Free Speech

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> <head><script type="text/javascript" src="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/js/bundle-playback.js?v=7YQSqjSh" charset="utf-8"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/js/wombat.js?v=txqj7nKC" charset="utf-8"></script> <script>window.RufflePlayer=window.RufflePlayer||{};window.RufflePlayer.config={"autoplay":"on","unmuteOverlay":"hidden"};</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/js/ruffle/ruffle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> __wm.init("https://web.archive.org/web"); __wm.wombat("https://www.hrw.org/topic/free-speech","20130123031304","https://web.archive.org/","web","https://web-static.archive.org/_static/", "1358910784"); </script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/css/banner-styles.css?v=p7PEIJWi" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/css/iconochive.css?v=3PDvdIFv" />  <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"/> <title>Free Speech</title> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"/> <script type="text/javascript">var _sf_startpt=(new Date()).getTime()</script> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="Free Speech" href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/rss/taxonomy/737"/> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="/web/20130123031304im_/https://www.hrw.org/sites/all/themes/hrw/favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130123031304/http://www.hrw.org/"/> <meta name="copyright" content="Human Rights Watch"/> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/web/20130123031304cs_/https://www.hrw.org/modules/search/search.css?w"/> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/web/20130123031304cs_/https://www.hrw.org/modules/node/node.css?w"/> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/web/20130123031304cs_/https://www.hrw.org/modules/system/defaults.css?w"/> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/web/20130123031304cs_/https://www.hrw.org/modules/system/system.css?w"/> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/web/20130123031304cs_/https://www.hrw.org/modules/system/system-menus.css?w"/> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/web/20130123031304cs_/https://www.hrw.org/modules/user/user.css?w"/> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/web/20130123031304cs_/https://www.hrw.org/sites/all/modules/contrib/cck/theme/content-module.css?w"/> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/web/20130123031304cs_/https://www.hrw.org/sites/all/modules/contrib/ckeditor/ckeditor.css?w"/> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/web/20130123031304cs_/https://www.hrw.org/sites/all/modules/contrib/ctools/css/ctools.css?w"/> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/web/20130123031304cs_/https://www.hrw.org/sites/all/modules/contrib/date/date.css?w"/> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/web/20130123031304cs_/https://www.hrw.org/sites/all/modules/contrib/date/date_popup/themes/datepicker.css?w"/> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/web/20130123031304cs_/https://www.hrw.org/sites/all/modules/contrib/date/date_popup/themes/jquery.timeentry.css?w"/> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/web/20130123031304cs_/https://www.hrw.org/sites/all/modules/contrib/filefield/filefield.css?w"/> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/web/20130123031304cs_/https://www.hrw.org/sites/all/modules/contrib/lightbox2/css/lightbox_alt.css?w"/> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/web/20130123031304cs_/https://www.hrw.org/misc/farbtastic/farbtastic.css?w"/> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/web/20130123031304cs_/https://www.hrw.org/sites/all/modules/patched/calendar/calendar.css?w"/> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/web/20130123031304cs_/https://www.hrw.org/sites/all/modules/contrib/cck/modules/fieldgroup/fieldgroup.css?w"/> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/web/20130123031304cs_/https://www.hrw.org/sites/all/modules/contrib/panels/css/panels.css?w"/> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/web/20130123031304cs_/https://www.hrw.org/sites/all/modules/contrib/views/css/views.css?w"/> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/web/20130123031304cs_/https://www.hrw.org/sites/all/modules/contrib/panels/plugins/layouts/onecol/onecol.css?w"/> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/web/20130123031304cs_/https://www.hrw.org/sites/all/themes/hrw/base.css?w"/> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/web/20130123031304cs_/https://www.hrw.org/sites/all/themes/hrw/style.css?w"/> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/web/20130123031304cs_/https://www.hrw.org/sites/all/themes/hrw/media.css?w"/> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/web/20130123031304cs_/https://www.hrw.org/sites/all/themes/hrw/font-awesome/css/font-awesome.css?w"/>   <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20130123031304js_/https://www.hrw.org/sites/all/modules/contrib/jquery_update/replace/jquery.min.js?w"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20130123031304js_/https://www.hrw.org/misc/drupal.js?w"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20130123031304js_/https://www.hrw.org/sites/all/modules/contrib/google_analytics/googleanalytics.js?w"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20130123031304js_/https://www.hrw.org/sites/all/modules/contrib/swftools/shared/swfobject2/swfobject.js?w"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20130123031304js_/https://www.hrw.org/sites/all/modules/contrib/panels/js/panels.js?w"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20130123031304js_/https://www.hrw.org/sites/all/themes/hrw/js/theme.js?w"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> <![CDATA[//><!]]