By Madeline Schiesser
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

LONDON, U.K. – Several thousand British Muslims gathered outside Google’s London offices Sunday to demand that the company remove the anti-Islamic film, “The Innocence of Muslims,” from its subsidiary website, YouTube.

For several hours Sunday, protesters filled the street in front of Google’s London headquarters, forcing Buckingham Palace Road to be closed for at least three hours almost up to the Palace gates.  Barricades were erected, and protestors carried signs with messages such as “We love our prophet more than our lives” and “Prophet Muhammad is the founder of freedom of speech.”

Khalid Mahmood, of campaign group Voyce, explained that the demonstration against Google was the first in the UK, and that other acts would follow.  He said: “This is a demonstration against hate speech on the internet and YouTube in particular.”

The protestors specifically want the 14 minute video from the allegedly forthcoming “Innocence of Muslims” film, which has caused great controversy in the Muslim world in the last month, permanently blocked.

The protest comes only a few days after al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahiri called for a holy war against the US and Israel over the same video.

Organizer Masoud Alam explained that the video presents an issue not of freedom of speech, but rather of religious intolerance.  He stated: “This is not freedom of expression, there is a limit for that. This insult of the Prophet will not be allowed.”

Muslims came to London for the protest from many corners of the U.K., including some reported from Birmingham, Blackburn, Manchester, Peterborough, and even Glasglow.  Around 800 imams in British mosques took part in organizing the protest.

It is estimated that between 3,500 Muslims, according to BBC News, and 10,000 Muslims, according to the Telegraph, participated in the protest.

Women are difficult to spot in protest photographs and video.  However, according to one protestor, they were present nonetheless “right at the back.”

Organizers plan further protests in the city in coming weeks, including a one million-strong march in London’s Hyde Park.

“Until it is banned we will keep protesting,” Alam affirmed.

“The Innocence of Muslims” video was uploaded on YouTube in July by Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, a California-based Egyptian-American, who is now in custody for the unrelated charge of violating the terms of his probation for a pre-existing fraud offense.

Violence surrounding the video erupted in September when an Arabic-language version became available on YouTube.  Amid the resulting violence, four Americans, including the US ambassador to Libya, were killed in an attack on the US consulate in Benghazi.

Thereafter, Google and YouTube restricted access to the video in Egypt and Libya.  However, Google continues to assert that this video is not hate speech because hate speech is speech against individuals, not against groups, according to the New York Times.  Because the video criticizes Islam, but not the Muslim people, YouTube finds it to be allowable.

A Spokesperson YouTube said: “We work hard to create a community everyone can enjoy and which also enables people to express different opinions. . . This video – which is widely available on the Web – is clearly within our guidelines and so will stay on YouTube.”

However, the protestors feel differently.  Sheikh Faiz Al-Aqtab Siddiqui, an imam, explained the severity of the situation: “Terrorism is not just people who kill human bodies, but who kill human feelings as well. The makers of this film have terrorized 1.6 billion people. Organizations like Google are key players and have to take responsibility for civility. You can’t just say it doesn’t matter that it’s freedom of speech. It’s anarchy.”

For more information, please see:

BBC News – Anti-Islam Film Protest Outside Google’s London HQ – 14 October 2012

Global Post  – 10,000 Muslims Rally Outside Google’s London HQ Over US-made Anti-Islam Film: Report – 14 October 2012

The Telegraph – Muslims Protest ‘Age of Mockery’ as Thousands Descend on Google HQ – 14 October 2012

The Guardian – Al-Qaida leader calls for holy war on US and Israel over anti-Islamic film – 13 October 2012

The Telegraph – US Filmmakers Banned from Britain over Anti-Mohammed Video – 12 October 2012

The New York Times – As Violence Spreads in Arab World, Google Blocks Access to Inflammatory Video – 13 September 2012

By Alexandra Sandacz
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

LONDON, United Kingdom – On Friday, the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the European Union with the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize for its dedication “to the advancement of peace and reconciliation” in Europe.

