> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.opendemocracy.net/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # The Week in 1 Minute: Tragedies and tirades – February 11 – 17 on openDemocracy - URL: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/week-in-1-minute-tragedies-and-tirades-february-11-17-on-opendemocracy/ - Published: 2014-02-17T00:02:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-04-23T01:36:05.000Z - Description: In the run-up to Mayoral elections in Istanbul, internet surveillance and censorship are reported to have reached a 'nightmarish' level. Turkey's political crisis is addressed by Umit Cizre, who accuses the Erdogan government of 'going nowhere'. openSecurity looks at Turkey's new internet policing - Author: openDemocracy Supporters - Tags: The Week in 1 Minute, #Migrated, #en, #Import 2026-04-09 17:46, #appended-excerpt openDemocracy's founder, Anthony Barnett writes on **the global day of action against surveillance**, [Don't Spy on Us](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/2a24ee13b0/7262321cfa/172b9ac3a3&ref=opendemocracy.net), calling for an independent inquiry into surveillance in the UK. India too has seen the rise of the [surveillance state](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/2a24ee13b0/7262321cfa/4bb40a8331&ref=opendemocracy.net), and Martin Eiermann writes on the [economic component](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/2a24ee13b0/7262321cfa/89a1e2540e&ref=opendemocracy.net) of the issue. **The tragic death of the academic Stuart Hall**, and his contribution to Cultural Theory, was a big theme on oD this week. Jeremy Gilbert pays [tribute to Hall](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/2a24ee13b0/7262321cfa/f22c4cbed3&ref=opendemocracy.net), and explains how he influenced his own life and work. Feminist scholar, Angela McRobbie [adds her own memories](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/2a24ee13b0/7262321cfa/38624c1df9&ref=opendemocracy.net) of the man she had known for 40 years, followed by collegues [Nirmal Puwar](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/2a24ee13b0/7262321cfa/8dbcc5335a&ref=opendemocracy.net), [Les Back](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/2a24ee13b0/7262321cfa/71d6bb64b4&ref=opendemocracy.net), Yasmin [Gunaratman](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/2a24ee13b0/7262321cfa/a705728555&ref=opendemocracy.net), [Avtar Brah](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/2a24ee13b0/7262321cfa/06c061b211&ref=opendemocracy.net) and [Iain Chambers and Lidia Curti](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/2a24ee13b0/7262321cfa/a325cbb10f&ref=opendemocracy.net) – and Red Pepper editor, [Hilary Wainwright](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/2a24ee13b0/7262321cfa/0c8088e474&ref=opendemocracy.net). In Spain, [Liz Cooper](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/2a24ee13b0/7262321cfa/fa6983c100&ref=opendemocracy.net) writes on how a [new law restricting abortion](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/2a24ee13b0/7262321cfa/9dd4edb7e0&ref=opendemocracy.net) threatens womens' rights. **The** [**forced sterilisation of 300 000 women**](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/2a24ee13b0/7262321cfa/139928154c&ref=opendemocracy.net) **in Peru** comes under investigation by [Mariella Sala](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/2a24ee13b0/7262321cfa/0bab7b60fe&ref=opendemocracy.net). [Oguz Alyanak](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/2a24ee13b0/7262321cfa/93fdc517bc&ref=opendemocracy.net) and [Funda Ustek](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/2a24ee13b0/7262321cfa/23ad33cb7c&ref=opendemocracy.net) tackle the issue of child brides, and argue that [it is the social system itself which should be ](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/2a24ee13b0/7262321cfa/cf9196b07b&ref=opendemocracy.net)investigated. A video on [transgender rights in Mumbai](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/2a24ee13b0/7262321cfa/31f6d7c548&ref=opendemocracy.net) is part of openSecurity’s 'Whose Police' series. **Syria's peace process at Geneva offers '**[**little hope of a