Uganda’s Constitutional Court on Wednesday upheld most provisions of controversial legislation that imposes a sentence of death by hanging against individuals convicted of “aggravated homosexuality.” In upholding the Anti-Homosexuality Act, the court maintained that though the country’s penal code is “undoubtedly … considered to be a relic from the country’s colonial past,” the bill’s overwhelming [...]
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How Democratic Sharia May Help Curb the Influence of Corrupted Interpretations of Islamic Law
What makes someone qualified to rule? One way to answer this question might be to approach it from the Islamic perspective, that is, by considering the criteria required for someone to become a mujāthid, a person accepted as an authority in Islamic law. The criteria include knowledge of the Shārīe‘ā essential objectives – ‘religion, life, [...]
Scotland's controversial new hate crime law comes into effect
Scotland’s controversial Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021 came into force on Monday. The law intends to unite existing hate crime laws, along with creating several new offenses, most notably criminalizing “threatening or abusive behaviour which is intended to stir up hatred.” Stirring up racial hatred has been an offense since 1986. However, [...]
UN experts raise concerns about Guadeloupe water crisis and censorship
UN independent experts expressed concern about the ongoing water shortage in Guadeloupe, a French Caribbean island. They raised concerns over tap water pollution, steep prices and attempts to silence critics, calling the situation a threat to human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation. After a last-minute ban was imposed on a planned debate about [...]
India judiciary must beware political pressure from 'vested interest group,' 600 lawyers warn
The India Supreme Court Chief Justice Dhananjaya Yeshwant Chandrachud revealed on Friday that 600 lawyers from all across the country wrote to him to express serious concerns over the acts of a “vested interest group” trying to put pressure on the judiciary and intending to defame courts for “political agendas.” Senior lawyers signed the letter, [...]
New York court issues gag order against Trump in hush money case
New York’s supreme court on Tuesday issued an order restricting former US president Donald Trump from making extrajudicial statements that could sway jurors and witnesses ahead of his upcoming trial for alleged hush money payments made to an adult film star. Set to commence on April 15, 2024, the trial will center on 34 counts [...]
UN Security Council passes resolution demanding ceasefire in Gaza with US abstaining
The UN Security Council passed a resolution on Monday demanding an “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. In addition to calling for a ceasefire, the resolution demands the “immediate and unconditional” release of hostages and a dramatic increase in humanitarian aid to Gaza. It emphasizes that all parties must follow [...]
UN Secretary General António Guterres made another call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza following a trip to Egypt near Rafah on Saturday. He also made a call for Israel to allow aid delivers into the occupied territories without intervening, and for Hamas to release all hostages. Guterres met with UN humanitarian workers during his [...]
Tunisia journalist union demands immediate release of detained reporter
The National Union of Tunisian Journalists (SNJT) issued a public statement Friday demanding the immediate release of prominent journalist Mohamed Boughalleb, who was detained by the police for 48 hours on suspicion of insulting a public official. The spokesperson for the public prosecutor’s office told TAP that Boughalleb’s detention stems from a complaint filed by [...]
Delhi Chief Minister of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Arvind Kejriwal, was arrested on Thursday by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) following a raid at his residence in connection with the alleged Delhi liquor policy scam. Earlier in the day, the Delhi High Court declined to provide interim relief to Kejriwal in the excise policy-linked money [...]