Free Expression Daily Digest: Friday, October 7
Iranian writer faces long jail term for fictional novel about stoning
Golrokh Ebrahimi Iraee, a writer and human rights activist, is due to begin serving six years in prison on charges including “insulting Islamic sanctities” and “spreading propaganda against the system.”
THE TELEGRAPH
East Timor journalists face trial after story on Prime Minister
Raimundos Oki and Lourenco Vicente Martins are charged with “slanderous denunciation” in relation to an article published last year on possible corruption in bidding on state contract, and face up to three years in prison if found guilty.
AL ARABIYA
Russia charges Ukrainian journalist with espionage
Ukrainian journalist Roman Sushchenko, who was detained in Russia on Sept. 30, has officially been charged with espionage, says to his lawyer, Mark Feigin, adding that Sushchenko pleaded not guilty.
KYIV POST
Journalist ambushed and bashed in Zimbabwe
Voice of the People journalist Mlondolozi Ndlovu was ambushed and severely beaten on Tuesday night by 12 unknown men in Harare. Ndlovu said he believed the men had planned the attack and had been waiting for him as he walked home.
ALL AFRICA
Bahrain postpones prominent rights activist’s verdict
A Bahraini court Thursday postponed until October 31 its verdict in the trial of prominent activist Nabeel Rajab, charged with spreading false information and posting online insults, a judicial source said.
DAILY MAIL