Section 144 and the Pandemic: A Look at Freedom of Speech in Mumbai
The spread of fake news and misinformation during the pandemic has been unprecedented. Governments have been prompted to take measures to curb this spread in order to quell panic amongst the public. One such measure was taken by Mumbai Police by promulgating a prohibitory order under Section 144 of India’s Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). [...]
"Good Genes," Proud Boys and White Supremacy: An International Law Perspective
“The goal is to dominate the street.” – US President Donald J. Trump, June 1, 2020 There are disturbing connections. Before openly embracing the “Proud Boys” during his first debate with Democrat opponent Joe Biden, Donald J. Trump praised the value of “good genes” in Minnesota. Though such a seemingly “positive” evocation might not normally [...]
The nation has watched aghast as, over and over again, police have killed or maimed unarmed persons of color. Each time, the police have acted with impunity under a quiescent criminal justice system. The charges filed against officers involved in the death of George Floyd are the exception, not the rule, and the charges just [...]
On March 13th, 2020, Louisville police officers used a battering ram to smash down the door to Breonna Taylor’s apartment. Their purpose was to execute a search warrant related to Taylor’s potentially dangerous ex-boyfriend. Taylor was in her apartment with her current boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, when they heard the banging at the door – they [...]
Nationwide protests in response to the brutal murder of George Floyd have put a spotlight on the profound injustices of the criminal legal system. Much of the criticism has rightly focused on the abuses in policing and incarceration. But along with abusive policing, another urgent threat that impoverished communities face under this system is the [...]
On September 9th, 2020, more than 100 lawmakers of the UK signed a letter addressed to the Chinese Ambassador, condemning China over the abuse of Uighur Muslims- one of the most sensitive topics of this era. China has detained around a million Uighur Muslims in their detention camps with the objective of teaching them Mandarin [...]
Postponing Confirmation Hearings for the Benefit of the Supreme Court and the Nation
The tumultuous controversy about whether President Trump and the Senate should try to fill the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s seat before the upcoming election presents high stake political and constitutional risks for both Republicans and Democrats. It also presents risks for long-term public confidence in the integrity of the Supreme Court. Republicans can hardly [...]
A few months ago, the pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences set a price tag on their drug remdesivir, the first medication shown to be effective for treating coronavirus. The price was set at $520 per vial or $3,120 per treatment course. Experts have called the price “not exorbitant,” and some expected a higher price tag. Yet, [...]
Analysing the Effects of Turkey’s Social Media Regulation Bill
On July 29th, 2020, the Parliament of Turkey passed a controversial bill to regulate content posted on social media platforms, which will come into effect on October 1st, 2020. The bill is expected to have a chilling effect on the freedom of speech and expression within the country. Several human rights groups are viewing it [...]
The Curtailment of the Question Hour in the Indian Parliament
As the COVID-19 cases continue to rise at an exponential pace in India even after the sweeping federal lockdown, the Parliament of the country has commenced the Monsoon Session which runs from 14th September to 1st October this year. The decision by the Secretariats of both the Houses of the Indian Parliament to dispense with the [...]
