PEN’s Free Expression Digest brings you a daily curated round-up of the most important free expression-related stories from around the web. Please send your feedback and suggestions to [email protected]

Chinese journalist seeking refuge in Thailand disappears
Two weeks ago, Chinese journalist, Li Xin, who was traveling across Thailand seeking political refuge disappeared. The journalist of a popular Chinese newspaper was believed to have joined a growing list of people “at odds” with Beijing. NEW YORK TIMES

Three journalists accused of ‘non-denunciation’ to appear in Cameroon Court
The journalists Baba Wame, Rodrigue Ndeutchoua Tongue, and Félix Cyriaque Ebolé Bola are due to appear before a military court in Yaounde tomorrow for failing to disclose information and sources that could harm national security. They are the first journalists to be charged for the crime of ‘non-denunciation’ in a military court. REPORTERS WITHOUT BORDERS

Ugandan Journalists prevented from covering Parliament and upcoming election
The Ugandan government announced this week that journalists without a university qualification will be barred from covering parliament, according to local reports. Journalists have also reported being attacked and threatened while covering the election campaign. COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS

Palestinian journalist on hunger strike could die at ‘any moment’
Palestinian journalist Mohammed al-Quiq is in very bad health after being on a hunger strike since November 25. He is protesting “torture and ill treatment that he was subjected to during interrogation”. The Israeli domestic security service alleges Qiq is an active member of the Islamist group Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip. BUSINESS STANDARD

Peoples’ Democratic Party in Turkey bans critical media from the party’s congress
Many newspapers and news channels were banned from attending the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) congress on Sunday where Co-Chairs Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ were re-elected despite recent survey findings. The barred media outlets branded the pro-Kurdish HDP’s decision as a blow to freedom of the press. DAILY SABAH

CoE Commissioner for Human Rights intervenes for Khadija Ismayilova
Female investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova has been imprisoned in Azerbaijan since September 2015. Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Nils Muižnieks published an intervention stating that this case is “an illustration of a serious and systemic human rights problem in Azerbaijan.” EUROPEAN FEDERATION OF JOURNALISTS

Project to train Moroccan’s to use smartphones for citizen journalism leads to trial
Tomorrow, seven Moroccan journalists and activists will go to trial on charges including “undermining state security” and “failing to report foreign funding.” The seven are due to face trial for taking part in a foreign-funded project to train people to use smartphones for citizen journalism. The court papers show that authorities believe that grassroots journalism may “destabilize Moroccans’ trust in their institutions.” AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

Mounting dangers for journalists in Yemen
A second journalist, Hashem Mohamed Homrane, has been killed within a week as a result of the Saudi-led coalition’s air-strikes. An Al Jazeera reporter has also been abducted together with his crew. REPORTERS WITHOUT BORDERS