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Jamaica’s rivers and gullies are suffering from abuse · Global Voices
Emma Lewis

Dry River Falls, Jamaica. Photo by Josh Hunter on Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
This post was originally published on Petchary's Blog. An edited version appears below, with the author's kind permission.
World Rivers Day, observed annually on the fourth Sunday in September and founded by the long-time river advocate Mark Angelo, strives to increase public awareness of the importance of rivers, and encourage better stewardship of all rivers.
In Jamaica, rivers are temporal creatures—some may disappear for months or even years because of drought, or transform into unruly torrents during heavy rains by breaking their banks and causing flooding. Some rivers, especially those adjoining mangrove swamps, seem to remain constant, at times dark and sluggish, at others, crystalline.
The theme of this year’s World Rivers Day, urban waterways, is not a happy topic for Jamaica. In Kingston, Montego Bay, and many smaller coastal towns, waterways take the form of gullies. Often festooned with garbage, they are ugly spaces where anything—or anyone—might be lurking. Residents look at them quickly as they drive over them, then turn their eyes away.
In 2016, the Jamaica Environment Trust (JET) published a report entitled “Garbage and the Gully,” specifically focusing on the heavily polluted South Gully in Montego Bay. They recommended a slate of actions, including regular cleaning and garbage collection, public education targeting local businesses communities and enforcement of existing environmental laws.
JET also partnered with the Tourism Enhancement Fund, Montego Bay Marine Park and Yaadie Environmental Conservationists to design, construct and test a debris containment boom at the mouth of the South Gully as part of the country's 2014/15 Clean Coasts Project. Each time it was cleared, approximately 50–100 pounds of garbage—mostly plastic bags and plastic bottles—was removed. However, there were challenges with managing and maintaining it, and it became too labour-intensive and costly to continue.
A 2010 study estimated that approximately 25–30 per cent of Jamaica’s garbage is improperly disposed of, often ending up in gullies, drains and rivers, which empty into the sea. No less than 16 gullies empty into Kingston Harbour. After heavy rains, hundreds of plastic bottles bob around in the water, washed down with all kinds of other debris—including bags of human waste—from the gullies into the long-suffering harbour.
The Ministry of Local Government is responsible for maintaining and cleaning the gullies. In March, Minister of Finance Nigel Clarke announced a 320 million Jamaican dollar (2,164,650 United States dollar) gully-cleaning project for Kingston called the “Gully Intervention Programme.” It would have, among other things, involved the training of community members as environmental wardens, but the initiative has been delayed because of budgetary constraints imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. In a similar vein, executive director of the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), Audley Gordon, observed in a recent television interview that the planned 100 new garbage trucks will not arrive any time soon, as there is now no money for them.
Riding on a bamboo raft on the Rio Grande, west of Port Antonio, Jamaica. Photo by Kent MacElwee on Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
Meanwhile, for several years now, residents of Harbour Heights, situated in Harbour View to the south-west of Kingston, have been living in fear, with their homes teetering on the edge of a gully whose walls have been gradually collapsing. No one seemed to want to take responsibility, despite the residents’ vigorous lobbying and media interviews. Earlier this year, funds were promised and China Harbour Engineering Corporation (CHEC) was to repair the broken gully walls as part of the South Coast Highway Project.
Outside urban areas, Jamaica's rivers are also in trouble, and not only because, like the gullies, they are often used as garbage dumps. Rivers—including the Rio Cobre—are used and abused because of industrial pollution. One recent incident resulted in a major fish kill, depriving residents of food, income, and fresh water, in addition to affecting their health. The water was so polluted with toxic chemicals that the National Water Commission had to shut down its plant for several days. The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) plans to take the bauxite mining company involved in the incident to court once again, as this was not the first time something like this has happened. The case is scheduled to be heard this October.
Jamaican rivers, however, have other problems besides pollution. Climate change is digging deeper into the local landscape, made worse by environmentally harmful human activities that are often improperly monitored and regulated, with the most economically disenfranchised people typically suffering from the impact.
Take Bull Bay, a low-income community on the outskirts of Kingston. In a recent column in the Jamaica Gleaner, JET CEO Theresa Rodriguez-Moodie described the area as a “sacrificial zone.” Quarrying for gypsum for the nearby Caribbean Cement Company in the hills above the communities of Nine, Ten and Eleven Miles, has greatly expanded in recent years, destroying an entire hillside. Community members have been vocal, speaking many times about their plight, because they know the environment they live in is highly vulnerable and unstable—especially with the impact of climate change. They live in fear of storms, or even heavy rains, which bring down tons of silt, sand and stones from the hills. During recent downpours caused by tropical storms, residents were seen frantically trying to clear debris from the river so that it did not overflow and swamp their homes.
Another ever-present threat to local rivers is sand mining, both legal and illegal. Extractive industries of various kinds have devastated Jamaica's landscape and ecosystems. The rural community of Parnassus in Clarendon, for instance, is faced with the threat of tremendous erosion and the collapse of valuable agricultural land. Sand mining in the Rio Minho has caused the river to alter its natural course. The company involved says it is properly licensed, adding that the sand in the Rio Minho has run out. There continues to be a huge demand for sand in the country's ever-growing construction industry, and the company has “resorted to land mining.”
As for the magnificent Rio Grande in Portland, which is highly promoted as a tourist attraction, NEPA issued enforcement notices a year ago to Agro Expo, which was in breach of its permits. Sand mining in this beautiful river has been going on for years.
Black River wildlife, Jamaica. Photo by Jan Hazevoet on Flickr, CC BY 2.0.
Amid all this destruction, Jamaicans love their rivers. They are places for recreation and “cooling out.” They love the secluded waterfalls at Cane River and Gordon Town. They enjoy the picturesque Old Spanish Bridge in St. Mary, the site of many excursions and parties. They love clambering over the boulders in the Wag Water, at Castleton Botanical Gardens, a popular picnic spot, and even love the unpredictable rivers, like Black River, the island's second-longest and widest waterway, with its towering mangrove forest, crocodiles and swamp birds.
While a special day for rivers may not instantly solve all the problems the country's rivers currently face, it may inspire Jamaicans to appreciate them a little more, and monitor the waterways for signs of health—or abuse.

author: Emma Lewis


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Join us LIVE on December 2 for roundtable discussion “Adventures in social media promotion” · Global Voices
Nevin Thompson

Join us for “Adventures in social media promotion” on Thursday, December 2, 2021.
Hosted by TargetingS and Global Voices and aimed at social media editors in newsrooms, this 60-minute roundtable discussion on Thursday, December 2 at 4pm GMT / 5pm CET / 11am EST / 8am PST will focus on how the Global Voices social media team collaborates to share stories with audiences across social media.
The session is free and open to the public and will be live streamed on YouTube.
Moderated by Nevin Thompson, Global Voices’ social media lead, the discussion will feature the Global Voices social media team, include J. Carolina Bransiecq, Eli Rivera, and Asteris Masouras. Chris Deco will represent Global Voices social media partner TargetingS.
Discussion topics will include:
Targetings is an AI-based social media management platform that minimizes the time spent on routine social media tasks, increases audience engagement, and provides opportunities to drive revenue. Launched in 2014 by tech and media experts, Targetings can now be found in 40 countries, in 30 languages and publishing over 19M posts each month.
When: Thursday, December 2 at 4pm GMT / 5pm CET / 11am EST / 8am PST (click here to convert to your local time zone)
Where: YouTube Live
Register at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/adventures-in-social-media-promotion-tickets-184259584377
For more information, contact:
Nevin Thompson, Social Media Manager, Global Voices

source: news-globalvoices

license: Creative Commons - Attribution - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

author: Nevin Thompson


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Can LGBTQ+ rights activism be the key to reversing retrogressive policies in the Middle East? · Global Voices
Guest Contributor

