The Freedom Watch

French Jews to sue Twitter over anti-Semitic tweets following German neo-Nazi ban

"Twitter, a day after saying it blocked a neo-Nazi group’s account in Germany in a global first, faced a new battle Friday in France where Jewish students are taking it to court to force it to remove anti-Semitic messages. The hashtag #unbonjuif — which in English means 'a good Jew' — has been one of the top trending words on French-language tweets and is often followed by offensive comments such as: 'A good Jew can pump up your tyre with his nose.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFrench Jews to sue Twitter over anti-Semitic tweets following German neo-Nazi ban

Kuwait plunges into political turmoil amid crackdown

"Kuwait plunged into political turmoil on Friday after the public prosecution ordered the detention of three former opposition MPs for three days with more arrests expected. The three were questioned for nine hours on accusations of undermining the status of Kuwait’s ruler before being taken into custody. The prosecutor also extended the detention for three more days of four opposition activists arrested during clashes between police and protesters following a huge rally. It is illegal under the constitution to criticise the emir who enjoys extensive authority and must be from the Al-Sabah ruling family, in power for over 250 years." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingKuwait plunges into political turmoil amid crackdown

Boston Police Tracking Protesters

"The Boston Regional Intelligence Center is one of more than 40 so-called 'fusion centers' around the country that were set up after Sept. 11, 2001 to share intelligence among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The documents show that the center has conducted extensive surveillance and investigations of lawful political activities. Members of the Boston Police Department are tracking the internal workings of political groups, interrogating peaceful activists, and filming demonstrations, such as an Occupy Boston protest from last year. In it, Occupy activists chant as the police video slowly pans the faces of those demonstrating." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBoston Police Tracking Protesters

Cubans ditch exit permits for international travel

"Cubans will no longer need an exit permit to travel abroad from January, the communist regime said on Tuesday, in a major overhaul of a half-century-old policy despised by the island’s citizens. The changes are the latest in a series of gradual reforms implemented in recent years by President Raul Castro, who took the helm from his ailing brother Fidel Castro in 2006. Cubans will no longer have to apply for a 'white card' to leave the island from January 14, and the period allowed for overseas stays will be extended from 11 to 24 months, according to decrees published in the official journal." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCubans ditch exit permits for international travel

Iowa: Proposed Citizen Initiative Would Ban Traffic Ticket Drones

"The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is taking up the fight against red light cameras and speed cameras in Iowa. Earlier this month, lawyers from the left-leaning activist group sent an affidavit to the city council in Iowa City containing the text of a proposed initiative banning the use of all forms of photo enforcement -- including license plate recognition cameras (ALPR or ANPR) and the use of drones. Residents had called the ACLU for help after city attorney Eleanor M. Dilkes took action to block citizens from ever voting on the topic." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingIowa: Proposed Citizen Initiative Would Ban Traffic Ticket Drones

State Dept. admits passport form was illegal, but still wants it approved

"Ignoring massive public opposition, and despite having recently admitted that it is already using the 'proposed' forms illegally without approval, the State Department no longer wants you to tell the passport examiner about the circumstances of your circumcision, but does still want to know the dates and locations of all of your mother’s pre- and post-natal medical appointments, how long she was hospitalized for your birth, and a complete list of everyone who was in the room when you were born." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingState Dept. admits passport form was illegal, but still wants it approved

Now Mexico Bans Cash Transactions

"Outgoing Mexican President Felipe Calderon has signed into law a ban on large cash transactions. Under the law, a Specialized Unit in Financial Analysis operating within the Attorney General's Office will be created to investigate financial operations 'that are related to resources of unknown origin.' For real estate transactions, cash payments of more than a half million pesos ($38,750) will be forbidden and, for automobiles or items like jewelry, art, and lottery tickets, cash payments of more than 200,000 pesos ($15,500) will be forbidden. The law carries a minimum penalty of five years in prison." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNow Mexico Bans Cash Transactions

U.S. Jails More People Than Any Other Country

"The U.S. has the world’s highest incarceration rate, with Department of Justice data showing more than 2.2 million people are behind bars, equal to a city the size of Houston. With a rate of 730 people per 100,000, the U.S. jails a higher proportion of its citizens than any other country. The U.S. also leads the world in the number of prisons in operation at 4,575, more than four times the number of second- place Russia at 1,029. U.S. states spent $52 billion to construct and operate those prisons in 2011, more than quadruple the $12 billion spent in 1987, according to data from the Pew Center on the States." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingU.S. Jails More People Than Any Other Country

‘Three Strikes of Injustice’

"The study showed that more than 4,000 inmates in California are serving life sentences for nonviolent offenses under the three-strikes law. Although judges have sentencing discretion in a very narrow band of three-strikes cases, the reality is that judges almost universally consider themselves bound under California law to impose a life sentence for a third felony offense, no matter how minor. We also learned that the law is disproportionately applied to minorities, the mentally ill and the poor." Continue reading →

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British couple who helped Kenyan village with cannabis profits jailed

"Michael Foster, 62, and Susan Cooper, 63, made hundreds of thousands of pounds from a sophisticated cannabis growing operation at their Lincolnshire farmhouse, which was only discovered when a police officer chasing a burglar recognised the distinctive smell. The couple paid for live-saving surgery for a villager near Mombasa, Kenya, purchased computers for an eye hospital, and paid for schooling for children, the court heard." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBritish couple who helped Kenyan village with cannabis profits jailed