Check out Mimi Chakarova’s new installment in her documentary photography series on sex-trafficked women in Eastern Europe. I shot the project’s video and audio on location in Czech Republic, Moldova and Transnistria last summer (all except the last intvu). – Go to the site

From foreignpolicy.com:

The Mubarak Test
By Tom Malinowski May/June 2009

How Barack Obama handles an upcoming visit by the Egyptian president will reveal much about his approach to human rights.

Sean Gallup/Getty Images

Guess who’s coming: Hosni Mubarak is an important U.S. ally, as well as the epitome of an authoritarian strongman.

In two weeks, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak will make his first visit to the White House since 2004. Egypt is, of course, a key U.S. ally and the United States badly needs its help as President Barack Obama attempts to restart the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. But Mubarak is not exactly a model guest. He epitomizes the authoritarian Arab ruler, presiding over a system in which opponents are muzzled and imprisoned, and where torture is widespread. Yes, Mubarak greeted Obama’s inauguration by releasing Egypt’s most famous political prisoner — opposition politician Ayman Nour. But he has shown no inclination to pursue broader reforms, and seems intent on installing his son as his successor. And he keeps dubious company, having flagrantly challenged one of the Obama administration’s priorities by inviting President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan to Cairo after his indictment by the International Criminal Court.

The Iranian blogger who died in Evin prison last month. RIP Omid. Copied from the Committee to Protect Bloggers:

Omid Reza Misayafi Has Died in Prison

By Curt on Mar 18, 2009 in Killed bloggers, Omid Reza Misayafi, Iran, Imprisoned bloggers

Our friend Hamid Tehrani has told us that Omid Reza Misayafi has died in prison in Iran. Omid was sentenced in December to two and a half years in prison for “insulting” Iranian religious leaders.

“(T)he reason for his death,” says Hamid, “has not been announced but he was in very bad psychological condition.”

Considering torture and other types of mistreatment are par for the course for free speech prisoners in Iranian prisons, Omid’s death may well have been a direct result of Iranian government actions. Considering the government usually places bloggers in prison with the most dangerous criminals, his death may only have been an indirect result. Either way, the men of the government of Iran and its prisons have a lot to answer for.

In the meantime, for what it’s worth, our heartfelt condolences go out to Omid’s family. They’ve killed one of us.

Here’s an email I sent to my school for World Press Freedom Day. I will be joining the hunger strike for Roxana Saberi on May 14th.

Enjoy your day everyone.

Hi all,

Tomorrow, May 3rd, is World Press Freedom Day. At this time last year I had just been released from prison, and my translator would spend three more months in jail, cut off from the world and being tortured.

American-Iranian journalist Roxana Saberi is in jail right now. As you may have read, RSF and the Free Roxana campaign are organizing solidarity hunger strikes. Roxana’s alma mater, Medill (Northwestern) has passed emergency legislation urging students to write to the Iranian government.

Though it’s the end of the year and we are all busy, at least we’re not in jail. President Obama himself has confirmed Roxana is not a spy.

I urge you to read about the case and consider a solidarity hunger strike and/or writing a letter or op-ed.

I am planning to ask the student government to consider an emergency bill to express solidarity. Faculty and deans, I ask you to consider offering solidarity officially in a j-school capacity or individually.

Of course, there are many more journalists around the world who are in or have been to prison — including those held by the US in Guantanamo. Roxana’s high-profile case is a chance to bring press freedom to the fore, but there are other worthy cases as well.

Have a wonderful Press Freedom Day. Say something –Â it’s your fundamental human right.

James