Several newly-elected members of Hong Kong’s Legislative Council on Wednesday protested for pro-democracy rights while taking their oaths, an act which invalidates their oaths and may bar them from the legislature. Two of the lawmakers held signs which said “Hong Kong is not China” and used swear words during the ceremony. A third lawmaker included [...]
Multiple churches in the state of Massachusetts on Tuesday filed a motion in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts for a preliminary injunction due to their express religious objection to recent non-discrimination policies. At issue are Massachusetts Law 92A and 98 that prohibit distinction, discrimination or restriction based on gender identity. [...]
The Uzbek Senate on Wednesday passed mass amnesty for prisoners ahead of their December 8th celebration of their constitution’s adoption. The acting president, Shavkat Mirziyaev, proposed the amnesty two days ago as a part of the celebration. The clemency will free prisoners over the age of 60, under 18, those with disabilities, and others who [...]
The National Assembly of Burundi on Wednesday voted to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC) amid criticism the court only prosecutes African nationals. Lawmakers voted 94 in favor, with two against, and fourteen abstaining. The move to withdraw comes on the heels of an investigation by the ICC into how the government interacts with [...]
Indonesia on Wednesday passed a controversial law allowing for harsh punishment for pedophiles, including chemical castration, implanting electronic tagging chips in violators, the death sentence, mandatory 10 year imprisonment, and state-sponsored rehabilitation. While the law was proposed in response to the gang rape and murder of a 14 year old girl, some have expressed concern [...]
A federal judge in Florida on Wednesday extended the voter registration deadline due to the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew. The Florida Democratic Party originally filed the lawsuit on Sunday, and Judge Mark Walker of the US District Court for the Northern District of Florida extended the deadline to Wednesday until he could hold a hearing [...]
Police in Vietnam announced on Tuesday that they have detained a popular blogger in the country for posts criticizing the government. Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh, known as “Mother Mushroom” in English, was charged with spreading anti-state propaganda by the Khanh Hoa Police . One major post at issue concerned criticism of citizens dying in police [...]
A study released Wednesday by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Human Rights Watch (HRW) found that arrests for possessing marijuana exceeded arrests for violent crimes. Law enforcement agencies made roughly 13.6 percent more arrests for possession of marijuana, reportedly for personal use, than arrests for violent crimes. The report noted that those charged [...]
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on Tuesday that it will file charges for misdemeanor contempt-of-court against Arizona Sheriff Joseph Arpaio. Arpaio is being charged for violating a court order that required him to end his immigration patrols. A judge found that his immigration patrols were illegal because they racially profiled Hispanics. Arpaio claims [...]
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled Tuesday that the 2007 detention of political activist and chess champion Garry Kasparov by Russian authorities was illegal. Kasparov was detained in Moscow for five hours while trying to board a flight. Kasparov was traveling to Samara to attend an opposition rally at the EU-Russia summit. The [...]
