Weekly News Recap (26 January – 1 February 2026) © Photo by United Nations Photo via Flickr International Justice Section ICC: Pre-Trial Chamber Rules Duterte Fit to Stand Trial ICC:...
Weekly News Recap (26 August - 1 September 2024)
© Photo by Dano via Flickr
- Egypt: Criminal Court Seeks Grand Mufti’s Opinion on Serial Killer’s Preliminary Death Sentence
- Venezuela: Prosecutors Issue Second Summons for Opposition Leader Edmundo Gonzalez After Disputed Presidential Election
- Malaysia: Former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin Charged with Sedition
- US: Federal Appeals Court Rejects LGBTQ+ Suit Against Department of Education
- Hong Kong: Court Convicts Two Former Stand News Journalists of Sedition
- Iraq: Arrest Warrants Issued For Key Figures in ‘Theft of the Century’ Embezzlement Case
- US: Former US President Donald Trump Files Motion Requesting Federal Court Intervention in Hush Money Case
- South Korea: Constitutional Court Issues Ruling Mandating Concrete Carbon-Reduction Targets Through 2049
International Peace & Security Section
Denmark: Closure of Danish Embassies in Mali and Burkina Faso Announced Following Military Coups
Ukraine: President Zelenskyy Unveils Plan to End the War between Russia and Ukraine
NATO: First High-Level Political Dialogue Meeting Between NATO and Iraq Held In Brussels
Gaza: Fake News About Polio Vaccine Spread in Israeli and US Media
UN: Security Council Votes to Extend Peacekeeping Mission in Lebanon
Syria: Humanitarian and Political Crisis Deepens As Civil War Continues
West Bank: Israeli Military Airstrikes Worsening Situation for Palestinian Civilians
- Germany: Deportation of 28 Afghan Nationals Following Solingen Knife Attack
International Justice Section
Egypt: Criminal Court Seeks Grand Mufti’s Opinion on Serial Killer’s Preliminary Death Sentence
On 25 August 2024, it was reported that Egypt’s Criminal Court referred the case of Karim Salim, the “al-Tagamoa Serial Killer,” to the Grand Mufti for review of the preliminary death sentence issued against him. The final verdict is scheduled for 12 September 2024. Salim, a 37-year-old dual Egyptian-American citizen and former teacher with a popular TikTok account, was convicted of premeditated murder, sexual assault, necrophilia, and human trafficking in connection with the deaths of three female sex workers in New Cairo. The evidence includes torture signs on the victims, Salim’s fingerprint on one of their clothes, and drugs in their systems. Despite Salim’s denial and retraction of his confessions, the prosecution presented substantial evidence, including incriminating videos. The Grand Mufti’s review is a required step in the legal process before the death sentence can be finalised.
Venezuela: Prosecutors Issue Second Summons for Opposition Leader Edmundo Gonzalez After Disputed Presidential Election
On 26 August 2024, Venezuelan prosecutors issued a second summons to opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez for questioning about an opposition website that published detailed results of last month’s disputed presidential election, showing Gonzalez as the winner. These results contrasted with the official count from the National Electoral Council, which claimed incumbent President Nicolas Maduro won with 52% of the vote, though no supporting evidence was released. The election’s legitimacy has been widely contested by governments and human rights organisations. Gonzalez, who has been in hiding due to threats of arrest from Maduro, rejected the official results in a recent video. Prosecutors allege that the website’s publication of election data could constitute cybercrime and other offences. Gonzalez ignored the initial summons and has yet to respond to the latest one. Meanwhile, rallies continue in Venezuela, with people both supporting and opposing Maduro’s third term, while many states recognize Gonzalez as the election’s rightful winner and demand transparency in the election process.