Screenshot from YouTube video Imprisoned in Egypt for Raising the Rainbow Flag, by Human Rights Watch.
By Camille Arquette
While many countries around the world are increasingly adopting LGBTQ-friendly policies and practices, some countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region are moving in the opposite direction.
From Egypt to Turkey to Iran, MENA governments are pushing back against LGBTQ+ inclusion, even resorting to social media and mobile phones to track and target the community. Social stigmas have also hindered progress. Indeed, the LGBTQ+ community in the Middle East is under significant threat and international rights advocates must pressure MENA governments to transform their policies to create a more inclusive society free from fear and oppression.
While the content of LGBTQ-related laws varies from country to country in the MENA region, most nations have strict laws against homosexuality, many of which were inherited from colonial powers such as the French and British. In addition, some countries have adopted laws against same-sex sexual relations or the expression of transgender identity based on interpretations of Sharia law. These legal frameworks and existing social stigmas around being queer or transgender in the region have made it increasingly difficult for members of the LGBTQ+ community to establish and maintain safe and inclusive spaces.
In one prominent case in Egypt, Sarah Hegazy, a queer Egyptian feminist, was arrested after raising a rainbow flag at a concert in Cairo in 2017. The photo was posted on Facebook and shared numerous times, garnering attention from both critics and proponents of the LGBTQ+ community. A few days after the image went viral, the Egyptian government intervened, arresting Hegazy for “joining a banned group aimed at interfering with the constitution.” The government also reviewed footage of the concert. It detained dozens of other concertgoers who had hoisted the pride flag, as well as citizens they perceived as gay or transgender. The government held Hegazy in pretrial detention for three months. During this time, Egyptian authorities tortured her with electric shocks and solitary confinement. They also encouraged other prisoners to assault and abuse her. After her release, Hegazy moved to Toronto in exile but unfortunately, in 2020, she took her own life.
Since the concert, the Egyptian government has also launched a massive campaign of arrests:
As part of this campaign, Egyptian authorities created fake profiles on same-sex dating platforms and used them to entrap queer individuals.
In Iran, notorious for executing LGBTQ+ individuals, surveillance of social media platforms is ever present. The LGBTQ+ community has increasingly moved to Twitter, Instagram, and Telegram to express their feelings of discontent towards the Iranian regime. In the eyes of the regime, homosexuality is considered a sin punishable by death. In 2007, former President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, exclaimed, “In Iran, we don’t have homosexuals,” while Mehrdad Bazrpash, a member of parliament, stated that “it is a great honor for the Islamic Republic to violate the rights of homosexuals.” Indeed, Iran’s LGBTQ+ community suffers from oppression and alienation by authorities.
Clamping down on LGBTQ+ individuals in Iran has proven to be invasive and oftentimes brutal. Persian authorities are permitted to crawl social applications, like Grindr and Hornet, to blackmail and ensnare individuals into their dangerous honeytrap. On apps like Hotgram and Talaeii, a version of Telegram allowed to function in Iran (Telegram was banned in 2018), authorities can easily hack into the application because of its weak privacy policy and the founders could be tricked into communicating with government officials. Such constraints and invasion of privacy are forcing many in the LGBTQ+ community to flee to more liberal countries.
Anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment has also been on the rise in Turkey. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan routinely makes hostile and degrading comments about the LGBTQ+ community, contributing to a spike in anti-LGBTQ+ hate. For many years, Turkey was considered a tolerant country that stood out in the socially conservative MENA region. Although homosexuality is still legal in Turkey, Erdogan has invested significant resources in targeting the community, sparking concerns that the country may see a rise in hate crimes. This targeting has resulted in the cancellation by Netflix of a Turkish-produced series that featured a gay character because the government refused to issue a license to film. In addition, last June, Turkish media outlets led a boycott of French sporting goods company Decathlon after the company issued a statement saying it stood in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community. Some Turkish citizens believe these efforts aim to distract society from the government's failing economic and social policies.
While not considered the Middle East, it’s worth mentioning that Afghanistan, which shares a border with Iran, is currently in the midst of an LGBTQ+ crisis. Although the state of rights for this community was not ideal under the U.S. occupation, the risk of violence and harm is set to increase significantly under the new Taliban government. Before the U.S. military occupation of Afghanistan in 2001, the Taliban was well known for using the public execution of queer individuals.
Now that the group is in control of the country, similar outcomes are expected. According to a Los Angeles Times report, the Taliban has been cracking down on numerous segments of the population over the last few weeks, including the LGBTQ+ community. Additionally, a Taliban judge recently confirmed to a German media outlet that under Sharia law, homosexuality is illegal, and that the Taliban regime will punish homosexuality through stoning or by having a wall collapse on the accused individual. Over the past few years, many queer Afghans have come out to their families and began using their phones to communicate with and support one another. Many of these individuals are now fearful that the Taliban will confiscate their devices and use the information they find to hunt down other queer Afghans.
Apartment building lit in rainbow colors during Tel Aviv Pride Week, Israel, 2015. Photo by Edgardo W. Olivera (CC BY 2.0).
Despite progress on LGBTQ+ rights in certain parts of the region, the community continues to suffer. In Israel, a country where the government is heavily influenced by religious factions, lawmakers have progressed in leaps and bounds in accommodating the LGBTQ+ community’s needs. In the broader region, activists have worked tirelessly to fight for rights. Indeed, Tunisia is a shining example of the strength of the LGBTQ+ community, successfully pressuring the government to stop anal examinations to prosecute homosexuality.
While these efforts are a step forward, laws criminalizing same-sex relations persist. Government authorities are increasingly relying on technology to identify, track members of the community. Much like what the community has done in Tunisia, international LGBTQ+ rights advocates must continue to pressure governments in the MENA region to transform their policies. Such policies would improve the situation for LGBTQ+ people, providing the community with protection and liberality, whilst also stopping the retrogressive pattern currently evident in the region.

author: Guest Contributor


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COVID Couture: Trinidadian creative Sonja Dumas responds to the pandemic with a feel-good dress that has a deeper meaning · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Trinidadian creative Sonja Dumas in her grocery bag dress. Photo by Michele Jorsling courtesy Dumas, used with permission.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Trinidad and Tobago has had several stay-at-home orders, curfew impositions and restrictions on gatherings, with limits on the operations of non-essential businesses. Supermarkets and grocery stores, however, have been a constant, with food-shopping giving people a genuine reason to leave the house—but with beaches still closed, COVID-19 cabin fever has been getting to many netizens. One of them—dancer, choreographer and filmmaker Sonja Dumas—decided to counteract the COVID blues with creativity.
In a September 27 Facebook post, Dumas uploaded several professional photographs of herself, decked out in a colourful gown made entirely of reusable shopping bags and branded with the logo of one of the Caribbean region's largest supermarket chains, Massy Stores, explaining:
Who says I doh dress up and go on hot dates in de pandemic?
I was thinking about this situation we're all in and where to find the humour in it. […] I decided to go haute couture (not). I'd been planning it since April, when we went into the second major ‘lockdown’. Everyone's style was seriously cramped – again. But safety first. Grocery and pharmacy second. In my lethargy and my feelings of being overwhelmed by this whole world crisis, it took me months to even draw the design, far less get the dress made. But it happened.
The post struck a chord with social media users, who found it refreshing, imaginative, and a welcome break from discussing infection rates and vaccine hesitancy. I suspected, however, that like most creative endeavours, Dumas’ dress display operated on multiple levels and I wanted to find out more. Via telephone and email, she offered deeper insight into what inspired her to take on the project and the message she hopes it will send.
Sonja Dumas, ready for her ‘hot date’ to the grocery. Photo by Michele Jorsling courtesy Dumas, used with permission.
Janine Mendes-Franco (JMF): What was the genesis of your grocery bag dress idea—and what made you pursue it all the way through to a fashion photo shoot?
Sonja Dumas (SD): When Trinidad and Tobago went into its second major lockdown back in April, it was a very necessary move on the part of the government, but a very tense moment for the population. The number of daily COVID deaths had increased significantly and the virus was spreading, as well as the fear of it. It felt as if we were back to Square One, or maybe even negative Square One. As the lockdown persisted, I grew increasingly frustrated with the isolation and the inability to do what I considered ‘normal’. As a person in the creative sector, it was doubly frustrating because much of my income also dried up. My life outside of home and temporary work spaces was centred around visits to the grocery, the gas station and the pharmacy. Those became what I call my ‘hot dates’ – the opportunity to be social – if only to mutter ‘Good morning’ or ‘Good evening’ to the security guard stationed at the door to ensure that I sanitised and took my temperature before entering the building.
JMF: Take me through the creative process. Did you design and sew it yourself? What was involved, how long did it take, and how did its scope expand?
SD: I designed the dress in my head first. I knew exactly what I wanted it to look like but took months to actually draw it; it wasn’t really a priority. Strangely, I was even more busy with Zoom meetings and backlogs, even though there was less paying work. The dress continued to be just a cerebral protest about what my life had come to. But I knew other people were suffering from the same isolation, uncertainty, sadness and general feeling of being overwhelmed, and I thought that the dress might help to cheer us all up.
I finally made a couple of sketches back in July or August, and then took it to a seamstress who does many of the dance costumes that I design. She’s a brilliant craftsperson, as well as an amazing interpreter of my designs, and she knows how far out of the box I often think. I placed the sketches and the Massy bags on her sewing table. There were 7 big ones and 4 small ones (although not all were eventually used for the dress). She didn’t flinch. All she said was, ‘Costume?’ I grinned and said, ‘Yes’. We spoke for five or ten minutes, and that was that. A week later, I returned to collect the quirky evening dress that I planned to post on social media as a small act of humorous protest and liberation.
JMF: So was it all feel-good fashion in the midst of a tough time or was there a deeper sub-text?
SD: I would say it was more of an exercise in preserving mental health and wellness which would hopefully make others feel good too. I revel in the process of conceiving an idea, birthing it with labour pains and all, and bringing it to fruition. The care, the love, and the dedication in that is something that energises me and makes me feel as if I’ve reached the highest form of my human and spiritual self. One needs that – especially in times of great challenges.
JMF: The bags, visually arresting thanks to their colour and sheen, are also somewhat of a symbol of this pandemic. Food is essential, but it has become more expensive. Are you commenting on social equity, food security, even stewardship of our environment via the upcycling of the bags? Are these things we should be thinking about?
SD: The colourful nature of the bags was definitely something that I considered, but it was more about the ubiquitous nature of the bag and that fact that it symbolised access to food and, in a pandemic, access to very little other activity. So the dress is definitely a statement about our pandemic situation. I don’t think that I would have thought about making it if we weren’t facing this cataclysmic shift in lifestyle, access and human relations.
But food security is definitely one of the things we should be thinking about. While I’m grateful that there’s a way for most of us in Trinidad and Tobago to purchase food when we want it, I’ve been appalled at some of the prices that I’ve seen in the past few months. I know that things are tight for everyone in the wholesale-retail chain, but food shouldn’t be made more expensive in these times. There still are too many people who are struggling to put food on their families’ tables every day. I’m blessed that I don’t fall into that category, and I count my blessings every day, but I know that the situation could change unexpectedly for me or anyone else on this fragile planet.
Sonja Dumas strikes a pose in her reusable grocery bag gown. Photo by Michelle Jorsling courtesy Dumas, used with permission.
JMF: How did the photo shoot factor in?
SD: I was initially planning just to do a series of selfies and post it on Facebook and Instagram, but then a random opportunity arose for me to get the shoot done at the studio of the incredibly talented Michele Jorsling. I had to do another photo shoot there […] and I asked if she could spare some time to take just a couple of shots of me in the dress [afterwards]. She obliged, and that’s how this amazing shoot happened.
JMF: The whole feel is very Caribbean, invoking the region’s dance traditions through the dress’ wide skirt—like that of a Bélé dancer—and your cheekiness in the photos echoes that vibe. The design is also a nod to Trinidad and Tobago’s Carnival spirit—the idea of dress-up and disguise—which the pandemic has deprived us of.
SD: Yes, I was definitely conjuring up the coquettishness of some of our African-Caribbean dances, which tease and also challenge through movement, gesture and look. I thoroughly enjoy using those devices; it’s part of playing the masquerade of the message. And the design of the skirt is certainly a nod to the voluminous, patterned bélé over-skirt.
This dress is definitely along that performative ‘dance and mas’ spectrum. I hope that it is considered a mas! Because isn’t mas supposed to delight, provoke and intrigue? Earlier this week, a cutting-edge traditional Carnival costume designer reached out to me to talk about possibilities of a digital collaboration, using recycled materials, which is right up my alley. You just never know where your little rant in your little dress will lead you.
JMF: How would you describe the essence of a Caribbean woman through this dress?
SD: I’m using this word a lot these days, but ‘resilient’. It speaks of confronting one’s fears and conquering some of the anxiety, and of using humour to lift oneself up – as a woman, as a human. I’ve always thought of myself as an intense person with strong opinions and a sense of justice and fearlessness. […] I thought I had reached my zenith with all of that. But then, in the face of the pandemic, I’ve found a new font of mental and spiritual strength to cope with what has come my way in the last eighteen months. It speaks to a kind of self-reliance that the Caribbean woman knows she has, deep down inside. What’s different now is that in my isolation, I’ve had to time to think about how this new level of resiliency shapes my life, and what I’m going to do with it going forward. It’s scary and it’s beautiful at the same time.
JMF: These images say to me that there’s beauty and excellence to be found in even the most mundane of things if we approach it with the right frame of mind. Is that the secret to making it through this pandemic? Critical thinking with a dash of humour?
SD: I think that's a really good way to look at it. But don’t forget the healing factor. As much as the dress might capture the attention of someone who sees it because of its unusual nature, and as much as it raises big world questions like the future of food security, there is a more personal intent behind it. I made it to cheer up myself and others at a depressing and challenging moment of our human history. It’s a suggestion of how we could craft our own healing—at least some of the time—with, as you say, mundane objects. So one major message is that you don’t have to look too far or spend too much to create something that lets you vent and makes you smile at the same time. Use the objects in your environment and heal yourself through your own creativity.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Qatar urged to release 21 detainees held for protesting ‘discriminatory’ election laws · Global Voices
Gulf Center for Human Rights

