Venezuelan Prosecutor General Luisa Ortega July 30 proposed legislation to limit the media's freedom of expression in certain circumstances, citing the importance of national security. Under the proposed law, journalists could face up to four years in prison for "threatening the social peace, security and independence of the nation, public order, stability of state institutions, mental health, and public morals and for generating a climate of impunity or insecurity. The law would also punish those who disseminate false information, resulting in public panic. Ortega later stressed to the media that the measures are essential for balancing freedom of expression with safety and security concerns.

Trials began Aug. 1 of 100 protesters arrested following Iran's disputed June presidential election. For the first time since the 1979 Islamic revolution, dozens of senior officials, including former ministers, vice-presidents and lawmakers, have been put on trial. The official IRNA news agency quoted the indictment as saying the charges against the defendants include acting against national security by planning unrest, participating in an attempted "Velvet Revolution" and conspiring against the ruling system. The indictment names Gene Sharp and the Islamic Revolution Mojahedin Organization (IRMO) as masterminds of the unrest. (Tehran Times, Daily Times, Pakistan, Aug. 2)

China will begin trials over the next weeks for suspects accused in last month's deadly riots in Urumqi, capital of the Xinjiang region, state media announced. China Daily said officials are organizing special tribunals for "a small number" of the 1,400 detained, most of them ethnic Uighurs. Earlier this week, the authorities arrested an additional 253 suspects, many through tips provided by Urumqi residents. Those who provide information leading to an arrest can collect up to $7,350 in reward money. Li Zhi, the head of the Communist Party in Urumqi warned: "To those who have committed crimes with cruel means, we will execute them."

Chinese human rights group Gongmeng announced July 30 that its co-founder, prominent attorney Xu Zhiyong, was arrested at his home the previous morning and has not been heard from since. The group has also been unable to reach a second staff member, Zhuang Lu. Both Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have expressed concern over the detentions of Xu and Zhuang, calling for their immediate release. China's recent measures against human rights lawyers are viewed by many as an attempt to quash dissidence as the 60th anniversary of Communist rule approaches in October.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan July 31 declared that former president Pervez Musharraf violated the constitution when he declared emergency rule in November 2007. The court also found that Musharraf's removal of many members of the judiciary, including current Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry, and subsequent appointment of Abdul Hameed Dogar as chief justice were unconstitutional. Judges appointed in consultation with Dogar were removed from office.

Human rights group Reprieve announced July 28 that it is suing the British government over the 2002 "rendition" of Mohammed Saad Iqbal Madni from Indonesia to Egypt. The group alleges that the UK allowed the US rendition flight of Madni to stop on the British island territory of Diego Garcia, where the Pentagon has an air base. Madni says he was tortured with cattle prods for three months in Egypt, then sent to Guantánamo Bay, where he was held for six years before being released last August without having been charged.

The leader of Nigeria's Boko Haram rebels was killed after capture by the military July 30 following a massive offensive on the sect's strongholds in the north of the country. Initial statements said Muhammad Yusuf "died in police custody," but international rights groups are demanding an investigation. Eric Guttschuss, of Human Rights Watch, said: "The extrajudicial killing of Mr Yusuf in police custody is a shocking example of the brazen contempt by the Nigerian police for the rule of law." Some 300 were killed in the 72-hour offensive, and possibly twice that number. At least 100 were killed when soldiers shot their way into the mosque in Maiduguri. (PTI, The Guardian, AP, July 30)

The deadline for an Iraqi referendum on the security agreement with the US passed July 30 with a few deadly bombings but no vote. The government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has proposed scheduling the referendum for Jan. 15, 2010, to coincide with parliamentary elections. (Seattle Times, July 31)