freedom of expression – News Stories About freedom of expression - Page 2

Nov 20, 2009 8:42 PM CST

Billboard Links Obama to Jihad

Colo. car dealership wants this opinion heard

(Newser) - A billboard showing President Obama wearing a turban has sparked a lot of attention at the suburban Denver car dealership that put it up. The sign shows a cartoonish Obama and bears the words "PRESIDENT or JIHAD?" Underneath Obama's image is the phrase, "BIRTH CERTIFICATE, PROVE IT!"...

Quietly, Censorship
Takes Hold in Iraq

Aug 4, 2009 8:14 AM CDT

Quietly, Censorship Takes Hold in Iraq

(Newser) - When Saddam Hussein was toppled in 2003, his draconian censorship laws fell with him, and Iraq was flooded with American news, Egyptian soap operas, and Turkish music videos—not to mention pornography and jihadist videos. But now, reports the New York Times, censorship is quietly making a comeback in Iraq,...

Anti-Porn Curbs
Mask Chinese
Crackdown on Dissent

Jun 26, 2009 6:39 AM CDT

Anti-Porn Curbs Mask Chinese Crackdown on Dissent

Google blocked as Beijing ramps up Internet controls

(Newser) - The Chinese government ramped up restrictions on Internet use yesterday, sharply curtailing access to medical research on sexual health. It's the latest escalation in what Beijing calls an anti-pornography campaign that will culminate in new filtering software, called the Green Dam, that will be installed on all new computers from...

Armenia Attacks Protesters

Mar 1, 2008 4:30 PM CST

Armenia Attacks Protesters

Country declares emergency rule, kills 1 as rallies rage for 2nd week

(Newser) - Armenian cops fired on a crowd of protesters today and killed at least one as the country declared emergency rule, Reuters reports. Protests have raged daily since a Feb. 19 presidential election that opponents say was rigged for ex-premier Serzh Sarksyan. Police are holding opposition hopeful Levon Ter-Petrosian under house...

Dutch Brace
for Terror
Before Koran Shredding

Jan 21, 2008 5:02 AM CST

Dutch Brace for Terror Before Koran Shredding

Right-wing pol vows to air anti-Muslim film

(Newser) - The Dutch government expects violent protests in response to an anti-Muslim film—said to include images of the Koran being shredded—that a right-wing lawmaker has vowed to make public this month. Geert Wilders, one of nine members of an extremist party in the Dutch lower house, aims to expose...

Thailand Axes Anti-Monarchy Website

Jan 6, 2008 6:32 PM CST

Thailand Axes Anti-Monarchy Website

Critical postings, government shutdown may spark legal fight

(Newser) - A Thai ministry has shut down a website critical of the country's monarchy, the AP reports. Postings on Sameskybooks.com questioned news accounts that all citizens mourned the king's sister, who died Wednesday, and criticized officials. "I think we're one of the few sites posting remarks against the monarchy,...

Saudis Holding Blogger Critical of Government

Jan 2, 2008 1:50 PM CST

Saudis Holding Blogger Critical of Government

Popular scribe detained since Dec. 10, spurring fears of crackdown

(Newser) - The Saudi Arabian government has confirmed that it is holding a prominent blogger for questioning, the New York Times reports today. Fouad al-Farhan, who discussed social issues as one of the few Saudis to blog in Arabic under his real name, was arrested Dec. 10 to be interrogated about “...

AT&T Backs Off Controversial Service Terms

Oct 11, 2007 10:15 AM CDT

AT&T Backs Off Controversial Service Terms

Telecom's ToS had forbidden customers from criticizing it

(Newser) - Under an ironic firestorm of criticism for what some termed a First Amendment violation, AT&T has updated its controversial Terms of Service policy to allow users to criticize the telecom giant. The original terms stated that it reserved the right to cancel the account of those who "damaged...

Turkey
Bans
YouTube

Mar 8, 2007 1:03 PM CST

Turkey Bans YouTube

Greek videos are "insulting to Turkishness"

(Newser) - A Turkish court banned YouTube on Wednesday after Greek videos on the site insulted Turks—in particular Ataturk, the country's modern founding father—calling them homosexuals. The videos, part of an escalating "virtual war" between Greek and Turkish citizens belittling each other, were deemed an insult to Turkishness, a...