Hazzaa Almurra PhD, is one of the detainees, and has spearheaded the mobilization for the protests against the electoral laws and what he described as the “incomplete citizenship” he and his kinsmen hold. He appeared in a video challenging Qatar's Emir, and pledging to protest discrimination till the last breath. Screenshot from video published in this tweet.
This post was published on 19 September by the Gulf Center for Human Rights (GCHR), an independent, nonprofit organization that promotes freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly in the MENA region. An edited version is republished as per a republishing agreement.
The London-based Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) called on Qatari authorities to release 21 citizens who were detained earlier this month for peacefully protesting recently-issued laws that regulate the state's first legislative elections.
In a statement published on September 19, GCHR urged the Qatari government “to immediately release all detainees in connection with the recent peaceful protests, and to protect public freedoms, especially freedom of expression and freedom of peaceful assembly.”
The group also called on Doha to amend three laws that regulate Qatar's first-ever Shura Council elections.
On July 29, the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, ratified Law No. (6) of 2021 that governs procedures for the Shura Council elections due to be held in October, in which two-thirds of the 54-seat assembly are to be elected for the first time. The emir also ratified Law No. (7) of 2021 which details the formation of the council and its jurisdictions. Furthermore, the emir issued Decree No. (37) of 2021 defining the 30 electoral districts of the Shura Council, from which one member is to be elected for each electoral district.
The two laws and the associated decree are seen by GCHR, the Human Rights Watch (HRW) and others to establish blatant discrimination between Qatari citizens, denying a large group of them the right to run for office or the right to vote, or both, and completely marginalising other groups in society.
According to a report issued by HRW on September 9, the new electoral regime bars Qataris who are classified as “naturalized” rather than “native” under the country’s controversial 2005 nationality law from running as candidates and prohibits them from voting.
Unprecedented popular protests
The ratification of these laws triggered rare protests in Qatar, by mostly members of Al-Murra tribe, one of Qatar's largest tribes, whose members are largely denied the right to run for office, vote, or both.
A peaceful gathering held on August 9 by Al-Murra tribesmen demanded that the Shura Council elections law be overturned, as well as demanded the right to full citizenship, respect for freedom of expression, and the promotion of social justice among citizens. The protests continued for several days.
The security forces made several attempts to break up what turned into a sit-in. They also stormed the homes of influential members of the tribe, arresting dozens of them who led the protests and participated in them.
Detained and denied family access
According to GCHR, reliable local sources have confirmed that the number of detainees from this tribe has exceeded 50. Many have been released after being forced to sign written pledges not to demonstrate again. However, 21 people remain in detention at the State Security Service or in police stations, according to the same sources. The authorities denied them access to their families or to a lawyer.
Among the detainees from the tribe are  Hazzaa bin Ali Abu Shraydeh, Dr. Rashid bin Ali Abu Shraydeh, Saeed Al Dajran, Jaber Abu Shaqla, Abdullah Al Alyan, and poets Saleh Al Nusheira and Ali bin Rashid Al Subaih Al-Marri.
Hazzaa bin Ali Al-Marri, PhD, is a lawyer who played a prominent role in leading and mobilizing for these protests. He appeared in several recordings, in one of which he made an appeal to the Emir of Qatar, saying:
We will demand our rights and dignity in this country and from within the country, even if we are destined to die in prison.
Hazzaa uses his Twitter account to publish his frank words and critical opinions on what is happening in Qatar. On July 28, he wrote:
منذ نشر الدستور في الجريدة الرسمية ونحن ننتظر استكمال المؤسسات الدستورية،تأخر لأكثر من 15 عام،تأخر وتأخرت معه المحكمة الدستورية،ونسأل الله أن يأتي بعد هذا التأخير كل الخير. https://t.co/X7fW0Ko7Au
— د.هزّاع بن علي (@DrAbusharida) July 27, 2021
Since the constitution was published in the Official Gazette and we have been waiting for the constitutional institutions to be completed, it has been delayed for more than 15 years, and the Constitutional Court was delayed with it. We pray this delay brings good news.
GCHR was informed that the protesters have designated his home, located in the Al-Muaither area of Al-Rayyan City, 16.5 km from the capital Doha, as the headquarters of their gatherings.
“Chosen candidates and voters”
The state's first elected Shura Council, due to take place on October 2 and governed by these discriminatory laws, will consist of 54 seats.
On September 15, Qatar's Supervisory Committee of the Shura Council elections announced that 294 candidates, from over 30 constituencies across the country, have registered their candidacy in the preliminary election lists. Reports received by GCHR confirmed that some candidates were forced to withdraw due to pressure from influential government forces, and that others had their names removed from the candidates’ registry.
On the same day, Mubaraka Al-Marri, a Qatari female citizen tweeted to her 23,000 followers:
اخواني وأخواتي دائرة (١٦) لقد تم ازالة اسمي دون علمي ودون اخطاري باي طعن،ودون تنازل مني وسوف اراجع لجنة الانتخابات لتوضيح اسباب الاستبعاد. @qatarelections @TamimBinHamad @KBKAlThani
— مباركة المري #2022 (@MBH_68) September 15, 2021
My brothers and sisters in Constituency (16), my name has been removed without my knowledge and without notifying me of any appeal, and without my ceding [my candidacy]. I will reach to the Elections Committee to clarify the reasons for [my] exclusion.
Meanwhile, many citizens have taken to Twitter to describe the upcoming elections as a sham that does not represent the people of Qatar.
Mohammed Almarri tweeted:
تأسيس #مجلس_الشورى_القطري وآلية انضمام جميع اعضاءه سواء بالتعيين او “بالانتخابات” ليس لها علاقة بالديمقراطية ، والسبب ان مُرشحي #انتخابات_مجلس_الشوري والناخبين تختارهم الحكومة بدون ادنى مبادئ العداله والمساواة ولا حتى المصلحه العامة!!!
— Mohammad Almarri (@UserAlmarri) September 17, 2021
Establishing the Qatari Shura Council and the mechanism by which members are to join, whether by appointment or ‘elections,’ has nothing to do with democracy, and the reason is that the Shura Council's candidates and voters are chosen by the government without the slightest principles of justice and equality, not even public interest!!!

author: Gulf Center for Human Rights


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Arabophone Chinese influencer divides public opinion in Egypt · Global Voices
Azza Moghazy

