Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant on Thursday signed the controversial Mississippi Religious Freedom Restoration Act into law, which prevents the state from taking any legislative action that would place a “substantial burden” on a person’s exercise of religion. The law also requires a showing that the particular means chosen are the least restrictive possible to promote [...]
Turkey’s Constitutional Court on Friday partially lifted the country’s ban on Youtube , saying the blanket ban violated human rights. Access to the website was blocked after video of officials discussing an attack on Syria was leaked prior to the election. The Constitutional Court ruled the ban was too broad, and declared there will now [...]
The Egyptian government approved a new anti-terrorism law on Thursday in response to an attack on Cairo University . The new law is aimed at deterring the recent escalation of terrorist violence in Egypt during its transition following the ouster of former president Mohammed Morsi . Included in the amendments to the law are provisions [...]
Amnesty International (AI) released a report on Thursday detailing a long-standing culture of impunity, racism and excessive force within the Greek police system. The report documents unlawful practices and human rights violations of the country’s law enforcement and cites as key issues the police’s lack of accountability and failure to conduct impartial investigations. The report [...]
The Alabama Senate on Thursday approved a bill that requires a parent or guardian’s approval before a minor can have abortion. Under the law, a minor wishing to get an abortion without parental consent must prove in court that she cannot consult her parents, and the court can appoint a guardian ad litem for the [...]
The US Senate Select Committee on Intelligence on Thursday voted 11-3 to submit to the White House to declassify and release a report on its findings about the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) use of torture. Last week, a group of advocacy groups sent President Barack Obama a letter urging him to declassify the documents. Human [...]
JURIST Guest Columnist David Gespass of Gespass and Johnson argues that the US Supreme Court should elevate substance over form and preserve freedom of speech…
The European Parliament voted on Thursday to appove a proposal prohibiting Internet service providers (ISPs) from enhancing or restricting services for selected Internet traffic. The proposed “net neutrality” law, approved by a 534-25 vote with 58 abstentions, aims to treat all Internet traffic equally by making it illegal to block, slow down, or give preferential [...]
Dutch prosecutors on Thursday said that more than 5,000 people in the Netherlands have filed complaints against Party for Freedom (PVV) leader Geert Wilders for discrimination following anti-Moroccan comments Wilders made during municipal election campaigning. Prosecutors are currently reviewing the complaints to determine whether they should result in formal criminal proceedings. The politician led a [...]
Judge Myron Thompson of the US District Court for the Middle District of Alabama on Wednesday set a trial date of May 19 to determine the constitutionality of an Alabama law passed last year requiring doctors who perform abortions to obtain hospital admitting privileges. The Women’s Health and Safety Act was passed last year, but [...]