> </script> <meta name="robots" content="noarchive"> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="Human Rights Watch - News" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130123031304/http://www.hrw.org/en/rss/news"> </head> <body class="hrw not-front not-logged-in page-taxonomy one-sidebar sidebar-right i18n-en free-speech sidebar-right panels"> <div id="header"> <div class="limiter clear-block"> <a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/" class="logo">HRW</a> <div class="right"> <div class="top clear-block"> <div class="i18n"><ul class="links"><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130123031304/http://www.hrw.org/ar">العربية</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130123031304/http://www.hrw.org/zh-hans">中文</a></li><li class="active"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130123031304/http://www.hrw.org/en">English</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130123031304/http://www.hrw.org/fr">Français</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130123031304/http://www.hrw.org/de">Deutsch</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130123031304/http://www.hrw.org/ja">日本語</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130123031304/http://www.hrw.org/ru">Русский</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130123031304/http://www.hrw.org/es">Español</a></li><li class="last"><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/languages">More +</a></li></ul></div> <div class="personas"><ul class="links"> <li class="last"><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/get-involved">Get Involved</a></li> </ul></div> <div id="sm_links"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130123031304/http://www.twitter.com/hrw"><img src="/web/20130123031304im_/https://www.hrw.org/sites/all/themes/hrw/images/twitter.gif"></a><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130123031304/http://www.youtube.com/humanrightswatch"><img src="/web/20130123031304im_/https://www.hrw.org/sites/all/themes/hrw/images/youtube.gif"></a><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130123031304/http://www.facebook.com/humanrightswatch"><img src="/web/20130123031304im_/https://www.hrw.org/sites/all/themes/hrw/images/facebook.gif"></a><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/rss"><img src="/web/20130123031304im_/https://www.hrw.org/sites/all/themes/hrw/images/rss.gif"></a></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="limiter nav clear-block"> <ul class="links"> <li class="first"><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/home">Home</a></li> <li class=""><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/our-work">Our Work</a></li> <li class=""><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/news">News</a></li> <li class=""><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/publications">Publications</a></li> <li class=""><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/multimedia">Multimedia</a></li> <li class="last"><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/about">About Us</a></li> </ul> <ul class="donate links"> <li class="last"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130123031304/https://secure.hrw.org/site/c.nlIWIgN2JwE/b.8370149/k.2592/Donate__Help_Defend_Human_Rights/apps/ka/sd/donorcustom.asp?msource=n">Donate</a></li> </ul> <div class="search"><form action="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/search/apachesolr_search" accept-charset="UTF-8" method="post" id="search-form" class="search-form"> <div><div class="form-item" id="edit-keys-wrapper"> <label for="edit-keys">Enter your keywords: </label> <div class="container-inline"><div class="form-item" id="edit-keys-wrapper"> <input type="text" maxlength="255" name="keys" id="edit-keys" size="40" value="" class="form-text"/> </div> <input type="submit" name="op" id="edit-submit-1" value="Search" class="form-submit"/> </div><div class="form-item" id="edit-apachesolr-search-detach-auto-language-filter-wrapper"> <label class="option" for="edit-apachesolr-search-detach-auto-language-filter"><input type="checkbox" name="apachesolr_search[detach_auto_language_filter]" id="edit-apachesolr-search-detach-auto-language-filter" value="1" class="form-checkbox"/> Search all languages</label> </div> <input type="hidden" name="apachesolr_search[queryvalues]" id="edit-apachesolr-search-queryvalues" value="[]"/> <input type="hidden" name="apachesolr_search[get]" id="edit-apachesolr-search-get" value="[]"/> </div> <input type="hidden" name="form_build_id" id="form-3af4719c7a54d10865860147f6df2777" value="form-3af4719c7a54d10865860147f6df2777"/> <input type="hidden" name="form_id" id="edit-search-form" value="search_form"/> </div></form> </div> </div> <div id="subnav" class="limiter clear-block"> <div id="section-title"> <a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/topic/free-speech" title="Free Speech" class="active">Free Speech</a> </div> <div class="subnav"><ul class="links"> <li class="first"><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/by-issue/news-filter/737">News Releases</a></li> <li class=""><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/by-issue/publications/737">Reports</a></li> <li class=""><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/by-issue/commentaries/737">Commentaries</a></li> <li class=""><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/by-issue/multimedia/737">Multimedia</a></li> <li class=""><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/by-issue/experts/737">Experts</a></li> <li class="last"><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/rss/taxonomy/737">RSS</a></li> </ul></div> </div> </div> <div