Illustration by Giovana Fleck, used with permission.
China has been hiring social media influencers since as early as 2020 to spread pro-Chinese propaganda in Egypt and among Arabic-speaking social media users. Concealing their Chinese governmental affiliations, they aim to promote a favorable public image for China in the Middle East's most populous and culturally influential country.
Hints of such a mission were visible in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Early cases of confirmed deaths due to the pandemic were of high-ranking Egyptian army personnel who worked closely with Chinese workers and engineers involved in the construction of Egypt's new administrative capital. Soon after their deaths, a viral YouTube video showed a number of Egyptians harassing an Asian man on a greater Cairo ring road after he was forced out of an Uber ride.
While hundreds of Egyptians denounced the man's treatment as blunt racism, others expressed fear of the Chinese presence in Egypt, declaring them the source of a hypothetical explosion of the virus. This claim of Chinese guilt ignored the country's incompetent health system and battered economy, both of which played a role in Egypt's ability to combat the virus.
Among the voices defending the Chinese in Egypt was a young woman using the name Faiha Wang, who boasted of her Chinese origin online. In August 2019, several months before the attack, Wang had created pages on Facebook, TikTok and Twitter. These pages had only a few thousand followers at the time, with comments that mostly praised her beauty and fluently written Arabic.
After Wang led a campaign on Facebook urging Egyptians to apologize and support the bullied Asian man, her page garnered hundreds of thousands of followers.
She also attracted the attention of Egyptian media outlets that were desperate for stories that do not aggravate or alert unforgiving state censors. Overnight, Wang became a welcome voice in Egyptian media, garnering attention in both mainstream and alternative media, as well as international media covering Egypt. Wang spoke in interviews of her successful campaign, and solid Egyptian-Chinese ties.
Traffic to her social media platforms quickly mushroomed, drawing thousands of reactions to her posts of her homeland, which mostly focused on cooking, street food, and Chinese culture. With words of praise for her beauty and smile, her Arab followers seemed less interested in her content on culture.
Along with the surge in followers and traffic came a new tone in Wang's posts. Posts praising China and its government's handling of the virus became more frequent, and what seemed sincere patriotic pride gave way to seemingly targeted propaganda. Soon after, more virtual journalists and influencers promoting Chinese views appeared across Egypt's social media sphere.
According to her Facebook bio, Wang is a Chinese media employee working and living in Cairo. In the few articles she published in popular, yet not very credible Arab media websites, she introduces herself as a journalist.
Alharir.info, an official Chinese website that was created to promote the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to Arabic audiences, republishes some of Wang’s infrequent writings, and introduces her as the Cairo correspondent for Chinese National Radio. The same description was used in a profile published by El-Watan, a daily publication owned by the Egyptian intelligence-linked UMS, which now owns the vast majority of Egyptian media platforms. According to this profile, Wang is a Muslim who practices during Islam's holy month of Ramadan, learned Arabic in Cairo, and had been living there for three years as of May 2020.
El-Watan’s profile of Wang followed her publication of a TikTok video in which she performed in sign language “Tahia Masr,” or “Long Live Egypt,” a song based on the slogan that has become the hallmark of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and his rule. Her choice of song likely drew the attention of a wide segment of the Egyptian audience.
Evidence found by Global Voices suggests that Wang has been assigned as a production director in Egypt by the China Media Group (CMG), a state media company that was inaugurated in 2018, one year after Wang began working in Egypt in 2017. Before that, Wang spent 10 years working as a broadcaster in China. A report about her on CMG described her as “China Media Group’s first and only Arabic language social media influencer based overseas.”
Although CMG's January 2020 report referred to her as the only Arabic-speaking Chinese influencer, Facebook's algorithms indicate there are others. As many as five other influencers posting in Arabic are among Facebook’s recommendations of similar accounts, including several Egyptians living in China, and Suad Ye, another female Chinese “journalist,” with an Arabic first name, who works at the Chinese Media Corporation. Similarities in social media content and strategies between these accounts are easily noticeable, and all promote Chinese state narratives in Arabic.
Wang never corrected Egyptian media that falsely introduced her as a Muslim, and the claim made her more appealing to her mostly Muslim audience. However, this very audience was behind a backlash against her posts that began in April 2021 in response to her position on China's Uyghurs.
A December 2019 China Global Times article took pride in Wang’s initial success in “turning them from black to pink” when it came to the Uyghurs, indicating that her mission is to serve the interests of the Chinese government and its propagandist rhetoric rather than providing accurate unbiased reporting as a journalist.
The article says that there were many “rumors” about China’s policy in Xinjiang circulating in Egypt, and Wang, “China Media Group’s production director in Egypt,” was using her social media accounts to reverse these “western-influenced opinions of China.” As per the article, she was active in commenting about these Xinjiang “rumors,” “in fluent Arabic, so that common people in Egypt can know the truth, these rumors about Xinjiang come from western influence to undermine China.”
Wang often provides comparisons to bring Chinese and Egyptian narratives closer: In this article, she drew parallels between the Egyptian war against terrorism and anti-Uyghur policies, describing them as a Chinese war against terrorism.
In April 2021, which coincided with the holy month of Ramadan, Wang's Facebook posts began to receive a flood of angry comments. Many of these comments came from Muslims denouncing Chinese treatment of the Uyghurs, hundreds of whom were rounded up and extradited from Egypt at China’s behest in 2017.  These comments escalated in May, after she posted selfies in Xinjiang while “reporting” from a Uyghur children’s re-education camp.
Wang, while in Xinjiang, posed the Uyghur “problem” as a national security problem, claiming that China is facing the same “terrorism” Egypt is battling in Sinai and is taking “necessary measures” to uproot the “terrorism” in Xinjiang. She posted videos, which she later removed from both Facebook and YouTube,of supposedly Muslim families, some of whom live in Beijing, to prove that China is not discriminating against its Muslim citizens. She wrote an Arabic article that carried an angry tone demanding the halting “defamation against China concerning its efforts in Xinjiang to eradicate extremism.”
The influx of angry comments on her posts kept coming. More recently, her page was evaluated by some of her audience as fake news and propaganda.
Despite the growing hostility, Wang continues as a propagandist, posting her smiling selfies, refuting comments on China’s faulty space rockets, and praising her country's treatment of the “extremist Uighurs.” She even started a fan page describing itself as Wang’s army, which she runs herself.
This story is part of a Civic Media Observatory investigation into competing narratives about China’s Belt and Road Initiative and explores how societies and communities hold differing perceptions of potential benefits and harms of Chinese-led development. To learn more about this project and its methods, click here.

author: Azza Moghazy


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Animal rights activist in North Macedonia threatened after blowing the whistle on possible lion cub trafficking · Global Voices
Metamorphosis Foundation

Collage of photos of “Simba” lion cub collected from social networks (and deleted by owners after whistleblower announcement). Photo by Meta.mk, CC BY-NC 2.5.
This story is based on original coverage by Meta.mk. An edited version is republished here under a content-sharing agreement between Global Voices and Metamorphosis Foundation.
In North Macedonia, a whistle-blower and animal activist is receiving death threats after she publicly denounced a series of photos of a lion cub shared on social media, and called upon the authorities to act against animal trafficking.
On her Facebook profile, Tina Mickovska, who also works as a spokeswoman for the Skopje Zoo in the capital, wrote that she while she is concerned for her life, she won’t back down from the fight for animal rights.
Yet, despite many questions emerging about the situation around the lion cub, the Ministry of Interior (MoI) remains silent about the case the animal that can be seen on social networks riding in expensive cars and portrayed in villas and hotels. According to local legislation, the MoI should investigate how the lion cub entered the country, who and photographed it, and where, and who published it on social networks.
Photos and videos of men, women and children from North Macedonia posing with the lion cub have been appearing frequently on social networks during September of 2021.
Mickovska reposted on Facebook a few of these videos and called upon social media users to report shares and posts featuring the lion cub, noting that wildlife trafficking is strictly forbidden in North Macedonia.
She also warned that local and European laws include rigorous sanctions and multi-year prison sentences for those caught with trafficked animals.
„Повеќе познати скопски фаци, меѓу кои и сопственик на луксузен хотел во Скопје се сликале со лавчe. Лавчиња очигледно има и во Куманово, не е само едно.
A number of locally famous personalities from Skopje, including the owner of a luxury hotel in Skopje, had their photos taken with a lion cub. Also, there are obviously other lion cubs in Kumanovo, this is not the only one.
Sloboden pečat newspaper published allegations by their anonymous sources that lion cubs have been offered for sale during previous weeks.
Research by Meta.mk on social networks identified the owner of a popular TikTok profile who boasted that the lion cub in his videos was named “Simba.” When Meta.mk journalists contacted him, he denied that the lion cub in his videos had been on the territory of North Macedonia.
Јас лавчето го видов во Косово во Гњилане во ресторанот „Маја е зез“ каде што има уште еден голем лав. Сопственикот на ресторанот ми го даде да го повозам.
I saw the lion cub in Kosovo, in Gjilan, in the Maja e Zezë Resort, which has another, adult lion. The owner of the restaurant allowed me to take the cub for a ride.
However, in a telephone conversation with Meta.mk, the staff of the resort in Kosovo refuted the claim that there is a lion cub in the resort.
“We still take care of the adult lion that has been with us for years and will stay here until the institutions find an adequate solution for him, but we do not have a little lion,” the staff from the Maja e Zezë Resort claimed.
A woman from Kumanovo, a city in the north of the country, who wrote on her Facebook profile that she works at the Ministry of Culture, published photos of herself holding and caressing a lion cub on September 26. The photos, which also showed children, were deleted from the social network immediately before the Meta.mk article was published.
Owners of other profiles showing similar photos have also removed them, or made their whole Instagram, Facebook or TikTok profiles private after the scandal broke out.  Animal rights association Anima Mundi had published anonymized copies of some of them on their Facebook page to raise awareness.
Trafficking wild animals in is not an unknown phenomenon for the institutions of North Macedonia.
Responding to Meta.mk enquiries, the Customs Administration states that the customs personnel has repeatedly  prevented the smuggling of exotic animals by confiscating them as they are illegally transported into North  Macedonia. Charges have been pressed against the perpetrators and the animals have been accommodated in a zoo where the animals can get adequate care.
Officials explain that the procedure behind the import of such exotic animal is not simple: it is necessary to have a permit for importing endangered wild animals and plants (CITES)  from the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, and an approval from a veterinary inspector at the border crossing.
One well-known case of smuggling in the region is of the lion Johnny, who was smuggled from Albania to Kosovo in 2019 and remains caged in the Maja e Zezë Resort. In February 2020, the Rapporteur of the European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee for Kosovo, Viola von Cramon asked the transfer of the lion from the Kosovo restaurant Maja e Zezë to be conducted as soon as possible.
?A lion has been held illegally in a small cage in #Kosovo. @VIERPFOTEN has arranged to move him to a sanctuary, but the ministries of Kosovo and #Albania has not authorised his transport. I urge the ministries to act immediately! my full statement here https://t.co/FhAhPJM7oG pic.twitter.com/eNAgD8RdUj
— Viola von Cramon (@ViolavonCramon) February 8, 2021
After an analysis of social media photos, the State Environmental Inspectorate inspected the five-star Hotel Park in Skopje on October 1, looking for Simba the lion cub.  In a statement for Meta.mk, inspector Pejo Kirovski who led the inquest said that the cub was not there.
Увидот само што заврши и можам да ви кажам дека по деталната инспекција увидовме дека во просториите на објектот на хотелот нема лавче. Инспекцијата во овој објект беше одредена бидејќи имавме дојави дека лавчето е забележано на фотографии направени тука.
We've just finished a detailed inspection and determined that there's no lion cub on hotel's premises. The intervention was based on reports alleging that the lion cub was spotted on photos made here.
Classified ad offering a 3-month wild wolf cub for sale in Skopje. Screenshot from Pazar3.mk website.
In the meantime, Anima Mundi issued a demand to the authorities to act urgently and to tell the public who allowed the entry of lion cubs in North Macedonia.
In a statement for Radio Free Europe, animal rights activist Radmila Peševa also pointed that restaurants outside of Skopje also hold wild animals captive,  including eagles, falcons and bears as tourist attractions.
Advertisements by individuals selling such animals are indeed available on online marketplaces.
By the time of closing of this article, the relevant authorities including the Ministry of Interior, the Customs Administration, as well as the State Inspectorate for Environmental Protection, have not responded to Meta.mk inquiries on how the lion cub entered the country.

