Stories about Law from September, 2021
In Turkey, a citizen sentenced to prison for insulting the president
Since getting elected as president in 2014, some "100,000 people have been accused of defaming the president," based on Article 299 of the Penal Code in Turkey.
Turkish students protest as rent prices skyrocket
In an effort to solve this crisis, a group of students launched the Movement of the Unsheltered, demanding lower housing and rent prices.
In Turkey, environmentalists struggle to preserve the city's remaining green spaces
Since 2014 the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has been fighting to open the grove to development projects, much to the ire of community environmentalists.
An investment in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s future: Compensating survivors of wartime sexual violence
"Whether because of physical disability, psychological trauma or community stigmatization, many survivors face barriers to earning a living, which, unfortunately, may lead to a permanent reduction in their quality of life."
Shooting in Kazakhstan leaves five dead after financial dispute over real estate
A court ordered the eviction of a Kazakhstan family that had defaulted on its bank loan. The head of the household opened fire against the authorities enforcing the eviction.
A sweeping spate of murders rivals COVID-19's ‘third wave’ in Jamaica
A sudden surge in murders—24 in one week, and 18 over a 48-hour period—has Jamaicans feeling that crime has surpassed COVID-19 as the country's top problem.
Former Surinamese president Dési Bouterse convicted of murder for the second time—but will he go to prison?
If Bouterse is not imprisoned after this second conviction, it will not sit well with many Surinamese who view him first and foremost as a murderer.
From vaxxing to doxxing: The social media power of Nicki Minaj
After reporter Sharlene Rampersad pressed Minaj's relatives for an interview by implying their privacy would be more quickly respected by her local news outlet than by CNN, Minaj doxxed her.
Singapore’s The Online Citizen news website stops operating after government suspends its license
"The licensing regime is simply meant to strike fear in the minds of the would-be donors and subscribers to prevent them from supporting independent journalism in Singapore."
Hong Kong set to dismantle Tiananmen vigil host ahead of China's National Day
The Hong Kong Alliance, a group of opposition activists, is being dismantled following the arrest of its core members, further eroding what remains of Hong Kong's democracy.
In Turkey, religious cleric joins calls to censor social media
Ali Erbas, the head of the Religious Affairs Directorate in Turkey suggests using Islamic jurisprudence to control social media platforms.
Hong Kong labels the host of Tiananmen vigil and other civic groups as ‘foreign agents’ to justify clampdown
'Once the organization is labelled as a "political organization", those who are funded or employed by them would be treated as foreign agents.'
China's crackdown on business, media and entertainment sectors is packaged as a ‘profound revolution’
China started a heavy-handed clampdown on the private corporate sector from Big Tech companies to property developers near the end of 2020. The crackdown then extended to education, culture and entertainment.
A month after vaccine mandate protests, opposition figures arrested in St Vincent & the Grenadines
After the prime minister was injured during an August protest, a woman was arrested for the assault. Four opposition members/supporters have since been charged in relation to the protests.
Chinese netizens identify the Weibo supervisor system as a source of arbitrary censorship
Each Weibo supervisor filed an average of 4,472 censorship reports in July 2021. The top performer would have to file 700 complaints per day and 70 reports per hour.
One step towards inclusion in Kazakhstan
When he turned 18, Aidar was deprived of his legal capacity by the local court, making him dependent on his state-assigned guardian at all times, and decisions were not his to make.
Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party turns 20
Two decades into AK Party rule, its popularity is dwindling and its ties with western governments have deteriorated significantly as the country is facing an economic and democratic precipice.