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]

Burkina Faso indicts, jails three in killing of journalist
A lawyer in Burkina Faso says three former presidential guard members have been indicted and jailed for the killing of an investigative journalist in 1998. Journalist Norbert Zongo was killed along with three others. He had been investigating the death of the chauffeur who drove the brother of ex-President Blaise Compaore. WASHINGTON POST

Saudi Arabia: Blogger Raif Badawi on hunger strike *PEN Case List
Imprisoned Saudi blogger Raif Badawi began a hunger strike this week after being transferred to an isolated detention facility, his wife has announced. Badawi was arrested in 2012 and sentenced in 2013 to seven years in prison and 600 lashes for apostasy and allegedly “insulting Islam through electronic channels.” His sentence was expanded in 2014 to 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes. VICE

China prepares to gag free speech champion Pu Zhiqiang
Pu Zhiqiang, China’s most admired and rambunctious advocate of free speech, was seized by police and hauled into custody in May 2014, shortly after attending a Tiananmen memorial event in Beijing. On Monday, after 19 months behind bars, Pu will go on trial in Beijing in what will be one of the most controversial and closely watched cases of President Xi Jinping’s crackdown on dissent. THE GUARDIAN

New evidence revealed three years after Laos activist’s disappearance
Fresh footage of an abducted activist’s vehicle could crack open a three-year-old mystery in Laos, campaigners say. In 2012, Sombath Somphone was driving home when he was pulled over just meters from the Australian Embassy Recreation Club in Vientiane. Mr. Sombath was well known in international circles for his work in sustainable farming, youth training, and community development. ABC AUSTRALIA

Police raid, search jailed journalist’s home in Turkey
Istanbul police on Saturday raided and searched the house of Samanyolu Broadcasting Group General Manager Hidayet Karaca, who has been behind bars in İstanbul’s Silivri Prison for almost a year, in what his lawyers said was an unlawful move to disturb the journalist’s family. Police carried out a search at the house for six hours and reportedly seized a computer used by Karaca’s children. TODAY’S ZAMAN

Ariel Dorfman publishes short story after 50-year wait
In the 1973 Chilean coup by General Augusto leading to the murder of the Chilean president Salvador Allende, Dorfman lost his notes for a fable when he was forced into exile to Paris and then Washington. Now, 50 years on, he has finally completed the short story called “All I Ever Have”, which has been exclusively published in the Index on Censorship magazine. THE BOOKSELLER

Twitter warns over potential state-sponsored hack
Twitter has issued its first ever warning about a possible hack by state-sponsored actors, as the social media site steps up its scrutiny of possible security breaches. The alert highlights growing concern over hacking activity backed by foreign governments after a year in which high-profile cyber attacks included the breach of 22m personnel profiles at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. CNBC

The Hit List: The Islamist war on secular bloggers in Bangladesh
When Bangladeshi-American blogger Avijit Roy told his parents that he planned to visit their home country in February, his father tried to dissuade him. “Dhaka is now not a very good place. The law-and-order situation is worsening day by day,” Ajoy Roy said. “I pointed out, ‘You’re a targeted person. Your name has been publicized as an atheist.'” Following threats on his life via Facebook, Avijit was dead. THE NEW YORKER