Category: International

Constitutional Law, Criminal law, International, Politics, Society

Senegal Arrests Five Women Under The Country’s Draconian Anti-Homosexual Law

640px-Coat_of_arms_of_Senegal.svg900px-Flag_of_Senegal.svgWe have been watching with alarm as African nations pass more draconian anti-homosexual laws. Senegal has added its name to his ignoble list. President Yahya Jammeh signed a new law that establishes life imprisonment for some homosexual acts. Jammeh is a vehemently and vocal anti-gay leader who told gays and lesbians in 2008 to leave the country or risk decapitation. Five women have now been arrested as accused lesbians in what human rights groups are calling a national campaign of terror and torture by the police.

Continue reading “Senegal Arrests Five Women Under The Country’s Draconian Anti-Homosexual Law” →

Animals, Environment, International, Politics

Trade Agreement With Iceland Might Allow Japan To Bypass Effect Of Whaling Sanctions

By Darren Smith, Weekend Contributor

220px-Minke_Whale_(NOAA)Icelandic news source IceNews reports that the governments of Japan and Iceland are negotiating a trade agreement that also would include exports to Japan of whaling products. The agreement will certainly attract much attention from the environmental groups, and NGOs world-wide.

Japan does however have both cultural and culinary appetites for whale meat and will go to lengths to obtain these products which are a valuable commodity in Japan. A new trade agreement with Iceland could provide a means for sources that would have otherwise become increasingly restricted by International actions

Continue reading “Trade Agreement With Iceland Might Allow Japan To Bypass Effect Of Whaling Sanctions” →

Criminal law, International

German Prosecutors Allege Former Nurse Killed Patients Out Of Boredom

By Darren Smith, Weekend Contributor

medical symbolA startling criminal case out of Germany could be reminiscent of Britain’s Harold Shipman case.

Prosecutors in the German State of Lower Saxony accuse a former nurse, identified only as Nils “H.” pursuant to German privacy laws, of killing one patient and the attempt of two others. He is also being investigated for possible involvement in over one hundred and fifty suspicious deaths occurring during his practice.

According to prosecutors his motive for committing such crimes was boredom.

Continue reading “German Prosecutors Allege Former Nurse Killed Patients Out Of Boredom” →

Criminal law, Free Speech, International, Media, Politics

Journalists In Turkey Sentenced To Prison For Reporting Corruption In Government

By Darren Smith, Weekend Contributor

turkish-journalists

In another example of the diminishing freedom of the press in Turkey, Yurt newspaper reporter Meriç Şenyüz and Ulusal Kanal reporter Özer Sürmeli received sentences of six and five months respectively for their reporting of a December seventeenth corruption probe involving, among others, then Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s son Bilal Erdoğan.

Turkey has an unfortunate history of repression of media critical of government, though in the last year an estimated forty imprisoned journalists have been released. According to BIA Media Monitoring Reports, the number of jailed journalists in Turkey fell from 104 in 2010 to 59 last year and to 19 by November 2014. However the underlying trend of jailing journalists in Turkey and many other nations of the world continues.

Continue reading “Journalists In Turkey Sentenced To Prison For Reporting Corruption In Government” →

Constitutional Law, Free Speech, International, Politics, Society

Catalonian President Faces Prosecution For Staging Referendum On Independence

By Darren Smith, Weekend Contributor

artur-masPresident of the Generalitat of Catalonia, Artur Mas i Gavarró, his deputy, and his education minister face prosecution by the Spanish Government for alleged civil disobedience, abuse of power, usurpation of duties, and embezzlement of public funds according to a statement released by the public prosecutor’s office of the Spanish Government.

In what many see as clearly dubious prosecution by Spanish authorities, President Mas remarked: “It is sad to see that when the Catalan people want to express their opinion … the reaction of the state comes from the courts and prosecutors.”

The action comes several weeks after Catalonia held a non-binding vote on independence from Spain, buoyed by what many Catalonians hailed as a close race with the Scottish Independence referendum, a worrisome event to the Spanish government.

The matter brings into the discussion of Parliamentary Immunity and Executive authority held by other nations, and the chilling effect the threat of prosecution can have for representative government of constituents.

Continue reading “Catalonian President Faces Prosecution For Staging Referendum On Independence” →

Free Speech, International, Society

The Paintbrush And The Fight Against Extremism: The Struggles Of Iraqi Kurdistan Through Art

By Darren Smith, Weekend Contributor

kurdish-art-screwAs we have discussed many times free speech can be a powerful weapon against the injustices and in the case of the Islamic State, genocide. A new exhibition in the semi-autonomous state of Iraqi Kurdistan in Northern Iraq provides through art an interpretation of the struggle faced by ordinary individuals at the hands of extremists. It ties not only differing cultures but transcends the fences of language that are often barriers to understanding and empathy.

The Dohuk Art Gallery featured thirty artists organized by the Center for Graphic Art in Northern Iraq for the purpose of contributing to the fight against the Islamic State. It is not just conventional war implements that further the battle, but it is often the case of ideals, allegiances, and blind faith that aids the Islamic State.

Artists featured in Dohuk Gallery seek to change these beliefs through painting the atrocities prosecuted against the Kurdish People in an artistic representation showing the honor in protecting their society and humanity in general. Niquash reporters interviewed several participants bringing their thoughts and reflections to canvas and clay.