id="page"> <div class="limiter clear-block"> <div class="sidebar sidebar-right"> <div id="block-taxonomy_context-2" class="clear-block block block-taxonomy_context"> <h6 class="block-title clear-block">Topic</h6> <div class="bcontent"><ul class="menu"> <li class="collapsed"><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/category/topic/arms">Arms</a></li> <li class="collapsed"><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/topic/business">Business</a></li> <li class="collapsed"><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/topic/childrens-rights">Children's Rights</a></li> <li class="collapsed"><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/topic/counterterrorism">Counterterrorism</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/topic/disability-rights">Disability Rights</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/topic/environment">Environment</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/topic/esc-rights">ESC Rights</a></li> <li class="expanded"><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/topic/free-speech" class="active">Free Speech</a><ul class="menu"> <li class="leaf"><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/topic/free-speech/internet-freedom">Internet Freedom</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/topic/free-speech/press-freedom">Press Freedom</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="collapsed"><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/topic/health">Health</a></li> <li class="collapsed"><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/topic/international-justice">International Justice</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/topic/lgbt-rights">LGBT Rights</a></li> <li class="collapsed"><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/topic/migration">Migration</a></li> <li class="collapsed"><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/topic/refugees">Refugees</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/topic/terrorism">Terrorism</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/topic/torture">Torture</a></li> <li class="collapsed"><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/topic/united-nations">United Nations</a></li> <li class="collapsed"><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/topic/womens-rights">Women's Rights</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="block-views-taxonomy_landing_page-block_1" class="clear-block block block-views"> <div class="bcontent"><div class="view view-taxonomy-landing-page view-id-taxonomy_landing_page view-display-id-block_1 view-dom-id-8"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="item-list"> <ul> <li class="views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first"> <div class="views-field-field-copy-image-fid"> <span class="field-content"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130123031304/http://www.hrw.org/azerbaijan-eurovision"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130123031304im_/http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/media/images/copy/banner_eurovision.jpg" width="322" height="250" class="imagefield imagefield-field_copy_image"/></a></span> </div> </li> <li class="views-row views-row-2 views-row-even"> <div class="views-field-body"> <div class="field-content"><iframe width="322" height="181" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130123031304if_/https://www.youtube.com/embed/outN4Q6Sbxw?autohide=1&wmode=transparent&;showinfo=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div> </div> </li> <li class="views-row views-row-3 views-row-odd"> <div class="views-field-field-copy-image-fid"> <span class="field-content"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130123031304/http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/human-rights-watch-for-ipad/id414155415?mt=8"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130123031304im_/http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/media/images/copy/banner_ipad2a_2012.jpg" width="322" height="272" class="imagefield imagefield-field_copy_image"/></a></span> </div> </li> <li class="views-row views-row-4 views-row-even views-row-last"> <div class="views-field-field-copy-image-fid"> <span class="field-content"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130123031304/http://www.hrw.org/en/burma-defenders"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130123031304im_/http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/media/images/copy/banner_burma_feature2.jpg" width="322" height="250" class="imagefield imagefield-field_copy_image"/></a></span> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="main" class="clear-block"> <div id="content" class="clear-block"> <div class="panel-display panel-1col clear-block" id="taxonomy"> <div class="panel-panel panel-col"> <div><div class="panel-pane pane-views-panes pane-taxonomy-landing-page-panel-pane-1 pane-taxonomy-feature-page"> <div class="pane-content"> <div class="view view-taxonomy-landing-page view-id-taxonomy_landing_page view-display-id-panel_pane_1 view-taxonomy-feature-page view-dom-id-4"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="item-list"> <ul> <li class="views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first views-row-last"> <div class="views-field-field-imagefile-fid"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/news/2013/01/04/china-renewed-restrictions-send-online-chill"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130123031304im_/http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/imagecache/crop-300x200/media/images/photographs/2012_China_internetcafe.jpg" class="imagecache imagecache-crop-300x200 imagecache-default imagecache-crop-300x200_default"/></a></span> </div> <div class="views-field-field-image-caption-value"> <div class="field-content">Customers use computers at an internet cafe in Hefei, Anhui province on March 16, 2012.