Republicans silent as Democrats call on US cabinet to oust Trump over Iran Lawmakers call for use of 25th amendment after president brazenly threatens to commit war crimes in Iran

What does this show? USA isnt strongest nation in the world; its simply the nation with the most unchecked power. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

Rights groups hail acquittal after seven years of aid workers prosecuted during Greece refugee crisis Lesbos court clears aid workers of people smuggling, a move Human Rights Watch called a vindication of their lifesaving activities at sea

some bluesky news www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...

OMG finally! Great this decision comes out but it took 16 years for the decision! Sixteen years!

too bad, the "execution of a valid Dept of Justice warrant" overlooked the small matters of EXTRADITION and IMMUNITY OF A HEAD OF STATE, and involved the BREACH OF THE TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OF A FOREIGN COUNTRY. Maduro is no prize but way to go for making him into a Martyr.

Venezuelan journalist describes moment of ‘targeted airstrikes’ A journalist in Venezuela described explosions during what she says were ‘targeted airstrikes’ on Caracas.

2026 will be defined by response to this violation of intl law. Will UNGA be mobilised? Will states under thumb of USA stay quiet, or will this be their turning point? Will this make Maduro a martyr (v problematic outcome)? Answer wont come through govts/IGOs only www.aljazeera.com/video/newsfe...

Ffs

‘Shameful’ 41,000 people reached UK by small boat last year, says Home Office Second highest annual number of irregular arrivals on record reached British shores in 2025

Its a new year and I'm already sickened by this weak govt's take on what is effectively a human tragedy - people embarking on unsafe boat journeys in search of safety and security - former human rights barrister Keir Starmer you can do better -the shame is on you
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

Import joint statement on @10dowingstreet.bsky.social #asylum proposals ilpa.org.uk/statement-of...

Shameful and outrageous

Woohoo! New article! Have a look - Reparations for state hostage-taking. Fully open access

Yesterday, in Istanbul

en.tihv.org.tr/press-releas...

More than 150 lawyers and refugee NGOs report being ‘pressured into silence’ by far-right protesters At least two groups supporting UK asylum seekers have closed their offices after credible threats to their safety More than 150 lawyers, human rights, refugee and environmental organisations have said they are being “pressured into silence” after some received rape and death threats from far-right and anti-migrant protesters. At least two refugee NGOs that have been supporting asylum seekers who have received notices from the Home Office that they will be forcibly removed to France under Labour’s controversial “one in, one out” scheme have closed their offices after credible threats to their safety. Continue reading...

More than 150 lawyers and refugee NGOs report being ‘pressured into silence’ by far-right protesters

The state of the USA - a legal permanent resident arbitrarily detained and at constant risk of deportation over his political views. www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...

thank you for the invitation @szarmsky.bsky.social ! Looking forward!

The deadly toll on journalists in the Gaza war With foreign media barred, Palestinians have reported alone, facing the ‘most deliberate effort to kill and silence’ them ever

www.theguardian.com/global-devel...

Revealed: Harvard publisher cancels entire journal issue on Palestine shortly before publication As Harvard’s feud with Trump escalated, so did tensions over an ‘education and Palestine’ issue of a prestigious journal. Scholars blame the ‘Palestine exception’ to academic freedom

Academic freedom in the #USA being curtailed. Ivy League #university caves: #Harvard publisher cancels entire journal issue on #Palestine shortly before publication. www.theguardian.com/education/20...

Op-ed: ‘Even God cannot hear us here’: What I witnessed inside an ICE women’s prison - The Tufts Daily On a Tuesday in March, I had spent most of my day working on my dissertation proposal and started to feel exhausted and hungry. It was the holy month of Ramadan, and I was fasting. Once finished, I qu...

This is an officisl government agency with a massive budget and minimal oversight operating in a democratic country
www.tuftsdaily.com/article/2025...

Nour Haidar: Home Secretary vs Palestine Action: The Constitutional Implications of Widening the Legal Understanding of Terrorism On 23 June 2025 the Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, announced in Parliament that she had “decided to proscribe Palestine Action under section 3 of the Terrorism Act 2000.” Section 3 of the 2000 Act …

ukconstitutionallaw.org/2025/07/08/n...

UK considers envoy for Britons held abroad Britain is preparing to emulate the United States by appointing an envoy tasked with freeing citizens arbitrarily detained abroad, as it faces calls to do more to bring them home.

www.france24.com/en/live-news...

‘Helpless and trapped’: political prisoners stuck in Tehran jail with no way to flee bombings Families of detained activists talk of their fear and confusion as Israeli missiles strike Evin prison in Iran

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...

This @alkapradhan.bsky.social is incredulous; I hope there will at least be some pushback by governments on consular rts/rts of foreign nationals to ICJ on VCCR breaches

Council of Europe chief warns against politicising court of human rights Alain Berset says no judiciary should face political pressure after nine countries make intervention over migration

www.theguardian.com/law/2025/may...

Academic Freedom: A Stocktaking By Prof. Carla Ferstman, Director of the Essex Human Rights Centre What is academic freedom? Academic freedom is about the right of members of an academic community to teach, research and express t…

hrcessex.wordpress.com/2025/05/19/a...

Reporting Conflict: Ethics, Voices and Truths | University of Essex Reporting Conflict: Ethics, Voices and Truths

www.essex.ac.uk/events/2025/...

Join us @universityofessex.bsky.social as we explore the ethics, challenges & responsibilities of reporting from conflict zones. With firsthand accounts from Gaza, Lebanon, Afghanistan, and beyond.

16 May; 10am-5pm; hybrid. More info:

I think this is absolutely correct but the task is not only (or mainly) for Americans; its time for a global, people-driven solidarity which is about the articulations of core values

Justice Update – Who Answers for the Crimes of International Forces in Afghanistan? How are countries reckoning with their role in the Afghanistan conflict and allegations of war crimes? We discuss various types of investigations currently taking place and what justice might look …

ICYMI 🎯 “Nothing touches international forces.”

While Taliban crimes face scrutiny, Rachel Reid says there’s zero political will to hold Western forces accountable for alleged abuses in Afghanistan.

Listen to our latest episode. 👇LINK
www.asymmetricalhaircuts.com/episodes/jus...

ICJ hears Sudan case accusing UAE of ‘complicity in genocide’ United Arab Emirates says Sudan ‘misusing’ world court in proceedings relating to African nation’s civil war

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...

30yrs ago #Venezuela ex-Pres candidate Enrique Márquez graduated @universityofessex.bsky.social w/ MA in Engineering. About 3 mos ago, he was detained w/others in the lead up to #Maduro's inauguration for exercising his right to freedom of expression
www.essex.ac.uk/blog/posts/2...

#Turkey should be engaging with the valid concerns of local protesters, not criminalising them and dumping them in detention.

There's 100s of ways #humanrights knowledge can help people concerned about state of the world to navigate the news & advocate for better future. Join @universityofessex.bsky.social human rights summer school & connect w/community of practitioners, thought leaders: www.essex.ac.uk/short-course...