Stories about Law from February, 2015
Renowned Chinese Human Rights Lawyer Still Detained After 10 Months
A human rights lawyer who has defended clients ranging from Ai Weiwei to communist party officials, Pu Zhiqiang is now facing criminal charges over his postings on Weibo.
The Political Violence in Bangladesh Is Claiming Too Many Lives
I close the windows of my car, and think of buying a fire extinguisher. [Then], if a bomb is thrown inside my car, I'd be able to douse the fire.
5 Bills Threatening the Amazon That Brazil's Congress Might Consider in 2015
Demarcation of indigenous lands and mining in protected areas are among the subjects that will be discussed in the Brazilian legislature this year, experts told Infoamazonia.
How I Helped Get Zoja's Law Approved By Serbia's Parliament
Vuk Visnjic is too young to vote. But when politicians in Serbia's National Assembly ignored a law that would help sick children, he found a way to make a difference.
Police Raid the Lesbians Who Trolled Russia's Leading Anti-Gay Politician
Being gay is dangerous business in Russia, but it’s especially risky when you troll the country’s leading opponent of gay rights.
Lawrence Maxwell, the Chilean Man Who Came Face to Face With Mexican Police Brutality
Lawrence Maxwell was in downtown Mexico City to take part in a peaceful demonstration in support of the missing Ayotzinapa students when he was arrested and threatened by Mexican police.
Caribbean Law Students Join the Fight Against Human Trafficking
"We believed the subject of human trafficking had not received the level of public appreciation which it deserved and it was our duty to bring awareness to it."
Belarus Bans Tor and Other Anonymizers
Belarus is banning anonymizers, typically used to circumvent government censorship and reach online resources banned inside the country, including many of the opposition websites.
Trinidad & Tobago Law Students Create Anti-Bullying Campaign
Student attorneys from various parts of the Caribbean come together to help eradicate bullying in schools, which they regard as a human rights issue.
Kuwait Sentences Opposition Politician Mussallam Al Barrak to Two Years in Jail for “Insulting Ruler”
Kuwaiti opposition politician Mussalam Al Barrak was sentenced to two years in jail for telling the country's ruler that the people would not allow him to practice “autocratic rule.”
Abused Indonesian Maid Urges Fellow Migrant Workers in Hong Kong Not To Suffer in Silence
The former employer of Erwiana Sulistyaningsih was found guilty on February 8 of horrifically abusing her. Before the trial, Sulistyaningsih spoke about her experience as a foreign domestic worker.
Argentina Creates Registry of Interpreters of Indigenous Languages
Argentina creates the Registry of Interpreters of Indigenous Languages, following the case of Reina Maraz after being in prison for three years without knowing why, for not having Quechua language interpreter in the country.
Japan Seizes Syria-Bound Photographer's Passport Amid ISIS Fears
This follows the brutal murder of two Japanese nationals by ISIS in January. There is now a vague sense in Japan that some places that are not acceptable for travel.
No More Selling or Drinking Alcohol in Public After 10:30PM in Singapore
The government said the measure is necessary after receiving numerous complaints related to drunken behavior. But many described the new regulation as excessive and even discriminatory against foreign workers.
Denmark at a Crossroad After Two People Killed in Attacks in Copenhagen
Danes are being urged to stand together after a gunman kills two people in attacks on a cafe and a synagogue in Copenhagen on February 14.
Ukrainian MP Pushes for Carbon Copy Of Russian Blogger Law, Meets Resistance
A member of the Ukrainian parliament suggested bloggers in Ukraine should be required to verify information in their posts and disclose their personal data to the authorities.
Emerging Threats in Cybersecurity Legislation in Africa
Access, an international human rights organization is troubles by emerging threats in cybersecurity and data protection in Africa. Ephraim Kenyanitto explains: The Convention was originally scheduled to pass in January 2014, but was delayed for modifications after protests by the private sector, civil society organizations, and privacy experts—all of whom...
Wave of Arrests in France for ‘Advocating Terrorism’ After Charlie Hebdo Attack
Over 100 criminal charges have been filed for "terrorism advocacy" since the attacks, occasionally against minors, oftentimes for reasons that have little to do with the true fight against terrorism.
Tragedy in Chapel Hill: ‘If the Murderer Were Muslim the Story Would Have Been Different’
"We may not know all the details about the white shooter and Muslim victims, but we know how the media would cover it if roles were reversed."
Japan Needs Apartheid, Says Influential Conservative Author
Noted Japanese author and conservative political activist Ayako Sono advocated in a newspaper column that immigrants to Japan be separated by race and forced to live in special zones.
In Putin's Russia, a Retweet Can Lead to a Jail Term
Even a retweet of an image or a republished post may cost Russian citizens unfettered access to the Internet—and often, their freedom.