</div> </div> <div class="views-field-field-copyright-value"> <span class="field-content">© 2012 Reuters</span> </div> <div class="views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/news/2013/01/04/china-renewed-restrictions-send-online-chill">China: Renewed Restrictions Send Online Chill</a></span> </div> <div class="views-field-field-news-teaser-value"> <div class="field-content"><p>The Chinese government’s further tightening of internet controls and mandating real name registration threaten security and privacy of internet users. On December 28, 2012, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, China’s legislative body, passed the “Decision to Strengthen the Protection of Online Information.” The Decision contains troubling provisions that require internet access and telecommunications providers to collect personal information about users when they sign up for internet access, landline, or mobile phone service.</p></div> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="attachment attachment-before"> <div class="view view-taxonomy-landing-page view-id-taxonomy_landing_page view-display-id-attachment_1 view-dom-id-2"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="item-list"> <ul> <li class="views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first"> <div class="views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/news/2013/01/21/russia-investigate-death-threats-against-defender">Russia: Investigate Death Threats Against Defender</a></span> </div> <div class="views-field-created"> <span class="field-content">Jan 21, 2013</span> </div> </li> <li class="views-row views-row-2 views-row-even"> <div class="views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/news/2013/01/18/hungary-s-alarming-climate-intolerance">Hungary’s Alarming Climate of Intolerance</a></span> </div> <div class="views-field-created"> <span class="field-content">Jan 18, 2013</span> </div> </li> <li class="views-row views-row-3 views-row-odd"> <div class="views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/news/2013/01/13/sudan-end-crackdown-civil-society">Sudan: End Crackdown on Civil Society</a></span> </div> <div class="views-field-created"> <span class="field-content">Jan 13, 2013</span> </div> </li> <li class="views-row views-row-4 views-row-even views-row-last"> <div class="views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/news/2013/01/12/venezuela-halt-censorship-intimidation-media">Venezuela: Halt Censorship, Intimidation of Media</a></span> </div> <div class="views-field-created"> <span class="field-content">Jan 12, 2013</span> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="view-footer"> <a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/by-issue/news-filter/737">More news »</a> </div> <div class="attachment attachment-after"> <div class="view view-taxonomy-landing-page view-id-taxonomy_landing_page view-display-id-attachment_2 view-dom-id-3"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="item-list"> <ul> <li class="views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first views-row-last"></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="feed-icon"> <a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/rss/taxonomy/737" class="feed-icon">Subscribe to content feed</a><img src="/web/20130123031304im_/https://www.hrw.org/misc/feed.png" width="16" height="16"/> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="panel-region-separator"></div><div class="panel-pane pane-views-panes pane-taxonomy-landing-page-panel-pane-2 pane-taxonomy-reports"> <h2 class="pane-title">Reports</h2> <div class="pane-content"> <div class="view view-taxonomy-landing-page view-id-taxonomy_landing_page view-display-id-panel_pane_2 view-taxonomy-reports view-dom-id-6"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="item-list"> <ul> <li class="views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first"> <div class="views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/reports/2012/12/13/why-they-left">Why They Left</a></span> </div> <div class="views-field-field-reportsynopsis-subtitle-value"> <span class="field-content">Stories of Iranian Activists in Exile</span> </div> <div class="views-field-field-reportsynopsis-cover-fid"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/reports/2012/12/13/why-they-left" class="imagecache imagecache-scale-crop-200w-133h imagecache-linked imagecache-scale-crop-200w-133h_linked"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130123031304im_/http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/imagecache/scale-crop-200w-133h/media/images/report-covers/iran1212_0.jpg" class="imagecache imagecache-scale-crop-200w-133h"/></a></span> </div> </li> <li class="views-row views-row-2 views-row-even"> <div class="views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/reports/2012/08/21/curtailing-criticism">Curtailing Criticism</a></span> </div> <div class="views-field-field-reportsynopsis-subtitle-value"> <span class="field-content">Intimidation and Obstruction of Civil Society in Uganda</span> </div> <div class="views-field-field-reportsynopsis-cover-fid"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/reports/2012/08/21/curtailing-criticism" class="imagecache imagecache-scale-crop-200w-133h imagecache-linked imagecache-scale-crop-200w-133h_linked"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130123031304im_/http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/imagecache/scale-crop-200w-133h/media/images/report-covers/uganda0812_reportcover.jpg" class="imagecache imagecache-scale-crop-200w-133h"/></a></span> </div> </li> <li class="views-row