Freedom of Expression and Civil Rights in Times of COVID-19

By WebsterCanal Team

March 29 2021

Webster Leiden’s School of Communications had the opportunity to host an event on Freedom of Expression and Civil Rights in Times of COVID-19. Head of the School of Communications – Noemi Mena Montes & International Relations – Nives Rumenjak led the event, inviting students from different countries to speak on the topic. Rashid Gabdulakhov – a researcher, lecturer at Erasmus University, and soon to be faculty member at Webster Leiden, was a guest speaker at the event. We look forward to welcoming Rashid to the Webster Leiden campus in the Fall. 

Rashid dedicated his time discussing the current situation in Central Asian republics, Russia, and the Netherlands. His presentation offered a timeline of surveillance measures and practices across various political contexts and technological realities, with the focus on Central Asian republics, Russia and the Netherlands. It also talked about the communication challenges, which arguably inspire resentment and suspicion among the masses. 

Students also had an opportunity to share their perspectives on the ongoing situation with freedom of expression during COVID-19 in their countries. Places such as Nepal, Albania, Brazil, United States, Kazakhstan, and Ghana were represented during the event. The event was a success with reaching forty participants from five continents including North America, South America, Africa, Europe, and Asia – proving one more time that Webster is truly a diverse and an international community.