author: Metamorphosis Foundation


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Campaign to brand Russian journalists and media ‘foreign agents’ picks up pace after elections · Global Voices
openDemocracy Russia

Sonia Groisman, a journalist who has been declared a “foreign agent”, protests outside the FSB headquarters in Moscow. Image by Avtozak Live on Telegram CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.
This article by ODR Editors appeared on Open Democracy on September 30, 2021. It is republished as part of a content-sharing partnership and has been edited to fit the GV style.
The message above is what journalists at independent outlets Mediazona and OVD-Info now have to place on their websites and social media feeds whenever they publish an article.
Mediazona has reported on hundreds of cases of police torture and brutality, falsified drug and political charges, and the systemic violence inside the country’s prison system. OVD-Info is a human rights media project that covers every political arrest and prosecution – there are now dozens across Russia on a weekly basis – and provides legal support to people detained at protests or just outside their homes. In the past few years, openDemocracy has translated and published dozens of articles by both outlets to highlight their importance.
On September 29, these outlets, as well as Mediazona’s publisher and chief editor, Sergey Smirnov, were declared ‘foreign agents’ by the Russian Ministry of Justice. Staff working for Golos, the election monitor, were also put on the ‘foreign agent’ list.
They are not the first.
The effects of Russia’s ‘foreign agent’ legislation against media and civil society have been direct and deeply troubling. In effect, the ‘foreign agent’ label marks a media outlet as undesirable to sources, advertisers, supporters and readers. They are, in effect, deemed ‘enemies of the people’, to use the Soviet term. This makes the day-to-day work of journalists incredibly difficult.
Meduza, an independent organisation specialising in hard-hitting investigations and feature writing, was in May added to the ‘foreign agent’ list, and has since reported the loss of advertising revenue, which in turn has meant the loss of high-quality journalists. VTimes, which came from the ashes of high-quality business daily Vedomosti, decided to close down completely that same month after also being added to the list.
These are just two examples. The Ministry of Justice has now declared more than 20 media outlets and dozens of individuals ‘foreign agents’, and it is clearly not slowing down. While there were hopes that the targeting of independent media in the summer would ease off after the parliamentary elections this month, it seems clear that the Russian authorities are intent on clearing the field of independent media.
This means the urgent issues that concern Russian citizens – law and justice, socio-economic rights, democracy, and most recently, military activity – are not to be reported on with detail, care and independence. Instead, attempts to do so independently are to be shut down and isolated under the rubric of ‘foreign influence’ – of which there is no evidence. When outlets ask for the evidence of their ‘foreign funding’, Russian prosecutors refuse to release it.
Ironically, as Sergey Smirnov, chief editor of Mediazona, pointed out after the decision, it’s the officials of Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party and their elite supporters who are the ones with property, cash and assets in the West – yet it’s the media and civil society people who continue working in Russia who are ‘foreign agents’.
It has not been possible for everyone to continue working. On September 30, it was reported that Russian security services had raided the home of Roman Dobrokhotov, chief editor of The Insider, an outlet pivotal in the investigations into the poisoning of opposition leader Alexey Navalny and other public figures. As it turned out, Dobrokhotov had apparently left Russia in August. Others, like journalist Ivan Safronov, have been imprisoned for months while facing treason charges.
Russian journalists have sought to consolidate their protests and efforts in response to these constant and unpredictable threats, including pickets against the use of ‘foreign agent’ legislation and a new petition calling on the authorities to revoke it – and readers to financially support these outlets in any way they can. One hundred and fifty thousand people have already signed the petition.
дорогие коллеги pic.twitter.com/A79FmJaTeF
— зазноба (@katyaarenina) September 8, 2021
Tweet by journalist Katya Arenina with screenshots of multiple Russian and international media websites with the campaign slogan “There Are No Foreign Agents, There Are Journalists.”
Media workers have been asking their supporters inside and outside the country to help spread information about the situation facing Russian colleagues. Earlier in September, independent Russian media outlets launched a online solidarity campaign opposing the country’s law on “foreign agents,” under the slogan “There Are No Foreign Agents, There Are Journalists.”
Following news of their designation, the Mediazona team said in a statement on their website:
Сегодня государство хочет, чтобы независимые журналисты исчезли. Мы — хотим делать нашу работу и честно рассказывать о России.
Если этого же хотят наши читатели, то вместе у нас все получится.
Today the state wants independent journalists to disappear. We want to do our job and tell honest stories about Russia.
If our readers want the same thing, together we should be able to make it work.

author: openDemocracy Russia


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Myanmar actress Mya Hnin Ye Lwin on her decision to join the anti-junta resistance · Global Voices
Guest Contributor

Myanmar's Mya Hnin Ye Lwin during her modeling and acting days (L) and after fleeing to the jungle to join the fight against the junta. Photo and caption from Radio Free Asia.
This article is from Radio Free Asia (RFA) and is republished here with permission. Written by Aye Aye Mon for RFA’s Myanmar Service. Translated by Khin Maung Nyane. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
Myanmar model and television and film actor Mya Hnin Ye Lwin, 34, gained widespread recognition for her roles in popular TV drama series and 10 movies, including the 2016 legal drama “Angel of Eden” and the 2018 romantic comedy “Yee Sar Ta Won Kwal.” She also holds a degree in psychology from Dagon University in Myanmar.
Earlier this year, she returned to the spotlight, but this time as one of the most active celebrities in the resistance movement against the national military’s seizure of power on February 1. Mya Hnin Yee Lwin has denounced the coup at anti-junta rallies and on social media. In response, the military government in April issued a warrant for her arrest for inciting the public to disturb the peace and stability of the nation. Although she has fled Yangon and sought refuge in a rebel-controlled “liberated” area, she has vowed to keep up the fight against the junta. Reporter Aye Aye Mon of RFA’s Myanmar Service spoke to Mya Hnin Ye Lwin about her decision to join in the anti-junta activities. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.
RFA: Many film and music artists have joined the protests against the February 1 military takeover, but most of them did not choose to take up arms. Why did you decide to join the protests and stand up for the people?
Mya Hnin Ye Lwin: I took part in the protests after hearing the shocking news about the coup that morning on February 1. I felt that it was an injustice against the people and decided to join the protests. In the beginning, I did not have much fear because there were so many people, thousands of us trying to peacefully express what we wanted for the country. Later on, when arrests were made and a warrant was issued against me under Section 505(a) [of Myanmar’s Penal Code], I became a little frightened of what might become of me if I was arrested. I went into hiding at first and decided later to join the resistance, despite the fear in my heart.
RFA: You come from a very well-off and educated family and have been quite successful in your career. Do you find daily life to be very difficult in your present situation?
Mya Hnin Ye Lwin: I had never dreamed about, not even joked about, spending my days in the jungle like this. Of course, there are hardships. Food and shelter are poor. Sanitary conditions are unspeakable, especially for a young woman like me. Sometimes it is a little disheartening and I have to lift up my spirits by thinking about those who have made greater sacrifices. I have no regrets, and now I have become used to life here. The changes in life were so sudden, and I have had to adjust myself mentally as well as physically.
RFA: You must miss home.
Mya Hnin Ye Lwin: Of course, I miss home very much sometimes, but we told ourselves we cannot go home yet. We have decided to make sacrifices for the people. And with that in mind, even when looking at posts and pictures on social media, I put my emotions aside and just look at them as a third person.
Mya Hnin Ye Lwin (left photo in the black cap) takes part in a street protest after the Feb. 1 coup; the actor (right photo) impersonates Aung San Suu Kyi during a protest. Credit: Mya Hnin Ye Lwin/Facebook. Photo and caption from Radio Free Asia.
RFA: Some people say that you resemble former Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi in photos posted on Facebook. When did you first realize that you look like her?
Mya Hnin Ye Lwin: People began noticing that I looked very much like her when they saw pictures of me in interviews with some media [outlets]. At one time, a photographer friend asked me to model for him, and I dressed up in a long-sleeve top with long hair flowing down like Amay [Mother] Suu. I have a habit of learning the styles and movements of people I’m portraying even though I may not totally resemble them physically. More people noticed the resemblance one day at the protests. That day, all the women protesters were asked to wear traditional Myanmar dresses and wear a flower in their hair the way Amay Suu always does. I dressed up accordingly, and people saw how much I look like her.
RFA: Many people have made sacrifices but for some, successful people like you, the sacrifice is greater. How do you feel about leaving behind all you have worked for?
Mya Hnin Ye Lwin: Like I said earlier, there were days when I felt a bit down in the dumps. But I try not to think of how many sacrifices I have made. The hardships we face each day are nothing compared to the lives of those who gave up life and limb and those who have been imprisoned. With such thoughts in my mind, I will carry on this fight until we have victory.
RFA: What do you think of the daily killings and fighting across the country at present?
Mya Hnin Ye Lwin: All this unnecessary violence and killings stemmed from the brutal suppression of peaceful protesters by the junta. Millions of people peacefully protesting on the streets were all unarmed, but the junta resorted to violence that resulted in bloodshed on the streets and arbitrary arrests and killings. People were not even safe in their own homes, and finally they had no other choice but to take up arms to protect themselves and their families. We will have to fight on until we win so as to honor those who have given their lives.