views-row-3 views-row-odd views-row-last"> <div class="views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/reports/2012/08/01/angola-s-upcoming-elections">Angola’s Upcoming Elections</a></span> </div> <div class="views-field-field-reportsynopsis-subtitle-value"> <span class="field-content">Attacks on the Media, Expression, and Assembly</span> </div> <div class="views-field-field-reportsynopsis-cover-fid"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/reports/2012/08/01/angola-s-upcoming-elections" class="imagecache imagecache-scale-crop-200w-133h imagecache-linked imagecache-scale-crop-200w-133h_linked"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130123031304im_/http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/imagecache/scale-crop-200w-133h/media/images/report-covers/angola0812_report.jpg" class="imagecache imagecache-scale-crop-200w-133h"/></a></span> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="view-footer"> <a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/by-issue/publications/737">More >></a> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="panel-region-separator"></div><div class="panel-pane pane-views-panes pane-taxonomy-landing-page-panel-pane-4 pane-taxonomy-news-listing"> <h2 class="pane-title">Free Speech</h2> <div class="pane-content"> <div class="view view-taxonomy-landing-page view-id-taxonomy_landing_page view-display-id-panel_pane_4 view-taxonomy-news-listings view-dom-id-7"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="item-list"> <ul> <li class="views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first"> <div class="views-field-field-imagefile-fid"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div> <div class="views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/news/2013/01/21/russia-investigate-death-threats-against-defender">Russia: Investigate Death Threats Against Defender</a></span> </div> <div class="views-field-created"> <span class="field-content">Jan 21, 2013</span> </div> <div class="views-field-field-news-teaser-value"> <div class="field-content">Russian authorities should investigate death threats against Vitalii Ponomarev, the lead Central Asia expert with Memorial Human Rights Center. The investigation should be prompt and comprehensive, and Russia should seek cooperation from Uzbek authorities to ensure its thoroughness.</div> </div> </li> <li class="views-row views-row-2 views-row-even"> <div class="views-field-field-imagefile-fid"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div> <div class="views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/news/2013/01/18/hungary-s-alarming-climate-intolerance">Hungary’s Alarming Climate of Intolerance</a></span> </div> <div class="views-field-created"> <span class="field-content">Jan 18, 2013</span> </div> <div class="views-field-field-news-teaser-value"> <div class="field-content">A prominent columnist calls for a “final solution” for Hungary’s Roma population. A member of parliament calls for drawing up a list of Jewish people involved in Hungarian politics. Two-thirds of those asked in an opinion poll say they wouldn’t let their child be friends with a Romani child. Another poll suggests a similar number believe Jewish people have too much influence. One doesn’t have to be a student of history to be worried about the growing climate of intolerance in Hungary.</div> </div> </li> <li class="views-row views-row-3 views-row-odd"> <div class="views-field-field-imagefile-fid"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div> <div class="views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/news/2013/01/13/sudan-end-crackdown-civil-society">Sudan: End Crackdown on Civil Society</a></span> </div> <div class="views-field-created"> <span class="field-content">Jan 13, 2013</span> </div> <div class="views-field-field-news-teaser-value"> <div class="field-content">Sudan should immediately rescind its decision to shut down four civil society organizations in Khartoum in December 2012. The government should allow independent groups to operate freely and conduct peaceful protests.</div> </div> </li> <li class="views-row views-row-4 views-row-even"> <div class="views-field-field-imagefile-fid"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div> <div class="views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/news/2013/01/12/venezuela-halt-censorship-intimidation-media">Venezuela: Halt Censorship, Intimidation of Media</a></span> </div> <div class="views-field-created"> <span class="field-content">Jan 12, 2013</span> </div> <div class="views-field-field-news-teaser-value"> <div class="field-content">Venezuela should end censorship and intimidation of media that challenge the official line regarding President Hugo Chávez’s health and inauguration, Human Rights Watch said today.</div> </div> </li> <li class="views-row views-row-5 views-row-odd"> <div class="views-field-field-imagefile-fid"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div> <div class="views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/news/2013/01/11/uaefrance-hollande-should-convey-rights-concerns">UAE/France: Hollande Should Convey Rights Concerns</a></span> </div> <div class="views-field-created"> <span class="field-content">Jan 11, 2013</span> </div> <div class="views-field-field-news-teaser-value"> <div class="field-content">President François Hollande of France should publicly and privately convey concerns about deteriorating human rights conditions in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on his visit there. Hollande is scheduled to arrive for his first official visit to the UAE on January 15, 2013.