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| Where free expression is a tweet dream: readers share stories of incivil societies | Where free expression is a tweet dream: readers share stories of incivil societies |
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| Civil society is under threat as governments in many countries move to suppress dissent. In its annual human rights report, Amnesty International warned of a creeping trend towards governments attacking or underfunding groups that protect human rights. “Not only are our rights under threat, so are the laws and the system that protect them,” said Amnesty International’s secretary general, Salil Shetty. “More than 70 years of hard work and human progress lies at risk.” | Civil society is under threat as governments in many countries move to suppress dissent. In its annual human rights report, Amnesty International warned of a creeping trend towards governments attacking or underfunding groups that protect human rights. “Not only are our rights under threat, so are the laws and the system that protect them,” said Amnesty International’s secretary general, Salil Shetty. “More than 70 years of hard work and human progress lies at risk.” |
| We asked readers to share their experiences of crackdowns on civil society. From restricting student activism in Turkey to cutting funds to NGOs in Kenya, here’s a selection of the responses we received. | We asked readers to share their experiences of crackdowns on civil society. From restricting student activism in Turkey to cutting funds to NGOs in Kenya, here’s a selection of the responses we received. |
| Uganda – ‘Fear reigns and self-censorship is common’ | Uganda – ‘Fear reigns and self-censorship is common’ |
| In November, Uganda passed the Non-Governmental Organisations Act amid fierce opposition from civil society. The act, currently awaiting newly re-elected President Yoweri Museveni’s signature, empowers the government to enforce criminal penalties against groups it deems are acting against “the interests of Uganda”. | In November, Uganda passed the Non-Governmental Organisations Act amid fierce opposition from civil society. The act, currently awaiting newly re-elected President Yoweri Museveni’s signature, empowers the government to enforce criminal penalties against groups it deems are acting against “the interests of Uganda”. |
| Related: Are you affected by crackdowns on civil society in your country? | Related: Are you affected by crackdowns on civil society in your country? |
| We received many responses from campaigners in Uganda who are concerned about both the act and the fear preceding its introduction. Human rights lawyer Nicholas Opiyo, of Chapter Four Uganda, said recent examples of crackdowns included break-ins at NGO offices, confiscation of hard drives, violent dispersals of public meetings and arrests of campaigners. “These threats limit the potential of NGOs, who now have to operate with extreme caution,” Opiyo said. “Fear reigns, and self-censorship becomes commonplace. The state then becomes less and less accountable because no one is holding it to its duty.” | We received many responses from campaigners in Uganda who are concerned about both the act and the fear preceding its introduction. Human rights lawyer Nicholas Opiyo, of Chapter Four Uganda, said recent examples of crackdowns included break-ins at NGO offices, confiscation of hard drives, violent dispersals of public meetings and arrests of campaigners. “These threats limit the potential of NGOs, who now have to operate with extreme caution,” Opiyo said. “Fear reigns, and self-censorship becomes commonplace. The state then becomes less and less accountable because no one is holding it to its duty.” |
| Anti-corruption campaigner Cissy Kagaba said her organisation had to ask for police permission to hold meetings, adding that vital funding from foreign donors was under threat. “On a number of occasions we are branded as being on the opposition and other times branded as agents of imperialism because of the sources of our funding. The irony is that over 50% of our government’s budget is funded by donors,” Kagaba said. | Anti-corruption campaigner Cissy Kagaba said her organisation had to ask for police permission to hold meetings, adding that vital funding from foreign donors was under threat. “On a number of occasions we are branded as being on the opposition and other times branded as agents of imperialism because of the sources of our funding. The irony is that over 50% of our government’s budget is funded by donors,” Kagaba said. |
| Turkey – ‘Any tweet makes me fear that the next doorbell ring is the police’ | Turkey – ‘Any tweet makes me fear that the next doorbell ring is the police’ |
| Freedom of expression is under threat in Turkey, where journalists, academics and political activists have been punished for sharing views that oppose the government. Last year, a Turkish public health service worker stood trial after sharing a Facebook post comparing President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan with Gollum, the Lord of the Rings character. | Freedom of expression is under threat in Turkey, where journalists, academics and political activists have been punished for sharing views that oppose the government. Last year, a Turkish public health service worker stood trial after sharing a Facebook post comparing President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan with Gollum, the Lord of the Rings character. |
| Didem Aydurmus, a Turkish student, said space for civil society is shrinking rapidly. “They crack down randomly on anybody from a person holding a sign just stating ‘peace’ in a stadium, to a professor who came to the conclusion that the religious inclinations of the president are comparable to the ones of an average Turk. ‘How dare you call the president average in anything?’ | Didem Aydurmus, a Turkish student, said space for civil society is shrinking rapidly. “They crack down randomly on anybody from a person holding a sign just stating ‘peace’ in a stadium, to a professor who came to the conclusion that the religious inclinations of the president are comparable to the ones of an average Turk. ‘How dare you call the president average in anything?’ |
