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]

Turkish police chiefs on trial over murder of journalist Hrant Dink
Senior Turkish security officials were among 34 defendants put on trial on Tuesday accused of links to the murder of Armenian journalist Hrant Dink a decade ago. Dink was gunned down in broad daylight on a busy Istanbul street in 2007. THE GUARDIAN

Timing of editor’s firing has Hong Kong worried about press freedom
A top editor at one of Hong Kong’s most prestigious newspapers was fired on Wednesday after the publication of a front page devoted to a single story: the offshore holdings uncovered by the Panama Papers of some of the city’s tycoons, celebrities and politicians. THE NEW YORK TIMES

Family of journalist slain by Islamic State sues Syria
The family of slain journalist Steven Sotloff is suing Syria in U.S. court, claiming the government of President Bashar Assad provided support to Islamic State militants who carried out the gruesome beheading. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Urdu poet Rahat Indori denied visa to visit U.S.
Eminent Urdu poet and lyricist Rahat Indori on Tuesday said he was denied a visa by the U.S. to attend a program in Texas next month for “failing to convince” officials that he will return. The poet said the officials handed him a paper which said he failed to convince them that he will return to India after the event. THE INDIAN EXPRESS

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty journalist prosecuted in Crimea
Russian police in occupied Crimea are investigating a case against a local journalist of ‘Crimea.Realities’ project by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. He is charged with “threatening the territorial integrity of the Russian Federation”. This is reported by the so-called Crimean prosecutor’s office. UKRAINE TODAY

Demonstrators urge freedom for missing journalist Austin Tice
Georgetown University students and other activists rallied outside the White House Monday evening to urge freedom for journalist Austin Tice, a graduate of the university who went missing in Syria in 2012 and is believed to be captive in the Middle East. THE WASHINGTON POST