Malaysia: Former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin Charged with Sedition
On 27 August 2024, former Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin was charged with sedition for allegedly insulting the country’s former monarch, Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah. The charge stems from a political campaign speech on 15 August 2024 in which Yassin questioned why the former king did not invite him to form a government after the 2022 general election, despite Yassin claiming majority support in Parliament. Yassin pleaded not guilty, with bail set at 5,000 ringgit, and the case was adjourned until 4 November 2024. If convicted, Yassin could face up to three years in prison, a fine, or both. The case has sparked controversy due to the sensitivity surrounding discussions of the monarchy in Malaysia, which operates on a rotational basis among sultans from nine Malay states. Yassin’s comments have been defended as fact-based, not intended to insult the royalty. This charge adds to the legal challenges Yassin faces, including separate corruption and money-laundering charges, which he claims are politically motivated. The sedition charge could affect the support for Yassin’s opposition coalition, Perikatan Nasional.
https://www.jurist.org/news/2024/08/former-malaysia-pm-yassin-charged-with-sedition/
US: Federal Appeals Court Rejects LGBTQ+ Suit Against Department of Education
On 29 August 2024, the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upheld a 2023 decision, maintaining a Title IX exemption for sex-based discrimination at religious post-secondary institutions that receive federal funding. Judge Milan D. Smith, Jr. supported the balance Congress struck between religious freedom and gender equality, both protected under the Constitution. The lawsuit challenged the exemption on two constitutional grounds. First, it was argued that supporting religious institutions with federal funds violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. However, the court concluded that such subsidies are historically and legally permissible. The second argument cited the Fifth Amendment, claiming the exemption allows discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity. The court found that the exemption’s limitations prevent broad discrimination and do not violate constitutional rights. This case is part of broader national debates and ongoing legal battles over Title IX, with significant implications for how religious freedom and LGBTQ+ rights are balanced in educational settings.
Hong Kong: Court Convicts Two Former Stand News Journalists of Sedition
On 29 August 2024, Hong Kong District Court found Best Pencil (Hong Kong Limited), the parent company of Stand News, and its former chief editors, Chung Pui-kuen and Patrick Lam, guilty of “conspiracy to publish and/or reproduce seditious publications.” The court based its verdict on the now-repealed section 10(1)(c) of the Crimes Ordinance, with sentencing scheduled for 26 September 2024. The case revolved around 17 articles categorised into four distinct themes, including criticisms of the National Security Law and advocacy by exiled activists. Judge Kwok Wai-kin ruled that these articles possessed seditious intentions that undermined the authority of both the Central and SAR governments, citing the articles’ potential to incite dissatisfaction without needing to prove actual risk to national security. Significantly, Kwok’s judgment relaxed the need to prove that the defendants had seditious intent, ruling sufficient to show they published the material knowing its content. This shift simplifies the prosecution’s task in sedition cases, diverging from earlier legal standards that required proving intent. The ruling has raised substantial concerns among international human rights organisations about the diminishing press freedom in Hong Kong. Amnesty International highlighted that this ruling contributes to a “climate of fear,” discouraging journalists from free expression. Conversely, the government maintains that the ruling aligns with international law requirements, emphasising journalists’ duties to uphold national security and public order. This decision comes after sedition offences were recently redefined under the new Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, which also increased potential penalties, further complicating the legal landscape for journalists in Hong Kong.
https://www.npr.org/2024/08/30/g-s1-20244/hong-kong-court-convicts-journalists-sedition-case
Iraq: Arrest Warrants Issued For Key Figures in ‘Theft of the Century’ Embezzlement Case
On 29 August 2024, it was reported that the Iraqi Anti-Corruption Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for key figures Noor Zuhair and Haitham al-Jubouri, in connection with the infamous “Theft of the Century” case involving the embezzlement of approximately 3.7 trillion Iraqi dinars ($2.5 billion USD). This scandal emerged just as the administration under former Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi was concluding, shaking the nation’s political landscape. Zuhair, previously arrested and released on bail, was attempting to leave the country when he was apprehended at Baghdad International Airport. Al-Jubouri, a former advisor to al-Kadhimi, was also arrested in 2022 following revelations of his unexplained wealth but was later released on bail pending further investigation. The magnitude of the scandal has laid bare the depth of corruption within Iraq, with stolen funds reportedly reaching influential figures across the political and media spectrum. Only a fraction of the stolen money has been recovered, prompting ongoing investigations to trace and reclaim assets, both domestically and internationally. Ranked among the most corrupt by Transparency International, Iraq continues to struggle against pervasive corruption despite numerous reform efforts. The recent legal actions signify a robust governmental attempt to address these deep-seated issues, with the proceedings against Zuhair and al-Jubouri poised to reveal more about the broader network involved in this substantial financial fraud.
