Free speech is not the law in Singapore where a 16 year old blogger was just released after 50 days in prison for “criticizing Lee Kuan Yew, the founding father of modern Singapore” according to a recent New York Times article.  On July 3, 2015 Amnesty International  issued a demand issued  -“Singapore: Free 16-year-old prisoner of conscience Amos Yee” as follows:

The Singapore authorities must immediately and unconditionally release teenager Amos Yee, who is facing a minimum of 18 months of reformative training after criticising the late Singapore Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew online. Amnesty International considers him to be a prisoner of conscience, held solely for exercising his right to freedom of expression. As he is a minor, authorities must also ensure that his treatment is consistent with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child to which Singapore is a State party.

The Internet is the greatest social change agent ever, but law is still a creature of local society standards and apparently in Singapore bloggers will suffer if they violate those laws.

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