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Relations between Turkey and Russia: “It’s complicated” · Global Voices
Arzu Geybullayeva

Screenshot from Reuters video.
On September 29, the leaders of Turkey and Russia met in the Russian Black Sea city of Sochi to talk about conflicts in Syria and Libya, their presence in the south Caucasus, energy, and a new missile deal.
Held behind closed doors, the meeting lasted for roughly three hours. Both President Erdoğan and President Putin refrained from making any joint statements to the press.
However, one brief encounter between the two leaders circulated widely online — a conversation about antibodies.
Putin: Everyone around me got Covid-19, but my antibodies are quite high.
Erdogan: What is your level?
Putin: 15-16, I don't remember.
Erdogan: It's too low, mine is over a thousand ??pic.twitter.com/wKvNpqHp2j
— İmdat Oner (@im_oner) September 30, 2021
But while President Erdoğan was boasting about his personal level of antibodies, it may have been the only positional advantage he held. According to Kerim Has, an independent analyst and lecturer at Moscow University, the meeting this week was one where Erdoğan had the “weakest hand.”
Erdoğan, son 19 yıldaki “en zayıf haliyle” Rusya’ya gidiyor:
- İçeride düşen oylar
- Kötüleşen ekonomi
- İngiltere hariç neredeyse herkesle kavgalı bir dış politika
- İdlib vs. bölgesel gerilim alanlarında yeni çıkmazlar
- Doğalgazda biten kontratlarhttps://t.co/VBRJK3iCxO
— Kerim HAS (@Kerim_HAS) September 29, 2021
Erdogan is going to Russia with “weakest hand” in 19 years; he is losing support at home; the economy is worsening; the country is deploying a foreign policy at odds with almost everyone except Britain; there are new dead ends in Idlib and other regional tensions; ending natural gas deals.
Similarly, in her op-ed for The Washington Post, journalist Asli Aydintasbas wrote:
When Erdogan met with Putin in Sochi on Wednesday, he probably had big favors to ask and not much to offer.
The meeting between Erdogan and Putin lasted nearly three hours, and it's hard to know what Turkey got out of it. But what is clear is that Erdogan's traditional balancing act is no longer working, and Putin is the one in a position of strength, able to pressure Turkey economically and in Syria.
The meeting was the first face-to-face interaction between the two leaders in more than a year, due to pandemic imposed restrictions.
Following the meeting, both presidents spoke separately on the outcomes to local media. President Erdoğan praised the military deals with Russia, reinforcing the plans to purchase a second batch of S-400s missiles. The first such deal ended with Turkey getting economic and travel sanctions imposed by the US, and the US cancelling Turkey's purchase of next generation F-35 warplanes in 2019, according to reporting by the New York Times.
For his part, President Putin praised energy deals between the two countries and the mutual “compromises” the two countries have learned to make over the years.
But, aside from bilateral cooperation, the most important item on the agenda between the two leaders was the situation in Syria, specifically in Idlib, where there are signs of a new offensive by the Syrian army against Turkey-backed rebels.
Russia is the main ally of the Syrian government, backing the Syrian army, while Turkey supports rebel groups involved in unseating President Bashar al-Assad. Idlib is the final hold-out of rebel forces supported by Turkey. It is also home to more than 3.4 million Syrians, according to some estimates.
Tensions in Idlib have been high despite a ceasefire deal that was reached in March last year between Russia and Turkey. Some 10,000 Turkish troops are deployed in the province to deter any Syrian army offensive, and the country sent reinforcements ahead of the meeting between the two presidents. Last year's deal, however, “has come under strain in recent weeks with air and ground bombardments of rebel-held positions,” reported Middle East Eye. According to the media platform, citing information obtained from a senior Turkish official, the two leaders did reach an agreement to keep the status-quo in Idlib.
A new offensive in Idlib means a new wave of Syrians crossing the border into Turkey, where there are already some four million Syrian refugees. Before meeting his counterpart on September 29, President Erdoğan stressed the importance of securing peace in Syria not only for the immediate situation but as a long term plan, to finally end the war.
According to Mark N. Katz, an expert at Atlantic Council, while the meeting in Sochi did not resolve major differences between the two regional heavyweights, “it did prevent them from getting worse.” But local experts disagree. In an interview with DW, retired Turkish ambassador Ünal Çeviköz drew attention to the absence of a joint statement after the meeting between Putin and Erdoğan.
This meeting goes against the diplomatic conventions. Failure to make a joint statement after face to face meeting, either indicates a situation that requires state secrecy, or is a sign the government is hiding from the public whatever bargain it has made. We, are witnessing the latter.
Aydın Sezgin, another former ambassador, shares Çeviköz's sentiment, adding in an interview with DW that this was the first time that the presidents refrained from making a joint statement following their meeting. “It is a habit for Putin — to always bring his closest aides and ministers to the meetings. It is worth considering. Either there are elements worth hiding, or the bargaining will continue,”  he added.
Faced with mounting criticism over the financial downturn, rising living costs and flare ups against refugee communities across the country, it may not be surprising after all that President Erdoğan chose to refrain from making promising statements on the meeting with his counterpart in Sochi.

author: Arzu Geybullayeva


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An interview with Myanmar’s UN Ambassador who defied the junta · Global Voices
The Irrawaddy

U Kyaw Moe Tun, Myanmar's ambassador to the United Nations, gives the three-finger salute to show solidarity with the anti-regime movement in the country while addressing the General Assembly on Feb. 26, 2021. Photo from the United Nations and caption from The Irrawaddy
This article was originally published in The Irrawaddy, an independent news website in Myanmar. This edited version is republished on Global Voices as part of a content-sharing agreement.
Myanmar’s ambassador to the United Nations, U Kyaw Moe Tun, and two ministers from the parallel National Unity Government (NUG) met Derek Chollet, a senior member of the US Department of State on September 23, 2021.
Myanmar’s military regime has accused U Kyaw Moe Tun of high treason, asked the UN to hand him over and hopes to replace him with Colonel Aung Thurein.
The Irrawaddy asked U Kyaw Moe Tun why he did not address the UN General Assembly and about his discussion with Chollet, a counselor at the department and a senior policy advisor to the US secretary of state.
The Irrawaddy: What did you discuss with the US counselor?
U Kyaw Moe Tun Deputy foreign minister U Moe Zaw Oo and I met him last Thursday [September 23] in New York. NUG ministers Daw Zin Mar Aung, U Aung Myo Min and advisor to the NUG’s Human Rights Ministry U Aung Zaw Moe joined the meeting online. The US Department of State released a statement about it. The Burmese side explained the situation on the ground, including human rights violations by the military. We also discussed humanitarian aid, COVID-19 prevention and the provision of COVID-19 vaccines. As the US is planning to provide COVID-19 vaccines to Myanmar it was on the agenda. We also discussed US assistance in establishing democracy in Myanmar.
Was the meeting a signal the US government has recognized the NUG as the legitimate government of Myanmar?
U Kyaw Moe Tun: The US has not officially recognized the NUG. But as it is officially holding bilateral talks with the NUG we can say that it is beginning to recognize the NUG. The US statement also expressed support for the NUG, so we don’t need to explain further.
China, Russia and ASEAN agreed to keep you as the ambassador to the UN until November. Why have countries with close ties to the military regime agreed to that?
U Kyaw Moe Tun: It is difficult for me to say. As everyone knows, almost no UN members have recognized the military council. Though the military council dismissed me, the UN and member states recognize me as the permanent representative. I think most countries want to maintain continuity. The UN is an inter-governmental organization and decisions are made by consensus. So it was decided by consensus to keep me. The credentials committee tries to avoid discord between member states. It recommends what is generally acceptable to all members. The credentials committee, I understand, has had informal meetings with member countries about my case.
As ASEAN, the European Union, US and UK reached an agreement, other countries have also agreed to keep me in my position. So my guess is they accepted it because it was acceptable to members. The credentials committee will have a formal meeting in November and review the issue and report to the General Assembly.
There were reports that the UN and China agreed to keep you until November on the condition you do not address the General Assembly. What will be the consequences of not addressing the General Assembly?
U Kyaw Moe Tun:  The General Assembly is not a week-long meeting. It started on September 14 and continues until September 2022. There will be plenary sessions throughout the year. The six standing committees will meet simultaneously for the rest of this year. Our delegation will be able to speak at the plenary sessions and standing committees. We agreed [not to address the general debate] to best serve our country in the long term.
So you will address later meetings?
U Kyaw Moe Tun: There is the disarmament and international security committee, economic and financial committee, social, humanitarian and cultural committee, political and decolonization committee, administrative and budgetary committee and legal committee. We have opportunities to address those meetings about the situation in Myanmar. We believe we will convey the voices of Myanmar’s people through those channels.
We heard it will not be decided until December whether you keep your position or not. What will happen if the UN refuses to recognize either you or the military appointee until next September?
U Kyaw Moe Tun:  My understanding is that there will be a meeting in November [to discuss Myanmar’s representation]. The credentials committee has used the word “continuity”, so I understand I will remain in my position for the 76th session. I am not sure about how they will decide but what was agreed at the 75th session will probably be continued throughout the year.
If the UN recognizes the junta, will the regime enjoy impunity for its human rights violations and international crimes?
U Kyaw Moe Tun: From what we can see, Myanmar’s people and the international community are vocal in their opposition to the military council. It does not receive international recognition. [Junta recognition] is unlikely considering the provisions in the UN Charter and the global commitment to democracy and human rights. For example, all 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals call for humanitarian perspectives. So it will be ridiculous if human rights cannot be protected in the real world while every country is underscoring human rights. So I believe it will not happen. If it happened it would bring a review of the UN. The UN says it always heeds people’s voices so we firmly believe it won’t ignore us.
The UK government has expressed concerns about the NUG’s declaration of a people’s war against Myanmar’s military. Has the UK discussed its concerns with you?
U Kyaw Moe Tun:  There has been no direct discussion with me. Some countries have expressed concerns. We understand the concerns. We also have concerns about anything that can be harmful to the people. But the military brutally cracked down on peaceful, unarmed protesters. We have continuously asked the international community to intervene against the military. But they have responded with neutral statements. And some countries imposed sanctions.
We are grateful but our people have gone through violence and inhumane repression for months and suffer greatly. Many are suffering from mental trauma.
As you know young activists jumped from a building [in Yangon] to avoid capture by junta troops. Not everyone can take similar action. They jumped because they would rather die than be captured. There were widespread calls to fight the regime. We have to listen to the people. We have to resist for our safety. The international community must understand what we are going through. When there is a confrontation between the armed and unarmed, the unarmed suffer more. We have to fight when we can no longer take it.
We want it to end and we have to strengthen the forces inside the country with greater unity and accelerate the momentum. We need international support to increase that momentum. We can end the suffering if the military faces domestic and international pressure.

