Poet and teacher Ahnaf Jazeem, victim of Sri Lanka government racist campaign, acquitted
By Sanjaya Jayasekera The High Court of Puttalam last Tuesday (12) acquitted poet and teacher Ahnaf Jazeem of the charge against him framed under draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), three and half years after his wrongful arrest. The acquittal is based on the failure of the State to prove the
Chilling attack on free speech: NY court issues injunction against resolution opposing Gaza genocide
By Tom Hall A New York state court has issued a restraining order blocking a vote by members of the New York City public defenders’ union opposing Israel’s genocide in Gaza. The order was granted after their employers filed suit to prevent the resolution from being passed. The move is a major
US appeals court guts Voting Rights Act
By Barry Grey On Monday [20], the US Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court ruling that effectively turns the landmark Voting Rights Act (VRA) of 1965 into a dead letter. In a 2 to 1 ruling, the appeals court, based in St. Louis and overseeing the mid-US states
Sri Lanka: UN Special Rapporteurs say proposed social and mass media regulation laws “possibly” limit freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, association and privacy
By Staff Writer In a communique to the President of Sri Lanka, three Special Rapporteurs of the United Nations Human Rights Council have expressed their dissatisfaction with the proposed social media regulation law, the Online Safety Bill (OSB) and another media related law, Broadcasting Regulatory Commission Bill (BRC). The communication is
Definition of “extremism” broadened: UK government prepares crackdown on political opposition
By Robert Stevens The proposed definition is deeply authoritarian, providing a pretext for the suppression of virtually any form of political opposition and eviscerating the rights to free speech and political association. The British government is broadening its definition of “extremism”. On Sunday, the Observer revealed that Communities Secretary Michael Gove is close to
Rashida Tlaib censure vote sets precedent for criminalizing opposition to Gaza genocide
By Patrick Martin The vote by the US House of Representatives to censure Representative Rashida Tlaib (Democrat-Michigan) for her opposition to the Israeli genocide in Gaza is an unprecedented attack on democratic rights. Tlaib, the lone Palestinian-American in the House, is the first representative since the Civil War to be censured
Israel’s draconian Emergency Regulations to authorize arrests on information that could “harm national morale”
By By Zane McNeill | TRUTHOUT Israeli Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi is promoting emergency regulations that would allow him to direct police to arrest civilians, remove them from their homes, or seize their property if he believes they have spread information that could “harm national morale” during Israel’s ongoing war against Palestinians in Gaza. These emergency
UK anti-strike Minimum Services law to be used against teachers
By Tania Kent The Department of Education (DfE) met with trade unions last Friday following an “invitation” by Education Secretary Gillian Keegan to discuss a “voluntary” agreement to limit industrial action in schools and colleges. If no agreement is reached, Keegan told Parliament the same day, she will use powers granted through
Online Hate Speech: Special Rapporteur reports on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance
By Staff Writer The United Nations' Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance has submitted her report to the Human Rights Council. The detailed report (A/78/538) of 20 pages was released on October 18, and explores many aspects of online hate speech. The Special Rapporteur, Ashwini
Supreme Court concludes hearing the Petitioners against the Online Safety Bill
Staff Writer The Speaker of Parliament confirmed on Wednesday (18) that 45 petitions had been filed in the Supreme Court (SC) of Sri Lanka challenging the constitutionality of the proposed draconian piece of law titled, Online Safety Bill (OSB). On the same day at 12.30 in the afternoon, the Supreme Court took