US: Former US President Donald Trump Files Motion Requesting Federal Court Intervention in Hush Money Case
On 29 August 2024, former US President Donald Trump filed a motion to move his New York hush money case to federal court. Trump’s legal team argues that the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office violated the Presidential immunity doctrine by using evidence from his time in office. They cite a recent Supreme Court decision that grants former presidents immunity from criminal prosecution for official actions. Trump’s attorneys also requested the recusal of New York County Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan, alleging bias due to his daughter’s political activities and Merchan’s supposed conflict of interest. The case involves Trump’s conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records related to hush money payments to Stormy Daniels, which prosecutors say was intended to influence the 2016 election. Trump’s team has previously attempted to move the case to federal court but was denied. They now seek to delay sentencing until after the November 2024 election, arguing that the current timing would interfere with the election.
https://www.jurist.org/news/2024/08/trump-asks-us-federal-court-to-intervene-in-hush-money-case/
South Korea: Constitutional Court Issues Ruling Mandating Concrete Carbon-Reduction Targets Through 2049
On 29 August 2024, the Constitutional Court of South Korea issued a landmark ruling on the constitutionality of key provisions related to the country’s greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets, impacting future climate policy. The ruling stemmed from four climate litigation cases initiated by Youth 4 Climate Action in March 2020, arguing that the government’s insufficient GHG targets violated citizens’ fundamental rights, especially those of future generations. The court found that while the 2030 target of a 35% reduction from 2018 levels was constitutionally acceptable, the lack of specific targets for 2031 to 2049 failed to adequately protect against future climate risks, violating the principle of prohibiting insufficient protection. The court ordered that the relevant law be revised by February 28, 2026, to ensure comprehensive long-term planning. Additionally, the court upheld the short-term goal of a 40% reduction by 2030 but emphasised the need for stronger long-term strategies. The ruling was celebrated by plaintiffs and activists, who see it as a significant step toward more effective climate action and hope it will inspire similar legal challenges worldwide. South Korea aims for carbon neutrality by 2050, and the government must now strengthen its climate policies in line with the court’s ruling.
https://www.ccourt.go.kr/dext5editordata/2024/08/20240829_164950989_18656.pdf
International Peace & Security Section
Denmark: Closure of Danish Embassies in Mali and Burkina Faso Announced Following Military Coups
On 26 August 2024, Denmark announced it will close its embassies in Mali and Burkina Faso after a number of military coups in recent years. Denmark will instead launch a new strategy in the region. Since 2020, Mali has been ruled by a military junta. Mali has been battling ethnic Tuareg rebels as well as Russia’s Wagner mercenary group after it cut military relations with the West. As a result, the relationship between Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso with Western powers broke down, with the three countries instead turning to Russia for support. The authority’s failure to re-establish security led to serious frustrations, which provoked coups in Mali and Burkina Faso. Denmark will open embassies in Rwanda, Senegal and Tunisia, while also adding to its diplomatic workforce in embassies in Egypt, Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria and Ghana. According to the Danish Foreign Ministry, a significant foreign policy question is whether “African countries will orient themselves more towards the East or the West.” They added, African countries look to them in Europe “to set the course for their future.”