More specifically, the Nobel committee chose the European Union because of its 60-year-long contribution “to the advancement of peace and reconciliation, democracy and human rights in Europe.” The committed focused on the EU’s reconstruction after World War II and its ability to spread stability to communist countries after the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Thorbjoern Jagland, the Nobel committee chairman, said, “The stabilizing part played by the European Union has helped to transform a once torn Europe from a continent of war to a continent of peace.”

However, some European citizens and groups reacted to the announcement with skepticism.

Martin Callanan, the leader of the Eurosceptic Conservatives and Reformist Party in the European Parliament, responded, “The Nobel committee is a little late for an April fool’s joke. Twenty years ago this prize would have been sycophantic but maybe more justified. Today it is downright out of touch.” He continues, “Presumably this prize is for the peace and harmony on the streets of Athens and Madrid.” Callanan references the recent violent backlash in Europe created by the EU-backed economic austerity programs.

Matthew Price, a BBC Europe correspondent, does not doubt that the EU’s achievements are well established, but he also commented that the committee “picked a strange time to highlight these achievements.” He believes that the eurozone crisis has made the EU look divided and fragile.

Conversely, German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, regards the Nobel Peace Prize as a “personal incentive” to build on six decades of peace in Europe. “We must never forget that in order to keep this peace, democracy and freedom, we have to work hard over and over again,” she said.

Similarly, French President, Francois Hollande, believes that the EU needs to prove its worthiness of the award.  He says, “we are honored, we are proud and at the same time we have our responsibilities before us.”

The prize, worth $1.2 million, will be presented in Oslo, Norway on December 10, 2012.

For further information, please see:

BBC News — Nobel Peace Prize awarded to European Union – 12 October 2012

MSNBC News — European Union wins Nobel Peace Prize – 12 October 2012

The New York Times — Europe Told to Count Its Blessings – 12 October 2012

Spiegel — European Union Wins Nobel Peace Prize – 12 October 2012

By Madeline Schiesser
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

MOSCOW, Russia – On Wednesday, a Moscow City appeals court upheld the convictions of punk band Pussy Riot members Maria Alekhina, 24, and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 22, and releasing their band mate Yekaterina Samutsevich, 30.  Alekhina and Tolokonnikova’s convictions for hooliganism motivated by religious hatred and sentences of two years in prison were maintained by the court.  Samutsevich’s sentence was suspended because she was prevented from actual participation in the acts ruled hooliganism.

The three women were arrested and charged after a protest on February 21 in which five members of Pussy Riot entered Moscow’s Russian Orthodox cathedral, snuck into a restricted area in front of the iconostasis, and for about a minute performed  their song, “Virgin Mary, Get Putin Out” before they were removed by security.  Two members of the band have fled the country.

Samutsevich, as her lawyer argued before the appeals court, did not have time to remove her guitar from its case before she was escorted out of the cathedral by guards, and therefore did not participate in the performance.

On August 17, after a trial in which the defense was permitted to call no witnesses, the prosecution did not question the defendants, and the defendant’s words were often objected to by the judge, according to The Guardian, Moscow’s Khamovnichesky District Court handed down its decision of guilty.  Samutsevich, Alekhina, and Tolokonnikova were sentenced to 2 years in prison.

Outside of Russia, the imprisoned women have received much support, including being on the short list for the Sakharov Prize.  According to the BBC however, within Russia 43% of those polled found the sentence to be too lenient.

On Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin asserted “It was right that they were arrested, and the court’s decision was right.”

During appeal, Samutsevich replaced her lawyer with Irina Khrunova, who once represented jailed former Russian oil businessman Mikhail Khodorkovsky.  Khrunova argued that Samutsevich had committed only an “unfinished crime” or “inchoate crime” and therefore should receive a lighter sentence.

Alekhina and Tolokonnikova also pled for leniency on the grounds that each is the mother of a small child.

Although they maintain that their protest was political in nature, and were not motivated by religious hatred, the women have apologized if they offended anyone.  “If we unintentionally offended any believers with our actions, we express our apologies,” Samutsevich said in court Wednesday.

This echoes Alyokhina’s assertion in August, “Dear believers, we didn’t want to offend you,” she said. “We went into the cathedral to issue a protest against the fusion of the spiritual and political elite of our country.”