</div> </div> </li> <li class="views-row views-row-6 views-row-even"> <div class="views-field-field-imagefile-fid"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div> <div class="views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/news/2013/01/09/vietnam-release-convicted-activists">Vietnam: Release Convicted Activists</a></span> </div> <div class="views-field-created"> <span class="field-content">Jan 9, 2013</span> </div> <div class="views-field-field-news-teaser-value"> <div class="field-content">The conviction and prison sentences of 14 activists by the People’s Court of Nghe An province on January 9, 2012, marks a sharp escalation of government attacks on critics</div> </div> </li> <li class="views-row views-row-7 views-row-odd"> <div class="views-field-field-imagefile-fid"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div> <div class="views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/news/2013/01/07/bahrain-highest-court-upholds-grossly-unfair-convictions">Bahrain: Highest Court Upholds Grossly Unfair Convictions</a></span> </div> <div class="views-field-created"> <span class="field-content">Jan 7, 2013</span> </div> <div class="views-field-field-news-teaser-value"> <div class="field-content">Bahrain’s Court of Cassation ruling on January 7, 2013, upholding lengthy prison terms of 13 prominent dissidents appears to confirm the inability of Bahrain’s judicial system to protect basic rights. A military court had convicted the dissidents solely for exercising their rights to free expression and peaceful assembly.</div> </div> </li> <li class="views-row views-row-8 views-row-even"> <div class="views-field-field-imagefile-fid"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div> <div class="views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/news/2013/01/04/china-renewed-restrictions-send-online-chill">China: Renewed Restrictions Send Online Chill</a></span> </div> <div class="views-field-created"> <span class="field-content">Jan 4, 2013</span> </div> <div class="views-field-field-news-teaser-value"> <div class="field-content"><p>The Chinese government’s further tightening of internet controls and mandating real name registration threaten security and privacy of internet users. On December 28, 2012, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, China’s legislative body, passed the “Decision to Strengthen the Protection of Online Information.” The Decision contains troubling provisions that require internet access and telecommunications providers to collect personal information about users when they sign up for internet access, landline, or mobile phone service.</p></div> </div> </li> <li class="views-row views-row-9 views-row-odd"> <div class="views-field-field-imagefile-fid"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div> <div class="views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/news/2013/01/03/bahrain-charges-against-rights-defender-raise-concerns">Bahrain: Charges Against Rights Defender Raise Concerns</a></span> </div> <div class="views-field-created"> <span class="field-content">Jan 3, 2013</span> </div> <div class="views-field-field-news-teaser-value"> <div class="field-content">Bahraini authorities should provisionally release a human rights activist who faces charges over his tweet reporting about a wounded demonstrator. The activist, Sayed Yusuf al-Muhafadha, has been charged with “willfully disseminating false news” amounting to “incitement to violence.”</div> </div> </li> <li class="views-row views-row-10 views-row-even views-row-last"> <div class="views-field-field-imagefile-fid"> <span class="field-content"></span> </div> <div class="views-field-title"> <span class="field-content"><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/news/2013/01/02/letter-bahrain-pre-trial-detention-sayed-yusuf-al-muhafadha">Letter to Bahrain on the Pre-Trial Detention of Sayed Yusuf al-Muhafadha</a></span> </div> <div class="views-field-created"> <span class="field-content">Jan 2, 2013</span> </div> <div class="views-field-field-news-teaser-value"> <div class="field-content">We are writing you this open letter to express our concerns about the prosecution and pre-trial detention of Sayed Yusuf al-Muhafadha, acting vice-president of the Bahrain Human Rights Centre (BHRC), on charges of “willfully disseminatingfalse news” that amounts to “incitement to violence.”</div> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="more-link"> <a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/news-all/737">more documents on this topic »</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="footer"> <div class="limiter clear-block"> <div class="clear-block"><a href="#header" class="back-to-top">Back to top</a></div> <div class="nav"> <a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/rss" class="rss-link">RSS</a> <div class="pipe-links"><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/home">Home</a> <span class="pipe">|</span> <a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/our-work">Our Work</a> <span class="pipe">|</span> <a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/news">News</a> <span class="pipe">|</span> <a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/publications">Publications</a> <span class="pipe">|</span> <a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/multimedia">Multimedia</a> <span class="pipe">|</span> <a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/about">About Us</a> <span class="pipe">|</span> <a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/contact-us">Contact Us</a> <span class="pipe">|</span> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130123031304/http://ff.hrw.org/">Film Festival</a> <span class="pipe">|</span> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130123031304/https://secure.hrw.org/site/c.nlIWIgN2JwE/b.8370149/k.2592/Donate__Help_Defend_Human_Rights/apps/ka/sd/donorcustom.asp?msource=n">Donate</a></div> </div> <div