https://www.reuters.com/world/denmark-close-its-embassies-mali-burkina-faso-2024-08-26/
Ukraine: President Zelenskyy Unveils Plan to End the War between Russia and Ukraine
On 27 August 2024, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy outlined a new framework to end the Russian-Ukraine war. The four key elements are i) the continuation of Ukraine’s incursion and temporary occupation of the Kursk region; ii) building Ukraine’s ‘security architecture’ – likely NATO and/or EU membership; iii) receiving a ‘powerful package’ to force Russia to enter into negotiations; and iv) an ambiguous economic element which likely refers to increased sanctions against Russia. Ukraine’s General Oleksandr Syrskyi claims that Ukraine captured 594 Russian soldiers and over 100 settlements in the three-week long incursion into Kursk. Its primary objective is to lure out Russian forces from Pokrovsk and Kurakhove, which are strategic transport hubs for the Ukrainian frontline.
UN: Security Council Debates New Sudan Sanctions
On 27 August 2024, a UN Security Council committee considered sanctioning two generals in the Sudanese Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The Security Council committee was established in 2005 to help end the Darfur genocide, for which the International Criminal Court (ICC) has standing arrest warrants against multiple high-ranking political and military leaders. The ‘Janjaweed’ militias from the 2000s, operating in Darfur, were precursors to the RSF. Currently, the committee has placed three people on its sanctions list, since 2006. If the motion to sanction two additional individuals from the RSF succeeds, which requires qualified majority consensus, this would be the UN Security Council intervention into the new Sudanese war that started in April 2023. The RSF has been accused of ethnically-targeted violence, and both the RSF and its warring opponent, the Sudanese army, have been accused of war crimes.
NATO: First High-Level Political Dialogue Meeting Between NATO and Iraq Held In Brussels
On 27 August 2024, the first High-Level Political Dialogue meeting took place between NATO and Iraq in Brussels. Iraq’s National Security Advisor, Qasim al-Araji, led the talks which focused on capacity-building for Iraqi security, battling drug trafficking and terrorism, and tackling the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK/YPG) terror group, who control the Al-Hol camp in northern Syria. NATO’s mission in Iraq is not combat-oriented but an advisory and capacity building mission. Al-Araji confirmed Iraq’s pledge to continue cooperation and dialogue with NATO to bolster Iraq’s security, stability, and counterterrorism resources. NATO recognises the role Iraq plays in the region’s security and stability. At the meeting, both sides agreed on a defence capacity-building package. Al-Araji stated Iraq hopes to host the next High-Level Political Dialogue meeting in Baghdad.
Gaza: Fake News About Polio Vaccine Spread in Israeli and US Media
On 27 August 2024, the UN reported that the catastrophic consequences of the war have caused polio to resurface after more than two decades. The previous week, a case of the disease was confirmed in a 10-month-old infant. UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric noted that there had been misinformation surrounding the polio vaccine in Palestine. Several news stories in Israel and the United States are falsely proclaiming that the polio vaccine distributed in Gaza is “experimental” and a danger to citizens in both Palestine and Israel. Now, UNICEF, WHO and UNRWA are preparing to launch a vaccine campaign, which will be conducted in two rounds and should cover more than 640,000 children under the age of 10. Dujarric iterates that the safest and most effective way to protect children against polio is to vaccinate them.
UN: Security Council Votes to Extend Peacekeeping Mission in Lebanon
On 28 August 2024, the United Nations Security Council unanimously voted to renew a peacekeeping mission in Lebanon for another year. Established in 1978, the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) patrols Lebanon’s southern border with Israel. The mandate for the mission is renewed yearly and due to expire on 31 August 2024. Lebanon’s Deputy UN Ambassador, Hadi Hachem, stated the unanimous vote is proof the international community is interested in Lebanon. Hachem also stated, “it is a clear message in favour of stability and a ceasefire” and is a signal of “hope for all Lebanese who reject war, violence and destruction.” The vote comes just days after exchanges of heavy fire between the Lebanese military group Hezbollah and the Israeli army have intensified. Over the last 10 months the two sides have clashed, but fears are now growing Israel’s war in Gaza could become a wider regional conflict. Israel’s UN Ambassador, Danny Danon, issued a warning to the Lebanese people, “confront Hezbollah today, or watch as your country is dragged into chaos and destruction.” Danon also doubled down on Israel’s pledge to defend its people. In 2006, the UNIFIL’s mandate was expanded when the Security Council adopted Resolution 1701 after a month-long war between Israel and Hezbollah. The mandate allowed peacekeepers to work with the Lebanese army to keep parts of South Lebanon free of weapons or armed personnel other than those of the Lebanese State. This created tensions with Hezbollah who are the most powerful political force in Lebanon. Hezbollah effectively controls southern Lebanon even though the Lebanese army is present there. Deputy US Ambassador to the UN, Robert Wood, outlined how the extended mandate supports the Security Council’s goal of regional de-escalation. Wood also stated going forward there was a need to address how Hezbollah is preventing the full implementation of Resolution 1701 and hindering UNIFIL from operating. Also, a need to address Hezbollah threatening the safety and security of UN peacekeepers.