Samutsevich’s release was met with excitement.  She hugged her band mates, who smiled and tearfully said goodbye to her before she was led out the courtroom and quickly whisked away from the media.

Samutsevich will be on probation for two years, during which time she cannot change housing without notifying authorities, must report to authorities once a month, and cannot participate in any similar performances, or she will be sent to prison.

However, Samutsevich has vowed that she will not be silent: “Of course we are not finished, nor are we going to end our political protest.”  She also claimed the verdict had been influenced by the president.  “You can see the flaws of the judicial system in Russia.  It depends very much on the opinion and the stance of the President.”

The appeals court took the unusual step of publically defending its decision.  The court claimed that Alekhina and Tolokonnikova remained in prison because they are a threat to society, and Samutsevich was freed due to her “level of participation.”

Alekhina and Tolokonnikova’s lawyers will file supervisory appeals maintain a non-guilty plea in order to continue the appeal process.  However, the women’s sentences are effective immediately.  Their lawyers have also expressed plans to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.

Within ten days of receiving the judge’s written decision Alyokhina and Tolokonnikova will be moved to a yet undetermined prison to serve their sentences.  Their lawyers moved to have the women serve their sentences where they have been since March so that their families could communicate with them; however authorities refused this request, according to RT.  According to the Guardian, the two are likely to be separated.

For more information, please see:

The Independent – ‘We’re not going to stop’: No let-up for Putin from freed Pussy Riot member – 12 October 2012

BBC News – Pussy Riot case: One defendant freed in Russia – 10 September 2012

The Guardian – Pussy Riot member freed as two bandmates face exile to prison camp – 10 October 2012

Human Rights Watch — Russia: Justice Fails at Pussy Riot Appeal – 10 October 2012

The Moscow Times – One Pussy Riot Member Freed by Moscow Court – 10 October 2012

The New York Times – Moscow Court Frees 1 of 3 Pussy Riot Members – 10 October 2012

RT – Pussy Riot member released on probation, sentence upheld for 2 others – 10 October 2012

The Guardian – Putin says Pussy Riot ‘got what they asked for’ as jailed women appeal – 8 October 2012

By Alexandra Sandacz
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe 

MOSCOW, Russia –Tanya Lokshina, a researcher in the Human Rights Watch’s office in Moscow, received anonymous life-threatening texts last week. The texts not only threatened her life, but also focused on her pregnancy. Lokshina believes the latest threats are related to her work in the North Caucasus region, calling it an example of pressure against rights and civic groups in Russia.

Kenneth Roth, HRW executive director, said, “These threats demonstrate that the sender clearly was following Tanya’s every move. They knew where she lived, what she was doing. They made explicit reference to the fact of her pregnancy. They threatened harm to herself and to her unborn baby. They were clearly made with the intent of scaring Tanya and Human Rights Watch to stop our monitoring and reporting on human rights in Russia.”

Furthermore, Roth states, “Human Rights Watch worked in the Soviet Union in the darkest days. We certainly are not going to allow a cheap set of vile and depraved threats of the sort that were sent to Tanya to stand in the way of our continued work today.”

The threats consisted of confidential information, such as her due date, her unregistered home address and her relatives’ travel plans. Lokshina and a small group of friends would be the only individuals to know this information.

According to Human Rights Watch, this suggests that the information was acquired through surveillance, with potential involvement of law enforcement and security officials.

Lokshina’s recent death threats are not the first of threats activists and independent journalists received.

In 2006, Journalist Anna Politkovskaya, critical of Kremlin and its policy of Chechnya, was gunned down in the elevator of her apartment building. In 2009, Natalya Estemirova, who collected evidence of rights abuses by security forces in Chechnya, was abducted and found dead the same day. Last December, Khadzhimurad Kamalov, founder of a newspaper that was critical of authorities in Dagestan and that reported on police abuses was gunned down outside his office.

Lokshina is a leading expert on human rights abuses in the North Caucasus area. Unaffected by the recent threats, she vows to continue her work. Moreover, Lokshina attributes her recent threats to the new atmosphere that the new Kremlin-controlled parliament restrictions on non-government organizations’ activities created in Russia.

