piece, and Godoy claims were included simply to contextualise the piece.
Godoy allowed Mufarech right of reply, publishing a letter from the former congressman and his own subsequent response, which explained why he thought the links were justified. But despite this, the politician claimed one million dollars in compensation for defamation.
Godoy had merely referred to Mufarech’s public past, so it came as a surprise when Flor La Rosa, in reference to the “political jewel” remarks, condemned the journalist for a “systematic campaign of defamation”. A completely different legal argument to that originally brought by the politician. It is hard to imagine what the ruling would be if Godoy had called Mufarech something really insulting.
It is worth noting that the judge is affiliated to APRA (American Popular Revolutionary Alliance), the political party at the head of the Peruvian government and Desde el Tercer Piso is well-known for its government criticism. Godoy will of course appeal the court’s decision. His lawyer, Roberto Pereira, has said that the lack of legal substantiation and the excessive nature of the sentence constitute a blow against press freedom, unprecedented in the country’s history.
Peru is holding elections in April 2011. This case represents a danger to free expression at a time when it is more important than ever. In the words of José Alejandro Godoy, “everyone, not only me, could be a victim of an absurd ruling like this one.” Mufarech has a history of defamation complaints — Susana Villarán, who is likely to be the next mayor of Lima, is currently under investigation — but this is the first defamation case Mufarech has won. So who will be next, Mr Mufarech?
Angel Garcia Catala works for free expression monitor Instituto Prensa y Sociedad (IPYS)
02 Nov 10 | Index Index, minipost, News and features
Amazon’s Kindle 3G e-reader is becoming popular on China’s grey market for an unexpected reason. It can automatically circumvent the so-called ‘Great Firewall’ of the state’s web censorship. Social networking sites, which Beijing blocks, can be accessed without interference by the Kindle. Amazon say they are not allowed to export the Kindle to mainland China, but many are believed to have entered the country illegally. The 3G Kindle uses global system mobile (GSM) communication technology, which is able to provide WiFi coverage in China.
01 Nov 10 | Index Index, minipost
After being blocked for two years YouTube can now be accessed again by Turkish citizens. The Google-owned site was originally banned in May 2008 under a 2007 law that allowed courts to block any website where there was “sufficient suspicion” that it had committed a crime. YouTube was accused of hosting videos that insulted the country’s founder, Kemal Ataturk, an offence in Turkey. The minister in charge of internet issues, Binali Yildirim, has said that the offending videos have been removed.