class="footer-blocks clear-block"> <div id="block-views-hrw_footer-block_1" class="clear-block block block-views"> <div class="bcontent"><div class="view view-hrw-footer view-id-hrw_footer view-display-id-block_1 view-dom-id-9"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first views-row-last"> <div class="views-field-body"> <div class="field-content">Human Rights Watch<br/> 350 Fifth Avenue, 34th Floor<br/> New York, NY 10118-3299<br/> USA<br/> Tel: 1-(212) 290-4700<br/> <br/> <strong><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/en/contact-us">Contact Us - Global Offices</a></strong><br/> <strong><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130123031304/http://ff.hrw.org/">Film Festival</a></strong><br/> <strong><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/en/about/jobs">Employment</a></strong></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="block-tic-5" class="clear-block block block-tic"> <div class="bcontent"><div class="col-left clear-block"><strong class="vocab-header"><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/regions">Browse by Region</a></strong><div class="item-list"><ul><li class="first first"><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/africa">Africa</a></li> <li class=""><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/americas">Americas</a></li> <li class=""><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/asia">Asia</a></li> <li class=""><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/europe/central-asia">Europe/Central Asia</a></li> <li class=""><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/middle-east/n-africa">Middle East/N. Africa</a></li> <li class="last last"><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/united-states">United States</a></li> </ul></div><strong class="vocab-header"><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/browse_by_country">Browse by Country</a></strong></div><div class="col-right clear-block"><strong class="vocab-header"><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/topics">Browse by Topic</a></strong><div class="item-list"><ul><li class="first first"><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/category/topic/arms">Arms</a></li> <li class=""><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/topic/business">Business</a></li> <li class=""><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/topic/childrens-rights">Children's Rights</a></li> <li class=""><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/topic/counterterrorism">Counterterrorism</a></li> <li class=""><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/topic/disability-rights">Disability Rights</a></li> <li class="last last"><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/topic/environment">Environment</a></li> </ul></div><div class="item-list"><ul><li class="first first"><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/topic/esc-rights">ESC Rights</a></li> <li class=""><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/topic/free-speech">Free Speech</a></li> <li class=""><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/topic/health">Health</a></li> <li class=""><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/topic/international-justice">International Justice</a></li> <li class=""><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/topic/lgbt-rights">LGBT Rights</a></li> <li class="last last"><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/topic/migration">Migration</a></li> </ul></div><div class="item-list"><ul><li class="first first"><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/topic/refugees">Refugees</a></li> <li class=""><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/topic/terrorism">Terrorism</a></li> <li class=""><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/topic/torture">Torture</a></li> <li class=""><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/topic/united-nations">United Nations</a></li> <li class="last last"><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/topic/womens-rights">Women's Rights</a></li> </ul></div></div></div> </div> <div id="block-block-58" class="clear-block block block-block"> <div class="bcontent"><div id="footer"> <div class="footer-blocks clear-block"> <div id="block-ec_ads-slider_ad" class="block block-ec_ads"> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130123031304js_/https://www.kintera.org/atf/cf/%7BD108C9E1-9920-41E7-A617-EF5F171073E4%7D/JQUERY.COOKIE.JS"></script> <style type="text/css"> #footer table {border-collapse: inherit;} #footer div.pop_up { position: fixed; bottom: 0px; left: 50%; width: 353px; z-index: 10000000; margin: 0 auto; margin-left: -500px; } #footer .content_holder { width: 383px; z-index: 100; background-repeat: no-repeat; } #footer #magazine_cover { position: absolute; width: 120px; top: 26px; left: 240px; z-index: 102; } #footer #f_main { color:#ffffff; font-weight:bold; padding:0px; background-image:url("https://web.archive.org/web/20130123031304im_/https://www.kintera.org/atf/account101731/images/mainbody.png"); width: 343px; height: 260px; z-index: 100; background-repeat: no-repeat; } #footer #f_main form { width:303px; height:169px; padding:20px; } #footer #top_f_main { position: absolute; top: -55px; left: 0px; width: 263px; height: 72px; cursor: pointer; } #footer #hide_btn { top: -40px; left: 230px; width: 15px; height: 15px; position: absolute; z-index: 3; cursor: pointer; } #up_arrow, #down_arrow { position: absolute; top: -35px; left: 8px; width: 25px; height: 10px; z-index: 3; cursor: pointer; margin:10px; } </style> <script type="text/javascript"> function show_roll_up(){ $("#f_main").show(1000); $("#up_arrow").hide(500); $("#down_arrow").show(0); $("#popup_status").val("up"); } function hide_roll_up(){ $("#f_main").hide(1000); $("#down_arrow").hide(500); $("#up_arrow").show(0); $("#popup_status").val("down"); } function add_supporter(frm){ var fname = frm.first_name.value; var lname = frm.last_name.value; var email = frm.email.value; var country = frm.country.value; if(fname == "" || fname == "first name" ) { alert("First Name is required"); frm.first_name.focus();return false;} if(lname == "" || lname == "last name" ) { alert("Last Name is required"); frm.last_name.focus();return false;} if(email == "" || email == "email address" ) { alert("Email is required"); frm.email.focus();return false;} var goodEmail = email.match(/\b(^(\S+@).