PEN’s Free Expression Digest brings you a daily curated round-up of the most important free expression-related stories from around the web. Please send your feedback and suggestions to [email protected]

Iranian media says Post correspondent Jason Rezaian convicted
Washington Post correspondent Jason Rezaian, imprisoned in Tehran for more than 14 months, has been convicted following an espionage trial that ended in August, Iranian media reported Monday. The verdict was strongly condemned by the journalist’s family and colleagues, as well as the U.S. government. WASHINGTON POST

Thailand to try U.S. journalist for carrying flak jacket
A Thai court has decided to put an American photojournalist on trial for possession of a bulletproof vest and a helmet, which are considered weapons in Thailand. The announcement at the Samut Prakan provincial court near Bangkok came on Monday, weeks after Hok Chun Anthony Kwan, from Minneapolis, Minnesota, was detained when he was about to board a plane on Aug. 23. AL JAZEERA

Zimbabwe: Mugabe spokesman threatens private media
President Robert Mugabe’s spokesman has issued a threat to the private media claiming that their coverage of factional fighting in the ruling Zanu PF party meant that they were “turning themselves into infrastructure for the opposition” and “they should not cry foul when the hammer falls.” The threat by George Charamba immediately invoked memories of the bombing of the independent Daily News newspaper by suspected state security agents in 2001. NEHANDA RADIO

Iraqi journalists targeted for covering anti-corruption protests
Many journalists sent to cover the constant demonstrations in Baghdad have found themselves being attacked. In August, men in civilian dress smashed or confiscated the equipment of Al-Baghdadia, Mada, and Al-Sharqiyya TV crews while the police looked on without intervening. REPORTERS WITHOUT BORDERS

Turkey’s leading English-daily editor-in-chief arrested over tweet
Bülent Keneş, Editor-in-Chief of Today’s Zaman, was arrested on Friday in İstanbul over his tweets allegedly insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The detainment of Keneş comes amid the Turkish government’s attempts at intimidation of independent and critical journalists prior to next month’s parliamentary elections. TODAY’S ZAMAN

In Australia, new laws vastly expand retention of personal data
Until Tuesday, information about who Australians called and texted was generally held by larger companies for billing purposes, but much more will now be stored, for a mandatory period of two years. The justification for the retention scheme: to assist national security agencies in fighting terrorism and other serious offences. THE GUARDIAN

German publisher Axel Springer bans ad-block users
Visitors to the website of Bild, Europe’s top-selling tabloid, will be asked to switch off the adblocker or pay a monthly fee to browse the website mostly ad-free. “Whoever does not switch off the adblocker or does not pay cannot see any content on Bild.de, as of now,” the publisher said in a statement. Axel Springer’s move could accelerate the war between people using ad blockers and media owners who rely on ad revenue as part of their online business models. REUTERS

Internet free speech efforts hampered over weekend
Internet freedom activists chalked up another disappointment this weekend, as the New York Times reported that Apple had apparently “deactivated” its Apple News app in China in order to avoid dealing with government censors. And in Turkey, reports surfaced indicating that the government was behind an Internet outage in the wake of a deadly bombing at a peace rally. RE/CODE

Female technology journalists say abuse is still rampant
Abuse is now “a job hazard for all female writers”, according to U.S. journalist and author, Nina Burleigh, who’s been “threatened and trolled”. Those writing about technology, from games to gadgets, appear to draw the most venom. MAIL & GUARDIAN WOMEN