PEN’s Free Expression Digest brings you a daily curated round-up of the most important free expression-related stories from around the web. *This mailing list is currently in BETA as we work out the kinks. Please send your feedback and suggestions to [email protected]

Spain’s ‘gag law’ comes into effect amid fierce opposition
Spain’s controversial public security law, which has been dubbed the “gag law” by its opponents, due to the restrictions it places on the right to protest, came into effect today, following widespread protests across the country. NEWSWEEK

Okinawa newspapers fire back after anti-media comments at LDP event
The editors of two Okinawa newspapers on Thursday said freedom of the press and even democracy itself may be at stake after recent verbal attacks on their work and on that of other media by Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers. JAPAN TIMES

Jailed Chinese journalist denied medical care for heart pain
According to Gao, the Beijing No.1 Detention Centre has only administered traditional Chinese medicine for her heart pain, but has not allowed her to take medicines that she took when living at home (and believes are necessary). THE GUARDIAN

Top court rules prison sentence for journalist a violation of free speech
In a landmark ruling on Wednesday, Turkey’s Constitutional Court said a suspended prison sentence handed down to journalist Bekir Coşkun over a column in which he criticized public officials was a violation of freedom of speech and freedom of the press. TODAY’S ZAMAN

Nigeria: NUJ lauds Buhari’s recall of expelled journalist
The Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) has commended President Muhammadu Buhari over his directive to restore the accreditation of a Deutsch Welle correspondent, Ubale Musa who was expelled by former President Goodluck Jonathan administration. ALL AFRICA

Jail term and radio station raid fuel concern in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe’s government seems to be taking a tougher line with the media, raiding a community radio station and imposing a prison sentence on a journalist in the space of a week. THE ZIMBABWEAN

Gillian Triggs: offshore detention center secrecy laws are worrying for democracy
Laws that allow for workers of offshore detention centres to be jailed for speaking out about conditions are “worrying in a modern democracy”, the president of the Human Rights Commission, Gillian Triggs, has said. THE GUARDIAN