Dissidents and Dictators

A discussion with democratic leader of Belarus, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya on the future of the democratic movement and human rights in Belarus along with: Michael McFaul: Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Bill Browder: Magnitsky Act Architect Garry Kasparov: Chairman of the Human Rights Foundation Moderator: Roberto González, Chief Legal Officer at the Human Rights Foundation

Dictatorial regimes from Russia to Saudi Arabia to China are investing millions of dollars into hosting major sporting events and investing in teams in free societies, in an effort to improve their human rights images internationally and pivot the global eye away from their repressive measures. Countries like Saudi Arabia and China have been leading these investments and bids in global sporting events to whitewash crimes. Panelists will examine just how authoritarian regimes are using this method of "sportswashing" to divert attention away from their reprehensible human rights records, and the trends and implications of these soft power, high-dollar tactics. Panelists: Garry Kasparov, Chairman, Human Rights Foundation Karim Zidan, Investigative Journalist, The Guardian / freelance Irade Kashgary, Director and Activist, Uyghur American Association Miguel Delaney, Chief Football Writer, The Independent

Authoritarian regimes around the world, such as China, Russia, and Saudi Arabia, are increasingly using technology to spy on journalists, dissidents, and activists. From basic phishing emails to sophisticated malware, these methods violate personal privacy and endanger the lives of individuals who dare to stand up against dictators and freely express their opinions. The Human Rights Foundation, which produced THE DISSIDENT — a new documentary highlighting the labyrinth of deceit behind the high-profile murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi — and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) are co-hosting a virtual panel to discuss the invisible digital threat that is placing press freedom and access to information at risk. The conversation will feature Saudi activist, blogger, and close friend of Jamal Khashoggi, Omar Abdulaziz; THE DISSIDENT’s Award-winning director Bryan Fogel; Al Jazeera journalist Ghada Oueiss; and CPJ Senior Africa Researcher Jonathan Rozen. Panelists will unpack the most pressing questions about spyware: How is spyware used to silence dissidents and journalists? How is it falling into the hands of bad actors? How widespread is the danger? And how should concerned governments respond? This conversation will be moderated by Courtney Radsch, CPJ Advocacy Director.

Dictatorships often use professional sports to cover up their crimes and establish international legitimacy. In Belarus, the regime of Alexander Lukashenko is particularly invested in Ice Hockey as a means of promoting his regime. However, in January Belarusians convinced the International Ice Hockey Federation to cancel the Ice Hockey World Championships in Minsk in order to prevent Lukashenko from using the event to distract from human rights violations. HRF’s Alexander Sikorski speaks to Anatoly Kotov of the Belarus Sports Solidarity Foundation about how athletics are used by authoritarian regimes, why Belarusians pressured the IIHF and other international sporting bodies to boycott sports events in Belarus, and how Belarusian athletes have stood up for freedom and democracy in Belarus.

How are Russia, Saudi Arabia, and North Korea using technology to consolidate their power and influence globally? Panelists: Phillipa Thomas, Iyad El-Baghdadi, Jieun Baek and Andy Greenberg

Authoritarianism is on the rise globally – but one resilient country has learned how to push back. In this conversation with Taiwan's Digital Minister Audrey Tang, learn how Taiwan is protecting its young democracy using transparency, innovation, and open governance.

How does Saudi Arabia use spy tech to hunt critics and dissidents around the world? In this episode, John Scott- Railton and Bill Marczak, dive into the case of Omar Abdulaziz and how the Saudi regime hacks dissidents to intimidate and silence them.

Ahmed Gatnash, host of "The Arab Tyrant Manual" podcast and Founder of the Kawaakibi Foundation, moderates a discussion between HRF Chairman Garry Kasparov, Areej Sadhan, sister of jailed Saudi dissident Abdulrahman al-Sadhan, and investigative journalist Karim Zidan on the Saudi regime's investments in sports and entertainment to distract from ongoing human rights abuses. This panel was recorded at the 2020 Oslo Freedom Forum, produced by the Human Rights Foundation.

Saudi Arabia just announced the “Labour Relation Initiative” set to be implemented in March 2021 which will ease foreign workers contractual restrictions. This podcast will provide an overview of the Kafala sponsorship system in Saudi Arabia and the implications of the announcement. In a fireside chat, Executive Director of the Saudi American Justice Project Bethany AlHaidari will discuss how the Kafala system works, and how the Saudi regime is using this alleged “reform” to draw attention away from human rights abuses in the lead up to the upcoming G20 summit. It will also highlight other “cosmetic” reforms that the regime implements, such as those to its male guardianship system, to whitewash its human rights violations.

Twitter and Square CEO Jack Dorsey discusses the role Twitter plays in shaping public discouse, his thoughts on the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, and much more with HRF president Thor Halvorssen at the 2020 Oslo Freedom Forum.