Bahraini government strips WhatsApp groups of any privacy – IFEX

On Sunday 6 March, the Education Ministry – specifically the department responsible for secondary education – sent a message to all secondary school heads demanding that the contents of messages sent by teachers and students in WhatsApp groups be examined. The Ministry threatened to take legal action against anyone found to have sent messages that “insult authorities.” These are the kind of bombastic expressions the authorities have used over recent years to target political activists, opponents and critics. This announcement came just days after a landmark speech by Hayat Abdel Majid, the head of the sector targeting electronic crime at the Ministry of Interior’s Department for anti-corruption and economic and electronic security. In this speech, Abdel Majid said that the administrator of any WhatsApp group would be responsible and legally culpable for any defamatory news, rumours or inaccurate information circulated in that group. She also stated that members of a group could be held responsible for its content. She announced that the punishment could extend to a period of two years in prison and a fine of 200 Bahraini dinars, or one of these, in accordance with Article 168 of the law governing the spreading of defamatory information. The Ministry of Interior had previously announced, on 7 February 2016, the arrest of a group of people who had participated in the “al-Busta” WhatsApp group. The Ministry confirmed that they were supported by foreign powers in connection with terrorist activities within Bahrain. A number of people were also arrested over allegedly insulting statements about the authorities that they shared on WhatsApp. AbdAli Khair is still serving a 10-year prison sentence for forwarding a WhatsApp message.

Source: Bahraini government strips WhatsApp groups of any privacy – IFEX

Mr. President, Its outright Racism. | Groundviews

The government of Sri Lanka needs to safeguard the interests, cultural and religious practices of the Muslims that do not contravene with the constitution or the laws of the country. Failure to do so would be an injustice to a community that has stood by the Sri Lankan State throughout history, contributing to the economy and prosperity of all Sri Lankans. Let us unite in defending the rights of every citizen in this nation of ours and not be misled by the racist agenda of a few.

Source: Mr. President, Its outright Racism. | Groundviews

Jagrutha Mahila Sanghatan « a dalit women’s collective

Hejjegalu (The Footsteps) – The Journey of JMS, Raichur JANUARY 27, 2016 2:51 PM / LEAVE A COMMENT Hejjegalu  (The Footsteps) Duration: 26 minutes Language; Kannada with English Subtitles. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDeoA7GJDhQ This short documentary film captures the story of a Dalit Madiga Women’s Collective, Jagrutha Mahila Sanghatane, Potnal. It traces the footsteps of a social experiment aimed at catalysing the birth of a grassroots Dalit women’s voice to resist,the hegemonies of caste, class and gender. The Dalit madiga women agricultural laborers used the twin principles of sangharsh (struggle) and navnirman (reconstruction) to harness their collective strength to question caste and gender-based oppression and violence while also ushering in a new dawn of dignity and justice. The film is a tribute to the indomitable spirit, resolve and ingenuity of Dalit madiga women as they continue to confront gender, caste and class oppression and provide a shining illustration of meaningful human development work. Film concept and production:  Vijaya Kumar. S

