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

Azeri prosecutors request nine-year sentence for Ismayilova *PEN Case List
Today, prosecutors in Azerbaijan asked for a nine-year jail term for prominent investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova, in a trial that has been widely denounced as retribution for her reporting on high-level corruption. The next hearing has been set for August 26, her lawyer said, and the verdict could come on that day. AFP
 
Two local journalists slain in two consecutive days in the Philippines
Two unidentified gunmen shot dead radio anchor Teodoro Escanilla at his home in Sorsogon on Wednesday. On Tuesday, veteran journalist Gregorio Ybanez was shot several times by an unknown gunman on his way home. CNN
 
Men jailed 19 years for “brazen” attack on Hong Kong newspaper editor
Two men who attacked a former chief editor of a prominent Hong Kong newspaper with a meat cleaver were jailed on Friday for 19 years in a case that has raised concerns about press freedom in the Chinese-run city. REUTERS
 
Google ordered to remove links to stories about Google removing links to stories
Google has been ordered by the UK’s Information Commissioner’s office to remove nine links to current news stories about older reports which themselves were removed from search results under the ‘right to be forgotten’ ruling. THE GUARDIAN
 
Google covertly lobbied against net neutrality in India
The Internet giant has allegedly been trying to prevent the Internet and Mobile Association of India, a body that represents internet firms in India, from opposing Zero Rating, the practice of letting users access select applications/websites free of data charges by striking deals with telecom operators. THE TIMES OF INDIA
 
Data retention in Peru: a poor copy of a bad idea
On July 27, Peru’s President, issued a decree granting the national police the power to access the geo-location data of any device in the country without a warrant. It also required companies to store users’ communications metadata for three years. Now, the Peruvian congress has to decide whether it will ratify the policy. ACCESS NOW
 
Whistleblowers and journalists’ sources must be protected
The UN special rapporteur on the right to freedom of expression, David Kaye, will present his thematic report on the issue of protection of journalists’ sources and whistleblowers to the UN General Assembly in October. ARTICLE 19
 
Can anything really be done to protect journalists from murder?
Murders of journalists in areas of conflict, almost all of which have been uninvestigated, unsolved and unpunished, have shown the inadequacy of international humanitarian law designed to protect people, such as media workers, who are not participating in hostilities. Is there anything that can be done to protect them? THE GUARDIAN