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

Investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova sentenced to 7.5 years
A court in Baku, Azerbaijan today has sentenced Ismayilova to 7 and a half years in prison. Ismayilova, who has reported on corruption involving high-level officials, said the charges of criminal libel, tax evasion, illegal business activity, and abuse of power were politically motivated retribution. RFE/RL

Canada has formally applied for a pardon for Al Jazeera journalist Fahmy
The Canadian government has formally applied to Egyptian authorities for the pardon and deportation of Al-Jazeera journalist and Canadian citizen Mohamed Fahmy. Fahmy was sentenced to three years in prison on Saturday, along with his Al-Jazeera colleagues Baher Mohamed and Peter Greste. CBC
 
Turkey charges three from VICE News with terrorism
British journalists Jake Hanrahan and Philip Pendlebury were detained with another foreign colleague, while filming in Diyarbakir, the largest city in Turkey’s Kurdish-dominated southeast on Thursday. On Monday, the court in Diyarbakir arraigned the three on charges of terrorism. BLOOMBERG
 
Australian and Thai journalists found not guilty of defaming Thai navy
An Australian editor and his Thai reporter colleague were found not guilty on Tuesday of criminal defamation for reporting on the alleged involvement of Thai naval officers in the trafficking of Burmese Rohingya refugees. Editor Alan Morison and reporter Chutima Sidasathian faced up to seven years in jail. THE GUARDIAN
 
Syrian court acquits free-speech campaigner Mazen Darwish *PEN Case List
A Syrian court on Monday acquitted a prominent free-speech campaigner who was released from jail three weeks ago after being held for 3-1/2 years awaiting trial under anti-terrorism laws. Mazen Darwish was arrested in February 2012, nearly one year into the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad. REUTERS
 
Chinese reporter makes on-air ‘confession’ after market chaos
Wang Xiaolu, a journalist from one of China’s leading financial magazines has been paraded on state television to make an on-air “confession” for supposedly triggering the recent stock market chaos with his reporting. THE GUARDIAN
 
Report: Colombia collecting bulk data without warrants
Intelligence agencies in Colombia have been building robust tools to automatically collect vast amounts of data without judicial warrants and in defiance of a pledge to better protect privacy following a series of domestic spying scandals, according to a new report by Privacy International. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
 
NSA bulk call records collection extended for last time
The National Security Agency’s controversial program for the bulk collection of domestic phone call records has been granted extension for the last time. Under an order by the secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, the NSA is now allowed to continue collecting the data for a three-month period until Nov. 28. IT WORLD
 
Wife of jailed Saudi blogger Badawi: ‘All of this has taught me to be stronger’
In 2013, Raif Badawi was sentenced to 1,000 lashes and 10 years in jail. His wife Ensaf talks about the effect it has had on their family. THE TELEGRAPH