breakthrough'**](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/2a24ee13b0/7262321cfa/fb1177931d&ref=opendemocracy.net), according to Paul Rogers, who elsewhere writes that the violent repression in Egypt and jihadist resistance threatens to eclipse [the promise of the Arab Spring](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/2a24ee13b0/7262321cfa/abef42ef14&ref=opendemocracy.net). [Islam Abdel-Rahman](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/2a24ee13b0/7262321cfa/992ca9cc16&ref=opendemocracy.net) also reports on the [continued repression of journalists](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/2a24ee13b0/7262321cfa/261fc63fac&ref=opendemocracy.net) and other voices in that country. Andrew Smith from the Campaign Against the Arms Trade [**criticises the EU**](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/2a24ee13b0/7262321cfa/9ad2392b1c&ref=opendemocracy.net) **for continuing to ship weapons to the Middle East**, whilst South Korea recently stopped exporting to Bahrain. On Valentine's Day, oD Editor Rosemary Bechler gives us[**14 reasons to celebrate 200 years of Jane Austin's classic Pride and Prejudice**](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/2a24ee13b0/7262321cfa/8b8b4b07f9&ref=opendemocracy.net). [Radical love and creating change](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/2a24ee13b0/7262321cfa/ca4166c6c9&ref=opendemocracy.net) are the subject of [Claudia Horwitz](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/2a24ee13b0/7262321cfa/e25284ab7b&ref=opendemocracy.net)'s article, while [Karima Bennoune](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/2a24ee13b0/7262321cfa/b8f40df853&ref=opendemocracy.net) writes on the death, 20 years ago, of [Aziz Smati](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/2a24ee13b0/7262321cfa/3f7dbe6b87&ref=opendemocracy.net), an Algerian TV producer. And finally, the [myth of the Black Widow](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/2a24ee13b0/7262321cfa/dc79c4b2fc&ref=opendemocracy.net) is tackled on oDRussia by [Jean-Francois Ratelle](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/2a24ee13b0/7262321cfa/b2be0bb3ec&ref=opendemocracy.net). **Don't miss** - [Hopes, and Homes, Crumbling on Indian Tea Plantations](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/2a24ee13b0/7262321cfa/2c0164612b/hp&%5Fr=0&ref=opendemocracy.net) - [El Salvador: Quest for Justice](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/2a24ee13b0/7262321cfa/8e6722623f&ref=opendemocracy.net) - [Interview: Leading Ghanaian investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/2a24ee13b0/7262321cfa/02f2c07cf0&ref=opendemocracy.net) - [Rolling Stone’s Matt Taibbi on yet another scam by the Mega Banks](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/2a24ee13b0/7262321cfa/3e82b47312&ref=opendemocracy.net) **openDemocracy’s week in 1 minute is emailed to Members, Friends and authors who help pay for and create our great content. Please forward this to any contact you think might be interested and** [**want to join**](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/2a24ee13b0/7262321cfa/56c1710585/openDemocracy/bb28beb484/946f39415f/51634b1085/openDemocracy/d4022f1a75/TEST/e64101092e&ref=opendemocracy.net) **or email us (**[**supporters@opendemocracy.net**](mailto:supporters@opendemocracy.net)**).** In the run-up to Mayoral elections in Istanbul, internet surveillance and censorship are reported to have reached a ['nightmarish' level](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/2a24ee13b0/7262321cfa/745ddaaa5a&ref=opendemocracy.net). **Turkey's political crisis** is addressed by [Umit Cizre](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/2a24ee13b0/7262321cfa/4c6d1359ce&ref=opendemocracy.net), who accuses the [Erdogan government of 'going nowhere'](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/2a24ee13b0/7262321cfa/847b04a670&ref=opendemocracy.net). openSecurity looks at Turkey's [new internet policing law](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/2a24ee13b0/7262321cfa/47d16ae2db&ref=opendemocracy.net). Meanwhile, Caglar Ezikoglu asks if the crackdowns in [Gezi Park will endanger EU accession](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/2a24ee13b0/7262321cfa/176f51e5a8&ref=opendemocracy.net).