Source: Jagrutha Mahila Sanghatan « a dalit women’s collective

Mattea Kramer: Killing Someone Else’s Beloved – Guernica

Once in a while a drone operator comes forward to reveal the emotional and psychic burden of passing 12-hour shifts in a windowless bunker on an Air Force base, killing by keystroke for a living. One serviceman’s six years on the job began when he was 21 years old and included a moment when he glimpsed a tiny figure dart around the side of a house in Afghanistan that was the target of a missile already on its way. In terror, he demanded of his co-pilot, “Did that look like a child to you?” Feverishly, he began tapping messages to ask the mission’s remote observer — an intelligence staffer at another location — if there was a child present. He’ll never know the answer. Moments later, the missile struck the house, leveling it. That particular drone operator has since left the military. After his resignation, he spent a bitterly cold winter in his home state of Montana getting blackout drunk and sleeping in a public playground in his government-issued sleeping bag. Someone else has, of course, taken his seat at that console and continues to receive kill orders from above. Meanwhile Donald Trump and most of the other Republican candidates have been competing over who can most successfully obliterate combatants as well as civilians. (Ted Cruz’s comment about carpet-bombing ISIS until we find out “if sand can glow in the dark” has practically become a catchphrase.) But it’s not just the Republicans. Every single major candidate from both parties has plans to maintain some version of Washington’s increasingly far-flung drone campaigns. In other words, a program that originated under President George W. Bush as a crucial part of his “global war on terror,” and that was further institutionalized and ramped up under President Obama, will soon be bequeathed to a new president-elect. When you think about it that way, election 2016 isn’t so much a vote to select the leader of the planet’s last superpower as it is a tournament to decide who will next step into the Oval Office and have the chance to play god. Who will get your support as the best candidate to continue killing the loved ones of others? Go to the polls, America.

Source: Mattea Kramer: Killing Someone Else’s Beloved – Guernica / A Magazine of Art & Politics

On Women’s Day: IOF kidnap high profile activist, mother of six, Manal Tamimi – PNN

Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) on Tuesday overnight have kidnapped iconic activist against the Wall and settlements, and mother of six, Manal Tamimi (43) from her home in Al-Nabi Saleh village near Ramallah. On the International Women’s Day, 8th of March, at 1:30 AM, dozens of soldiers stormed Manal’s home, raided it and detained her family in one room, while female Israeli soldiers have taken Manal to another room in the house, thoroughly inspected her, then kidnapped her. Manal’s husband, Bilal Tamimi (50) said that a few hours after the arrest, the family knew that Manal was taken to Benyamin Israeli police center near Ramallah, calling it “the Israeli gift to the Palestinian women on women’s day.” Manal’s lawyer, Gabi Lasky, said that Tamimi went through investigation at the police center, and has asked for a hearing session to take place as soon as possible to know the charges held against her.

Source: On Women’s Day: IOF kidnap high profile activist, mother of six, Manal Tamimi – PNN

′Erdogan wants to silence all opposition media′ | Europe | DW.COM | 08.03.2016

For Dundar, Turkey’s government is leading the country down a road that leads ever further toward authoritarian rule. The European Union, he says, is easing the way. Watch video01:34 Black

Watch video01:34 Black day for democracy in Turkey

“The attitude and stance of Europe is a great concern,” Dundar said. “The refugee crisis is clearly very serious but I’m afraid the EU is accepting Turkey’s abuses of basic rights and press crackdowns because of it – they are engaged quite comfortably in dirty bargaining on this.” “Europe should not be surrendering its fundamental values and condoning abuses of human rights in Turkey because of the refugee crisis.” Now, Dundar is recuperating ahead of his trial. Perhaps fittingly, it will be a closed hearing. Asked whether, in light of the state takeover of Zaman, he fears for the future of his newspaper Dundar responded: “Nothing would be a surprise anymore, but somehow I don’t think so. For me, however, Erdogan will do his best to put me away.”

Source: ′Erdogan wants to silence all opposition media′ | Europe | DW.COM | 08.03.2016

Nearly half of Israeli Jews support expelling Arabs | News | DW.COM | 08.03.2016

Fear and Loathing Spreads Faster than the Flu!

Forty-eight percent of Israeli Jews strongly agreed or agreed to the statement “Arabs should be expelled or transferred from Israel,” the poll released on Tuesday by the non-partisan Washington-based Pew Research Center found.

Source: Nearly half of Israeli Jews support expelling Arabs | News | DW.COM | 08.03.2016

Afghan Court Confirms Reduced Sentences in Mob Killing of Woman – {Ten Years – they will probably appeal and win… Too many men still in dark in Afghanistan}

Men sentenced to death in the brutal killing of Farkhunda, a young woman who was an Islamic scholar, had their sentences cut to as little as 10 years.