Ukraine: Growing Suffering of Ukraine War is Increasing Social Injustices and Risks of Nuclear Incidents
On 28 August 2024, UN political affairs official, Miroslav Jenča, reported that human suffering is worsening amid alarming reports of attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, including nuclear facilities. He further notes that last month alone 219 were killed and more than 1,000 injured. These numbers are only growing as missiles, shells and drones continue to strike cities, towns and villages across Ukraine daily. Jenča further expressed alarm regarding drone strikes around nuclear facilities in Ukraine and Russia, in particular the deterioration of the nuclear safety situation at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant on 17 August 2024. This incident followed a significant fire at one of the cooling towers and resulted in considerable damage. He states that the UN continues to call for maximum restraint and vigilance to avoid a nuclear incident, which could have catastrophic consequences to the region and the world.
Syria: Humanitarian and Political Crisis Deepens As Civil War Continues
On 28 August 2024, UN officials warned the Security Council that the world cannot afford to lose focus on Syria, as the humanitarian and political crisis continues to destroy the country more than a decade after the civil war broke out. Over six million Syrians are now refugees or asylum-seekers outside the country’s borders and more than seven million are displaced internally. More than 70% of the Syrian population now require humanitarian assistance and protection, with women and children most affected. UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, Joyce Msuya, calls for a surge in investment to aid early recovery projects and help rebuild livelihoods, reduce dependency on aid, and address the displacement crisis. “The key to a sustainable solution is a definitive end to the conflict,” she stressed.
West Bank: Israeli Military Airstrikes Worsening Situation for Palestinian Civilians
On 28 August 2024, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) warned that the Israeli military’s actions risked worsening an “already explosive situation” amid further raids, airstrikes and attacks on Palestinian civilians in the occupied West Bank. This development is due to airstrikes by the Israeli Security Forces (ISF) in the Nur Shams Refugee Camp in Tulkarem on Monday night that left five dead – two of them were boys aged 13 and 15. The OHCHR warned that the situation in the occupied West Bank could worsen dramatically if ISF continues to systematically use unlawful lethal force and ignore violence perpetrated by settlers.
Germany: Deportation of 28 Afghan Nationals Following Solingen Knife Attack
On 30 August 2024, Germany resumed deportation flights to Afghanistan, deporting 28 Afghan nationals, as confirmed by Interior Minister Nancy Faeser. This marks the first such flight since the Taliban’s ascent in 2021, targeting individuals convicted of crimes and residing illegally in Germany. The action followed a lethal knife attack in Solingen on 23 August 2024, escalating debates on migration and national security. In response, Chancellor Olaf Scholz committed to expediting the removal of illegal migrants. The deported individuals were part of a broader security strategy that includes tightening weapon laws and enhancing anti-terrorism measures. These deportations are coordinated under the Dublin Regulation, an EU law that determines which member state is responsible for examining an asylum application to ensure that only one country processes the claim. Interior Minister Faeser emphasised ongoing discussions with international partners for future deportations, avoiding direct talks with the Taliban. This development signals Germany’s firm stance on illegal immigration and public safety in light of recent events.
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