+((\.com)|(\.net)|(\.edu)|(\.mil)|(\.gov)|(\.org)|(\.info)|(\.sex)|(\.biz)|(\.aero)|(\.coop)|(\.museum)|(\.name)|(\.pro)|(\..{2,2}))$)\b/gi); if (!goodEmail) { alert("Incorrect email format."); frm.email.focus(); return false; } $('form[name=contactForm]').submit(); } function roll_up_confirmed(){ var date = new Date(); date.setTime(date.getTime() + (30 * 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000)); $.cookie("modal","true",{path:"/",expires:date}); $(".pop_up").slideUp(1000); } $(document).ready(function() { if($.cookie("modal") == null){ $("#subscription_slider").show(); setTimeout("show_roll_up()", 3000); } else if($.cookie("modal") == "hide") { $("#popup_status").val("down"); $("#subscription_slider").show(); } $("#up_arrow").click(function(){ show_roll_up(); }); $("#top_f_main").click(function(){ if($("#popup_status").val() == "down") show_roll_up(); else { hide_roll_up(); var date = new Date(); date.setTime(date.getTime() + (3 * 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000)); $.cookie("modal","hide",{path:"/",expires:date}); } }); $("#down_arrow").click(function(){ hide_roll_up(); var date = new Date(); date.setTime(date.getTime() + (3 * 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000)); $.cookie("modal","hide",{path:"/",expires:date}); }); $("#hide_btn").click(function(){ var date = new Date(); date.setTime(date.getTime() + (30 * 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000)); $.cookie("modal","true",{path:"/",expires:date}); $(".pop_up").hide(); }); }); </script> <div class="content clearfix"> <div id="subscription_slider" class="pop_up" style="display:none;"> <div class="content_holder"> <div id="magazine_cover"></div> <div id="f_main" style="display:none;"> <iframe src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130123031304if_/https://secure.hrw.org/site/lookup.asp?c=nlIWIgN2JwE&b=8381153" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" width="333" height="275" style="margin-left:10px" scrolling="no"></iframe> </div> <input type="hidden" id="popup_status" value=""/> <div id="top_f_main"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130123031304im_/https://www.kintera.org/atf/account101731/images/topmain2.png"/></div> <div id="hide_btn"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130123031304im_/https://www.kintera.org/atf/account101731/images/hidebtn.gif"/></div> <div id="up_arrow" style="display: block; "> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130123031304im_/https://www.kintera.org/atf/account101731/images/uparrow.gif"/> </div> <div id="down_arrow" style="display: none; "> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130123031304im_/https://www.kintera.org/atf/account101731/images/downarrow.gif"/> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div<></div> </div> <div id="block-block-60" class="clear-block block block-block"> <div class="bcontent"><script> $(document).ready(function(){ $("a").click(function(){ if($(this).children('img').length){ var image = $(this).children('img').attr('src'); if(image == "https://web.archive.org/web/20130123031304/http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/media/images/copy/banner__YT3M.jpg"){ _gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'Outbound links', 'YouTube Promo Click', 'youtube.com/humanrightswatch']); }} }) }); </script></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="sub-footer"> <div class="limiter clear-block"> <div class="pipe-links"><a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/sitemap" class="footer">Site Map</a> <span class="pipe">|</span> <a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/privacy" class="footer">Privacy Policy</a> <span class="pipe">|</span> <a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/corrections" class="footer">Corrections</a> <span class="pipe">|</span> <a href="/web/20130123031304/https://www.hrw.org/permissions" class="footer">Permissions</a></div> <div class="footer-message"> © Copyright 2013, Human Rights Watch </div> </div> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> var _sf_async_config=Drupal.settings.chartbeat; (function(){ function loadChartbeat() { window._sf_endpt=(new Date()).getTime(); var e = document.createElement('script'); e.setAttribute('language', 'javascript'); e.setAttribute('type', 'text/javascript'); e.setAttribute('src', (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://web.archive.org/web/20130123031304/https://s3.amazonaws.com/" : "http://") + "static.chartbeat.com/js/chartbeat.js"); document.body.appendChild(e); } var oldonload = window.onload; window.onload = (typeof window.onload != 'function') ? loadChartbeat : function() { oldonload(); loadChartbeat(); }; })(); </script><script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20130123031304js_/https://www.hrw.org/sites/all/modules/contrib/lightbox2/js/lightbox_video.js?w"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20130123031304js_/https://www.hrw.org/sites/all/modules/contrib/lightbox2/js/lightbox.js?w"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> <![CDATA[//><!]]> </script> </body> </html>

CINXE.COM

Free Speech