author: The Irrawaddy


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Chinese citizen journalist held incommunicado after COVID reporting reappears · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Chen Qiushi and Xu Xiaodong. Screen capture from Xu's Youtube channel.
Chen Qiushi, a lawyer and independent citizen journalist who disappeared in Wuhan when he was reporting on the COVID-19 outbreak, has resurfaced on Twitter and Youtube on September 30 after being kept incommunicado for over 600 days.
Chen traveled to Wuhan on January 24, 2020, just before the city went into lockdown. He delivered front line reports from hospitals on Twitter, but vanished from social media on February 5, 2020. His mother then took over his Twitter on the next day, and told his followers that Chen was missing.
According to a report from CNN, at least 47 citizen journalists were arrested and detained for reporting on the COVID outbreak in Wuhan. This group includes Zhang Zhan who was recently sentenced to four years of imprisonment on charge of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble”. She had gone missing since May 14, 2020. According to the human rights organization Amnesty International, Zhang was tortured in the prison.
While the Chinese government pressed charges against Zhang Zhan, it did not do so in the case of Chen Qiushi. Chen was detained for more than a year, and then released but put under house arrest in Qingdao in March 2021, according to Xu Xiaodong, a popular Mixed Martial Art (MMA) player and Chen's friend who had been campaigning for his release on social media for the past 20 months.
Then, out of a sudden, on September 30, Chen posted a letter on Twitter, in which he said:
好久不見！
在过去的一年零八个月中，我经历了很多的事情，有的能说，有的不能说，我相信您都懂。而在我生命的至暗时刻，是搏击运动拯救了我。拳击和巴西柔术不仅给了我健康的身体，也帮助我成功摆脱忧郁症的困扰。
So long!
I have gone through a lot in the past one year and eight months. I can share some of it, but not all. I'm sure you understand what’s going on. During the darkest moments of my life, it was MMA sports that saved me. Boxing and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu have not only helped my body to recover, but also helped me to walk away from depression.
In the online letter, he said that he would organize a charitable boxing match event on December 31, 2021.
Two hours later, he appeared briefly in a live-streaming video on his friend Xu Xiaodong’s Youtube channel reciting what he said in the letter. When promoting Chen’s charitable boxing match, Xu said, “Sometimes, when one cannot speak with his mouth, he can speak with his fists.”
Chen Qiushi is still banned from updating his social media outlets in mainland China. As his reappearance on Twitter and Youtube took place one day before China's national day, some believe that it is part of Beijing’s hostage diplomacy and propaganda. Still, the majority of netizens have expressed great joy to see him return. One of such comments on the Youtube comment thread said:
刚看到评论里有人说流泪了，我不理解。但是听到陈律师说他有点抑郁，我居然也流泪了，陈律师真的是受苦了，请你一定要坚强的活下去，留得青山在不怕没柴烧，永远支持你俩！
Just now I read someone said he could not help shedding tears [watching the video], I did not understand. But as I watched the part when lawyer Chen said that he had a bit of depression, tears rushed out from my eyes. Lawyer Chen must have suffered. Please stay strong and carry on. I always support both of you.
On Twitter, blogger Juan Li urged others to stop criticising Chen for allegedly serving the interest of Beijing’s propaganda:
我对陈秋实持肯定态度。在武汉疫情危急时刻冒险采访是非常勇敢的行为。方斌更彻底。中共对方斌是消失；对秋实是短期拘押长期控制，难道秋实必须去死去受重刑？攻击秋实是中共分化、阻吓人们的手段；不要被中共利用亲痛仇快。秋实有做与不做某些事情的权利，也有谋求幸福的权利。中共害怕更多秋实出现！
— 李隽 (@juanli324) October 1, 2021
I am all positive about Chen Qiushi. It is brave to risk your life and report on the COVID outbreak in Wuhan. Fang Bin [another citizen reporter covering the outbreak] is even braver. The CCP detained Qiushi for a period of time and now has him under control, as Fang Bin, it made him disappear. We should not expect Qiushi to be killed or tortured. The CCP attempts to divide and intimidate us, so don’t attack Qiushi. He has the right to make his own choices and pursue happiness. What the CCP fears most is that there could be more people like Qiushi.
Fang Bin, a citizen journalist who also covered the COVID outbreak in China, has been missing since February 9 2020.
Veteran journalist Wang Zhian interpreted Chen’s re-appearance as a public message to signify that Chen has not been defeated:
看到陈秋实和徐晓冬一起录视频了，这个去年一个人去武汉拍摄报道疫情的年轻人不容易。中国的舆论环境没有公民记者生存的空间，但他的努力值得钦佩。看到他现在在练拳击，并没有被击倒。生活再乏味，但总不缺少那些闪亮的灵魂。如果有机会，也希望有一天能在现场看他用拳头，对命运说不。
— 王局志安 (@wangzhian8848) October 1, 2021
I watched Chen Qiushi and Xu Xiaodong’s video. It has been very difficult for those young people who went to Wuhan to record the COVID-19 outbreak. The media environment in China has no space for citizen journalists, yet they tried, so such acts are very respectable. I watched him boxing. He has not been beaten down. While life is boring, we can still see that the spirit shines. If there is a chance, I would like to attend the sport event in person to see him speaking up with his fists.

author: Oiwan Lam


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FIBA Women’s Afrobasketball tournament continues in Cameroon amidst sexual abuse scandal · Global Voices
Richard Wanjohi

“Afrobasket Woman '09” by Jaytaxx is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
The International Basketball Federation (FIBA’s) Women's Afro Basket tournament kicked off in Yaounde, Cameroon on September 18, 2021, amid two sexual abuse scandals. Reports allege that coaches and Malian Basketball Federation (FMBB) officials for Mali's under-18 and under-19 national teams sexually harassed, abused, and assaulted dozens of teenage players since 1999. There have been similar claims from the Kenyan basketball scene following the Malian revelations.
Basketball is a popular game in Mali, as the women and girls’ national teams are perennial top contenders for continental and international championships, and are also regular Olympic competators.
The Malian basketball sexual harassment and abuse scandal came into light in June 2021, when Human Rights Watch wrote a letter to FIBA about abuses against women athletes in Mali. This was particularly significant because current FIBA President Hamane Niang is from Mali, and he was President of the Malian basketball team between 1999 and 2007 when much of the alleged abuse took place. The Human Rights Watch letter stated:
We write on behalf of Human Rights Watch, an international non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights abuses by states and non-state actors around the world. As part of our global research on child abuse in sport, Human Rights Watch has documented a pattern of sexual harassment and abuse by Mr. Amadou Bamba, the current head coach of Mali’s Under-18 girls’ national basketball team (which is overseen by the FMBB, a member of FIBA).
In June 2021, FIBA opened an inquiry to investigate the Human Rights Watch revelations and findings. They hired Richard McLaren, a highly acclaimed law professor specializing in sports law, to investigate the claims, report to the association on the findings, and recommend a way forward. McLaren had previously been involved in other sports inquiries such as the Russian athlete doping scandal, as well as corruption allegations by the International Boxing Association at the Rio Olympics in 2016.
“IMG_6833 Afrobasket women final” by salymfayad is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
A letter appended to the Human Rights report also showed that some of the abuse occurred during Niang’s reign at the Malian basketball federation, and, though he was never personally accused of committing sexual abuse, some reports allege he knew about and largely ignored the abuse — in violation of FIBA’s zero-tolerance policy on sexual assault. Human Rights Watch spoke to multiple women who said they were sexually abused by officials from the Mali Basketball Federation. The officials include the then Head Coach Amadou Bamba (coaching the under-18 and -19 national women’s teams), coach Cheick Oumar Sissoko, and former FMBB vice-president Amadou Ario Maiga.
Global Sports Solutions (MGSS) for FIBA published Mclaren's report in September 2021. Niang was accused of negligence and knowing about the abuse during his tenure. The report said an “institutionalized acceptance of the abuse of players exists within the FMBB and neither action nor effort has been attempted to recognize or correct this.”
Niang was also suspended from any basketball activities, along with Oumar Sissoko, and the Malian Basketball Federation president, Harouna Maiga, on the recommendation of an independent Integrity Officer. In a letter published in July 2021, the Sport and Rights Alliance together with the Women’s National Basketball Players’ Association (WNBPA) called on FIBA to address the sexual abuses in Mali and institute governance reforms.
On July 26, former head coach Amadou Bamba was arrested and charged with sexual assault and harassment of teenage players. A day later, the Malian government published a statement that sought to affirm its commitment to children’s rights under international treaty obligations.
In September 2021, Niang was cleared of neglectful abuse. However, seven officials of the FMBB were suspended. Additioanlly, measures were implemented to protect the abuse survivors, and officers and volunteers for both youth and senior womens teams had to attend trainings. The FMBB also developed an action plan to protect and safeguard the players at a national workshop. The workshop's goal was to bring together players and Malian sport authorities. Other recommendations included involving civil society organizations and activists to raise awareness about abuse in sports and protect children in athletics.
On September 24, in a story by the BBC, a Kenyan female basketballer reported that players had been abused for a number of years. Speaking anonymously, a player only identified as Rachel reported,
Everywhere in Kenya, basketball players know these things but people have been quiet.
Due to these allegations, Human Rights Watch has turned its spotlight on Kenyan basketball. In an interview with BBC Sports Africa, Minky Worden, the Director of Global Initiatives at Human Rights Watch noted that there is concern about the reports of sexual abuse of young female athletes in Kenya’s Basketball Federation. She also noted that officials at the national level have a duty to protect young players and ensure their safety.