For further information, please see:

The Huffington Post — Russian activist blames officials for threats – 4 October 2012

The New York Times — Rights Group Says Its Researcher in Moscow Threatened – 4 October 2012

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty — HRW Says Dangerous For Rights Workers In Russia – 4 October 2012

The Washington Post — Pregnant Russian rights activist blames security officials for anonymous text threats – 4 October 2012

By Madeline Schiesser
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

EVIA, Greece – A 27-year-old man was arrested last month in the Greek village of Psahna, Evia, on charges of “malicious blasphemy.”  The unnamed man allegedly created a Facebook page satirizing deceased Greek monk Elder (Gerontas, Father) Paisios.  Taking a page out of Pastafarianism’s book (the veneration of a Flying Spaghetti Monster), the Facebook page, titled Elder Pastitsios, replaced Paisios’ face with pastitsio, a popular lasagna-like greek dish.

Greek police arrested the man September 24, after the police’s “Cyber Crimes” bureau claimed they received thousands of complaints about the page from around the world.

However, the arrest came only days after a member of parliament belonging to Chrysi Avgi (Golden Dawn), a far-right, neo-fascist party that has been gaining power since May, brought the page to the attention of the minister of public order.

The police also confiscated the man’s laptop as evidence in order to determine if he was the one who created and managed the Elder Pastitsios Facebook page.

The accused man was arraigned on court on September 25, but released pending trial.

In the 98 percent Greek Orthodox Christian nation, a Facebook page critical of religion has the potential to cause offense.  Paisios remains popular in Greece for his spiritual teachings, and there have been many books published about him and his prophecies.  Some high-ranking members of the Greek orthodox priesthood have moved to have the Church sanctify him, a status similar to sainthood.

The Elder Pastitsios Facebook page, which has since been removed, showed satirical images and articles about the Greek Orthodox faith and Elder Paisios.  The accused man explained in an interview with the Greek website Pandoras Box that his purpose was to critique the commercialization of the deceased monk.

“Pastitsios was pure satire and without any vulgar language or insults,” he explained. “I take the books and criticize them. I use satire.”

Greece is one of the very few nations in Europe that maintains and enforces blasphemy laws. If convicted, a person may be fined up to €3,000 (£2,400, $3,8000), and imprisoned up to two years.

George Katrougalos, professor of public law at the Demokritos University of Thraces, notes that there are problems with the law.  “Especially, according to the [Greek] Constitution and the protections of freedom of speech, as well as the European Convention on Human Rights. The intention of the legislator seems to have been to protect minorities in general, or even the public peace.”

The arrest caused outrage on the Internet and across Greece. On Greek Twitter, the hashtag #FreeGeronPastitios trended strongly.  Also, a petition directed at the Greek parliament demanded the accused man’s release and the abolishment of blasphemy laws.

Within the Greek government the Democratic Left and the main opposition party, Syriza, responded quickly.   While also demanding the abolishment of the blasphemy law, the Democratic Left condemned the pandering of the government to the ultra-nationalist party, characterizing the arrest as of a “fundamentalist nature, which is not appropriate for a European, democratic state, but, rather, for theocratic regimes.”

Syriza called the arrest a “blatant act of violation of free speech by authorized officers of the state, who should be protecting it like the apple of their eye.”  They further stated that it is “unacceptable that in Greece of 2012 a citizen is arrested over satirical commentary on a personal page of a social networking website.”

For more information, please see:

Global Post – Greek Man Could Face Prison for “Blasphemous” Facebook Page – 5 October 2012

The Christian Science Monitor – Blasphemy in Democracy’s Birthplace? Greece Arrests Facebook User. – 2 October 2012

The Register – Pastafarians: Get Your Noodly Appendages off that Facebook Suspect – 2 October 2012

Kathimerini – Greek Police Arrest Man Behind Facebook Page Satirizing ‘Mystical’ Priest – 25 September 2012

Kathimerini – Leftist Parties Lambast ‘Blasphemy’ Arrest – 25 September 2012

Huffington Post – ‘Gerontas Pastitsios’ Pastafarian Facebook Page Leads To Blasphemy Arrest in Greece – 24 September 2012

Refworld – Policing Belief: The Impact of Blasphemy Laws on Human Rights – Greece – 21 October 2010