Original enclosures:

Source: Afghan Court Confirms Reduced Sentences in Mob Killing of Woman

Second Look Behind the Headlines – News you can use…

Baldacchino di Perla

"Luce di parole, ombra di sogni."

Northern Desert Photography

Living on the Edge of the Sagebrush Ocean

Susana Cabaço

Spiritual Insights & Personal Empowerment

Barbara Picci

Artist & Art Blogger

craft journey

Furnicraft, woodwork, and art

musings corner

reveries and rants

Japão para Românticos

Bem Vindos a este espaço onde compartilhamos um pouco da realidade do Japão à todos aqueles que desejam visitar ou morar no Japão. Aqui neste espaço, mostramos a realidade do Japão e dos imigrantes. O nosso compromisso é com a realidade. Fique por dentro do noticiário dos principais jornais japoneses, tutoriais de Faça você mesmo no Japão e acompanhe a Série Histórias de Imigrantes no Japão. Esperamos que goste de nossos conteúdos, deixe seu like, seu comentário, compartilhe e nos ajudar você e à outras pessoas. Grande abraço, gratidão e volte sempre!

Leben als Mensch

Willkommen auf Elke´s Glücks-Blog

Sharpshot Nature .Com

- Specializing in the great outdoors, capturing nature at its finest!

Diane Ravitch's blog

A site to discuss education and democracy

Expansão e Percepção

Seu Guia de Inspirações e Reflexões Diárias

noga noga.

my-health-and-beauty.com/

Uğurcan'ın Ütopyası

Benim Gezegenime Hoş geldiniz !!!

AKILS

Blog de viajes y lugares

Ed Mooney Photography

The official blog of Ed Mooney Photography. Dad of 3, Photographer, Blogger, Powerlifter. Exploring the historical sites of Ireland.

everything Explored on the earth

It has new aidias,news, about education , motivation, social, historical, culture, marketing creation new aidias education of language science culture and history

Born to die

L'unico modo sensato di vivere è senza regole

Early Morning Memories

by Anuran (A) & Sayoni (S)

My thoughts

Fun for the Brain

Neo Vision College

An exemplary learning community.

Anthony’s Crazy Love and Life Lessons in Empathy

Loves, lamentation, and life through prose, stories, passions, and essays.

Episodic Squalid Rants

public tantrums by a non-two-year-old

The Street Art Directory

Public, street and urban art worldwide

Artie & Stu

all the rules of free form

Everyone read that they fell in love first

<script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-2937106805202763" crossorigin="anonymous"></script>

davidscottmoyer

Lapsed Painter, Occasional Photographer, Compulsive Writer

Health & Fitness

Health Blogs

Buildings Tell Tales

Exploring the hidden architectural heritage of Budapest

Divit kalem

Yaşamdan

Roy's Weblog

The third incarnation...

Thought Pukes

More than a thought less than a question

"بوصلة الحياة"

"بوصلة الحياة: مدونة متعددة المجالات، من السياسة إلى الرومانسية، ومن تطوير الذات إلى الأدب وأكثر!" بقلم مشاعر بنت عبدالرحمن

parallax

The view from here ... Or here!

ClearingSpace4Joy

Bringer and seeker of joy

Belladonna’s Flashlight

The One Where She Stumbled Through Her 40's and Faced Her Demons

~ Trivial Music Silliness ~

Baw wit da baw. Just sayin'.

mo mnsoor blog

Website storys

Chronicles of an Anglo Swiss

Welcome to the Anglo Swiss World

gnaddrig ad libitum

Querbeet und ohne Gewähr

Peace & Truth

KINDNESS IS FREE, sprinkle it all over the world, and 😁 smile

Ética de la vida diaria

Nuestra ética de todos los días...

Elizabeth Gauffreau

Fiction Writer in Poet's Clothing