author: Richard Wanjohi


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Georgia holds local election, with ruling Georgia Dream Party securing the majority of votes · Global Voices
Arzu Geybullayeva

A screenshot from AlJazeera's video report from Georgia
Amid political tensions and polarization, the South Caucasus country of Georgia held a local election on October 2, in what was widely seen as a crucial test for the ruling Georgian Dream party. As 3.5 million eligible voters headed to the polls, the Georgian Dream party secured 47.6 percent of the vote while its rival, the main opposition party of the United National Movement (UNM) came second, securing 27.1 percent of the vote. The rest of the votes were split between the remaining 48 parties according to reporting by Radio Liberty. The nationwide elections included the race for 64 mayoral seats.
Tensions were high ahead of the polls, culminating in the arrest of the former president, Mikheil Saakashili following his return from exile on October 1. Saakashvili is the founder of the main opposition party, the United National Movement. Speaking to AFP news agency from prison, the former president said, “Georgia needs a peaceful transition towards a genuine democracy where political opponents are not locked up on falsified charges of forced into exile.”
Saakashvili left Georgia in 2013 and was sentenced to six years in prison in absentia in 2018 on several accounts of abuse of power in Georgia. The former president denies the accusations.
My letter from prison
My dear associates and my Georgian community.
When I left Kyiv and came here, I knew that I would most likely be arrested, with fabricated, false verdicts which were issued by order of Putin. No country in the world except Russia recognizes this sentence… pic.twitter.com/ffA8VPvhz6
— Mikheil Saakashvili (@SaakashviliM) October 2, 2021
But the political crisis began long before Saakashvili's arrival. Georgia has been engulfed in a political crisis since October 2020, when opposition groups contested the ruling Georgian Dream Party's victory in the parliamentary elections. The contesting parties reached an agreement on April 19, 2021, with mediation from the United States and the European Union. In a July 28, 2021 press briefing, the Georgian Dream Party announced its decision to withdraw from the agreement.
According to the April agreement, a new election would be held in 2022 if the ruling party failed to secure 43 percent of the popular vote in the local election.
Now that the election results are in, revealing that the ruling Georgia Dream party faced challenges in major population centers, according to reporting by OC Media. “All five self-governing cities are sent to go to run offs between the UNM and Georgia Dream,” including in the capital of Tbilisi.
The voting day was not without violations as observers reported attacks on journalists, vote-buying, and carousel voting. The Interior Ministry said it has launched 16 criminal investigations related to incidents reported on the day of the election.
In their statement following the election, OSCE ODIHR said:
The 2 October local elections were generally well-administered but held against the backdrop of a protracted political crisis and characterized by hardened polarization. Contestants were able to campaign freely in a competitive environment that was, however, marred by wide-spread and consistent allegations of intimidation, vote-buying, pressure on candidates and voters, and an unleveled playing field.
The elections drew international attention, including from the US. In her remarks to local media US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan said, “I've been getting a lot of request from my colleagues in Washington including at the State Department, at the White House, in Congress, they're following this closely as well.”
On October 3, incumbent president, Salome Zurabishvili evaluated the election results concluding that “despite the difficult political and polarized electoral environment, it can be said that the local elections in Georgia were held in a calm, fair, secure, and competitive environment, without significant violations.”
Transparency International Georgia, which monitored October 2 election with over 300 observers concluded otherwise.
The analysis of the pre-electoral environment and election day has demonstrated that the government still lacks the political will to hold elections in line with high-level democratic standards and that the country is still far away from the goals set by the ambitious electoral reform.
In a statement issued by the Delegation of the European Union in coordination with the embassies of the Member States, the group concluded that although the elections were “generally administered,” they were also “characterized by hardened polarization.”
In view of the second round of elections, the European Union calls on the authorities and all the political parties to urgently make additional efforts to ensure a fair electoral process. The reported malpractices must not become a norm. We also expect credible and swift investigations of all complaints, including reported intimidation and violence against journalists.
Many observers agree that the country is headed into a period of instability. Speaking to Radio Liberty, senior analyst at International Crisis Group, Olesya Vartanyan said, “today's vote is probably a culmination of the months-long political crisis that has a good chance to drive Georgia into more instability and less prospects for development.”


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Global internet freedom trends in Turkey and South Caucasus, new report · Global Voices
Arzu Geybullayeva

A screenshot from the Freedom House Freedom on the Net map.
Freedom House, a human rights watchdog, released the newest edition of its Freedom on the Net report on September 21. The report concludes that “internet freedom declined globally for the 11th consecutive year.” The report assesses the situation of human rights in the digital space across 70 countries. What are the report's conclusions on Turkey, Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan? Here is a closer look.
It's here➡#FreedomOnTheNet 2021: The Global Drive to Control Big Tech
Internet freedom declined for the 11th consecutive year.
A ?on our key findings https://t.co/2dQWiYrjl2
— Freedom on the Net (@freedomonthenet) September 21, 2021
The new report concludes that although the South Caucasus country indicated improvement in internet freedom, disinformation remains an issue. Georgia received a score of 77 out of 100, earning it a “free” ranking.
Internet freedom improved in Georgia, due to no reported arrests linked to people’s online activity. However, several challenges related to the number of cyberattacks and domestic content manipulation were observed during the coverage period.
The 2021 report ranked Armenia as “free,” with the country receiving an overall score of 71 out of 100, despite the government's restrictions on information flow during the country's armed conflict with Azerbaijan in 2020.
The implementation of martial law in late September 2020 placed broad restrictions on the media’s ability to report on the fighting, including by banning speech deemed to endanger national security, permitting authorities to demand content removal, and mandating fines for noncompliance. A number of Turkish and Azerbaijani websites with .az and .tr domains were inaccessible for several weeks. Users also reported problems accessing TikTok. Prominent news sites also faced technical attacks, including distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, leaving many of them temporarily inaccessible during the conflict.
For a third year, Azerbaijan was ranked “not free” in the global report. The government throttled access to the Internet for 44 days last year, as Azerbaijan fought with Armenia over the Nagorno Karabakh province.
The country also utilized intrusive surveillance technology against citizens, including Pegasus, produced by the Israeli cyber surveillance company NSO Group. The report highlights how the backbone internet provider Delta Telecom worked with Sandvine, a Canada-baed company, to install Deep Packet Inspection technology to block live streaming on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram. Azerbaijan has been deploying Deep Packet Inspection technology since at least 2009, according to a joint report released early in September by International Partnership for Human Rights and Azerbaijan Internet Watch.
In Turkey, the overall decline of internet freedoms for a third year earned the country a “not free” ranking as it received a score of 34 out of 100.
Internet freedom continued to decline for a third year in a row in Turkey. During the coverage period, hundreds of websites were blocked, in some instances under a new social media law. Online content deemed critical of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) or President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was removed from websites and social media platforms, and online activists, journalists, and social media users were harassed both physically and online for their social media posts. Authorities arrested users of the online platform Clubhouse in response to student-led resistance at Boğaziçi University, targeted LGBT+ activists online, and arrested a prominent opposition party official for allegedly insulting the president. Criminal cases were carried out against those who posted undesirable commentary on social media, and the threat of online surveillance, harassment, and criminal penalties has contributed to the growing practice of self-censorship among internet users in Turkey. The proliferation of restrictive laws has further formalized censorship in the country.
Speaking to Bianet, the report's author, the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom said, “New or increased taxes, restrictions on access, deleted news content, the ability to close access to entire platforms, and most importantly, the detention or arrest of people who exercise their freedom of expression due to their critical statements on the internet, and the conviction of some of them, shows that there is a long way to go in terms of internet freedoms in Turkey.”
Freedom on the net rankings and scores are based on a set of 21 questions, which are divided into nearly 100 subquestions in total. The report is divided into three categories including, obstacles to access, limits on content, and violations of user rights.