| “Any post, any tweet, makes me fear that the next doorbell ring is the police. There are more and more oppressive laws in place and our spaces to breathe get smaller and smaller.” | “Any post, any tweet, makes me fear that the next doorbell ring is the police. There are more and more oppressive laws in place and our spaces to breathe get smaller and smaller.” |
| Related: Democrats v autocrats in Africa: is there a winning formula? – podcast | Related: Democrats v autocrats in Africa: is there a winning formula? – podcast |
| Kenya – ‘Fundraising for philanthropic work is under threat’ | Kenya – ‘Fundraising for philanthropic work is under threat’ |
| Following several attacks by the terrorist group al-Shabaab, Kenyan lawmakers introduced anti-terror laws that have also made it harder for civil society groups to form, receive foreign funding or protest publicly. Wilson Kipkazi, of Kenya’s National Council for NGOs, said more than 1,000 NGOs were deregistered last year following “the introduction of barbaric and draconian laws”. | Following several attacks by the terrorist group al-Shabaab, Kenyan lawmakers introduced anti-terror laws that have also made it harder for civil society groups to form, receive foreign funding or protest publicly. Wilson Kipkazi, of Kenya’s National Council for NGOs, said more than 1,000 NGOs were deregistered last year following “the introduction of barbaric and draconian laws”. |
| “The NGOs have not been able to do their work of helping communities due to political interference,” Kipkazi said. One aspect of the government’s crackdown is an attempt to quash foreign funding of NGO budgets, which would cripple organisations that speak out against the government. “Fundraising for philanthropic work is under threat and threatens to destroy a sector that supports many vulnerable people in Kenya,” Kipkazi said. | “The NGOs have not been able to do their work of helping communities due to political interference,” Kipkazi said. One aspect of the government’s crackdown is an attempt to quash foreign funding of NGO budgets, which would cripple organisations that speak out against the government. “Fundraising for philanthropic work is under threat and threatens to destroy a sector that supports many vulnerable people in Kenya,” Kipkazi said. |
| India – ‘The police have cracked down on peacefully protesting students’ | India – ‘The police have cracked down on peacefully protesting students’ |
| Student demonstrations in India escalated in February when the student president of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) was arrested on sedition charges. Since then students have vowed to continue demonstrating and say the government is attempting to muzzle free speech. | Student demonstrations in India escalated in February when the student president of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) was arrested on sedition charges. Since then students have vowed to continue demonstrating and say the government is attempting to muzzle free speech. |
| One reader, who wished to remain anonymous, told us JNU students were being targeted by police. “Students are protesting against the constant surveillance and curtailing of freedom of speech, caste discrimination, intimidation by the government, and the recruitment of incompetent and extremely rightwing personnel to higher education bodies,” they said. | One reader, who wished to remain anonymous, told us JNU students were being targeted by police. “Students are protesting against the constant surveillance and curtailing of freedom of speech, caste discrimination, intimidation by the government, and the recruitment of incompetent and extremely rightwing personnel to higher education bodies,” they said. |
| “Police have cracked down on peacefully protesting students in JNU and since then have been visiting homes of journalists to intimidate them. As long as the left is disorganised in India and there is no strong secular joint front against the rightwing forces, civil society is doomed here.” | “Police have cracked down on peacefully protesting students in JNU and since then have been visiting homes of journalists to intimidate them. As long as the left is disorganised in India and there is no strong secular joint front against the rightwing forces, civil society is doomed here.” |
| Pakistan – ‘Credible organisations are no longer able to work’ | Pakistan – ‘Credible organisations are no longer able to work’ |
| Many NGOs need permission from the Pakistani government to travel to parts of the country. One reader, who wished to remain anonymous, said these restrictions made it difficult for aid agencies to fulfil their mandates. “Travel continues to be restricted for locals and especially foreigners. The most impoverished regions of Pakistan, such as the federally administered tribal areas, continue to suffer as NGOs, including the one I work with, had to return millions of dollars’ worth of projects,” the reader said. | |
| “Unfortunately, the paperwork is a farce. NGOs are required to seek permission or NOCs (no objection certificates) to work in ‘conflict’ affected areas, which is a long and cumbersome process. This has meant that some good, credible organisations are no longer able to work in communities where there is a real need for development, and communities will naturally suffer. If the situation prevails, it’s a pretty bleak future. However we continue to hope that with national and international advocacy and pressure, civil society can really flourish in Pakistan.” | “Unfortunately, the paperwork is a farce. NGOs are required to seek permission or NOCs (no objection certificates) to work in ‘conflict’ affected areas, which is a long and cumbersome process. This has meant that some good, credible organisations are no longer able to work in communities where there is a real need for development, and communities will naturally suffer. If the situation prevails, it’s a pretty bleak future. However we continue to hope that with national and international advocacy and pressure, civil society can really flourish in Pakistan.” |