Continue reading “The Paintbrush And The Fight Against Extremism: The Struggles Of Iraqi Kurdistan Through Art” →

International, Society

From Whence We Came: One Account Of Retracing “The Voyage” In Search Of Answers Under The Sicilian Sun

250px-Statue_of_Liberty_7President Obama’s changes to the immigration status of millions of illegal immigrants has caused the expected firestorm of controversy. I have previously criticized the decision to withhold the details of the plan until after voters went to the polls and I continue to view the changes as an assault upon the doctrine of separation of powers. While I have always recognized the wide latitude given to presidents in the past in prioritizing enforcement, this is an open circumvention of Congress to achieve by executive fiat what was denied in legislation. However, I have also been thinking about the families themselves and my own family’s history in coming to this country. Many Americans are finding themselves taking journeys of their own — retracing the often harrowing steps of their ancestors in coming to this country in looking for a better life.

Continue reading “From Whence We Came: One Account Of Retracing “The Voyage” In Search Of Answers Under The Sicilian Sun” →

Constitutional Law, Criminal law, Free Speech, International, Media, Politics, Religion, Society

Criminal Cackling? Irish Pro-Life Advocate Convicted Of Harassment Over Protest At Clinic

maxresdefaultThere is a troubling report out of Ireland that raises many of the concerns that we have discussed earlier about the erosion of free speech in the West. Bernadette “Bernie” Smyth is one of Northern Ireland’s most prominent anti-abortion activists and the founder of Precious Life, a pro-life group. She was convicted this week of two counts of harassment that stem from her picketing of the country’s only abortion clinic. The charges were brought by the clinic’s director, Dawn Purvis, who runs the Belfast branch of Marie Stopes. However, the line drawn in the case could create a chilling effect on political and religious speech in the future.

Continue reading “Criminal Cackling? Irish Pro-Life Advocate Convicted Of Harassment Over Protest At Clinic” →

Bizarre, International, Military, Politics

Pentagon Accused Of Paying Ransom For Bergdahl To An Afghan Con Man Who Disappeared With The Money

305px-USA_PFC_BoweBergdahl_ACU_CroppedDefense_Finance_Accounting_Services_(DFAS)_Official_SealIt has been a virtual mantra of U.S. policy for decades that we do not negotiate with terrorists and never never pay ransoms. That is why a new report is so startling even though it has received relatively little attention. The Pentagon reportedly gave an unspecified but large amount of money to an Afghan for the release of Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl and then found out the money and the Afghan disappeared without a trace. The Pentagon is denying that it tried to pay a ransom for Bergdahl.

Continue reading “Pentagon Accused Of Paying Ransom For Bergdahl To An Afghan Con Man Who Disappeared With The Money” →

Bizarre, International, Media, Military, Politics, Society

Syrian Sniper Film Revealed To Be Hoax Funding By The State-Supported Norwegian Film Institute

1416045268537_wps_30_Syrian_boy_hero_2_jpg

We have previously discussed how filmmakers are releasing fake videos such as the recent profiling video out of New York — a practice that is not only dishonest but highly counterproductive for groups seeking to address such abuses. Now it appears that a moving video of a Syrian boy heroically rescuing a little girl under fire is a fake, but director Lars Klevberg, 34, is heralding his hoax as a wonderful success and is entirely unapologetic for misleading millions of people.

Continue reading “Syrian Sniper Film Revealed To Be Hoax Funding By The State-Supported Norwegian Film Institute” →

Criminal law, International, Society

Thai Officials Enlist Interpol In Search For Two Americans Accused Of Stealing and Shipping Body Parts

711385711385

Authorities in Thailand have asked for the help of the U.S. and Interpol to arrest two Americans who are accused of trying to mail body parts of infants and three adults to the United States. The two men accused of this disgusting crime may not come as much of a surprise to some people already familiar with their names: Ryan Edward McPherson, 31 (aka “Ryen McPherson”) and Daniel Tanner, 33. The two are producers of the infamous “Bumfights” video series where they paid homeless men small amounts of money to fight each other and have “Bumfights” tattooed on their foreheads. They reportedly made millions of the films. In this case, they are accused of buying such items as an infant’s head with its scalp sliced off as a fun gift to take home. The humor may be lost on McPherson and Tanner if they find themselves entertaining in a Thai prison. It expect they are two exports that most officials would gladly like to send to Thailand for good.

Continue reading “Thai Officials Enlist Interpol In Search For Two Americans Accused Of Stealing and Shipping Body Parts” →

Constitutional Law, International, Religion, Society

Human Rights Watch Demands That Indonesia End Virginity Tests For Female Officers

125px-Flag_of_Indonesia.svgHuman Rights Watch LogoThe Human Rights Watch has issued a rather shocking report that Indonesia continues to require medical exams for female police recruits to confirm that they are virgins. It is the latest example of the abuses and challenges facing women who try to find work in some countries. Other countries with such virginity tests include our erstwhile allies Egypt, India and Afghanistan.

Continue reading “Human Rights Watch Demands That Indonesia End Virginity Tests For Female Officers” →

International, Society

Report: Cheese Consumption Rises But No One Does Fromage Like The French

800px-Amsterdam_-_Cheese_store_-_1605There is an interesting study out this week on cheese consumption that shows some surprising statistics on the consumption of food around the world. For anyone who has been to France, it will hardly surprise you that the French lead the world in cheese consumption but the amount is staggering? How much cheese do you believe that average French person eats a year?

Continue reading “Report: Cheese Consumption Rises But No One Does Fromage Like The French” →

Animals, Environment, International, Science, Society

Report: Polar Bear Numbers Decline By 40 Percent In Canada and Alaska

800px-Polar_Bear_-_AlaskaThe polar bear has become the symbol of the plight of animals in the face of global warming. A new report appears to reaffirm the plight of these incredible animals. A study in the Ecological Applications journal reports that the number of polar bears in eastern Alaska and western Canada has declined by 40%. Perhaps the most unnerving disclosure is that just two of 80 polar bear cubs that the international team tracked between 2003 and 2007 have survived.

Continue reading “Report: Polar Bear Numbers Decline By 40 Percent In Canada and Alaska” →