Weekly News Recap (9 – 15 March 2026) © Photo by Koldo via Flickr International Justice Section UK: Former Syrian Colonel Charged with Crimes Against Humanity and Torture Linked to...
Weekly News Recap (16 - 22 September 2024)
© Photo by Jesus Tapia/Machu Picchu Municipality/AFP/Getty Images
- ECtHR: Switzerland Violated Family Rights’ of Bosnian National After 5-Year Expulsion Ban
- Georgia: Georgian Parliament Passes Anti-LBTQ+ Legislation
- India: Supreme Court Directs Wikipedia to Remove Victim’s Details in Kolkata Case
- EC: European Commission Fines Hungary 200 Million Euros
- Sweden: Prosecutors Indict Woman for International Crimes in Syria
- US: Lawmakers Call for Biden’s Action on Americans Detained in China
- EU: General Court Overturns €1.49 Billion Antitrust Fine Against Google
- Israel: Challenges ICC Jurisdiction Over Arrest Warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant
International Peace & Security Section
- Lebanon: 20 Killed in Another Day of Pager-Explosions
- Afghanistan: Authoritarian Taliban Rule is Increasing Humanitarian Crises Further
- Myanmar: Typhoon Yagi Has Greatly Affected the Region
- Mali: Dozens Killed by an Al-Qaeda Affiliate
- Hong Kong: Two Hong Kong Men were Imprisoned for Sedition
- UN: General Assembly Adopts Resolution Demanding an End to Israel’s Occupation in Palestine
- Colombia: Peace Talks with ELN Rebel Group Suspended Following Attack on Military Base
- Peru: Declares State of Emergency in Regions Affected by Forest Fires
- Nigeria: Government Issues Flood Warning as Cameroon Releases Water from Dam
- Ukraine: Joins NATO in Anti-Drone Exercise for the First Time
International Justice Section
ECtHR: Switzerland Violated Family Rights’ of Bosnian National After 5-Year Expulsion Ban
On Tuesday, 17 September 2024, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) published its judgement on the case of P. J. and R. J. v. Switzerland, which concerned Switzerland’s imposition of a deportation and 5-year ban from returning to the Schengen Area against Mr P. J. after the District Court of Zürich found him guilty of a serious drug-related offence. This was found to be a violation of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, as the Swiss courts failed to adequately balance public and private interests, causing Mr P. J.’s family life to be disproportionately affected. The ECtHR ruled that the District Court’s finding of Mr P. J.’s cooperation with law enforcement, low risk of recidivism, and good behaviour post-conviction meant that Mr P. J. was not a threat to public safety. Given the lack of threats against the public interest, the five-year ban was a disproportionate penalty that affected his family life. The Court therefore ordered Switzerland to pay 25,000 euros in damages.
https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/fre#{%22itemid%22:[%22001-235695%22]}
Georgia: Georgian Parliament Passes Anti-LBTQ+ Legislation
On Tuesday 17 September 2024, the Parliament of Georgia passed the ‘Family Values and Protection of Minors’ bill. According to Georgia Today, this includes legislation on a wide variety of topics including ‘marriage, adoption, foster care, medical procedures that alter a person’s biological sex, the designation of gender in official documents, and education’. This bill also gives the government power to ban public gatherings and media that promote so-called ‘LGBTQ+ propaganda’ and ban public displays of LGBTQ+ symbols, including the rainbow pride flag. It also prohibits the public discussion of all minority gender and sexual identities. Gender-affirming surgery is banned and doctors that perform such surgeries may be fined and have their medical licence removed. People who are not cisgender and heterosexual are banned from adopting children. Additionally, this bill affirms the constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.
https://georgiatoday.ge/parliament-adopts-family-values-bill-in-third-reading/
India: Supreme Court Directs Wikipedia to Remove Victim’s Details in Kolkata Case
On 17 September 2024, the Supreme Court of India has ordered Wikipedia to immediately remove the name and photograph of the victim in the RG Kar Medical College Hospital rape and murder case. This directive was issued by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra during a suo motu (on the court’s own motion) hearing. The court reinforced its previous order to expunge all victim-related details from social and electronic media, emphasising the need to protect the victim’s dignity and privacy. It also noted the presence of an artistic representation related to the case on Wikipedia, which was similarly directed to be removed to prevent misrepresentation. Further, the hearing addressed related issues, including a review of a disturbing investigation status report by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and criticism of recent restrictive measures suggested by the West Bengal government for female doctors’ safety. The case continues to draw significant public and judicial attention.
EC: European Commission Fines Hungary 200 Million Euros
On Wednesday 18 September 2024, the European Commission announced that it will remove 200 million euros from Hungary’s EU funds, following Hungary’s failure to meet its deadline for the payment imposed by a Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU). In a 2020 judgement on Commission v Hungary, the CJEU found that Hungary’s anti-migrant policies and treatment of asylum seekers were in violation of EU law. The Commission presented five complaints against Hungary, all of which were (at least partially) found to be valid by the Court. Specifically, Hungary failed to fulfil its obligations with regards to Directive 2008/115/EC on common standards and procedures in Member States for returning illegally staying third-country nationals, Directive 2013/32/EU on common procedures for granting and withdrawing international protection, and Directive 2013/33/EU on standards for the reception of applicants for international protection. After Hungary’s repeated failures to comply with its EU obligations, the Commission brought Hungary to court once again in June 2024 under Article 260(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. The CJEU affirmed Hungary’s persistent non-compliance with EU migration law and imposed a daily fine of 100,000 euros per day until compliance as well as the 200 million euro fine that will now be deducted from Hungary’s EU funds.
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A62022CJ0123
Sweden: Prosecutors Indict Woman for International Crimes in Syria
On Thursday 19 September 2024, Ms Lina Ishaq was indicted for crimes against humanity, genocide, and war crimes in Syria between August 2014 to December 2016. The Swedish prosecutors charges are based on her alleged enslavement and trafficking of Yazidi girls to IS personnel while “knowing that they could be killed or subjected to torture or serious sexual assault”. Ishqa was previously convicted in another Swedish court in 2022 for allowing her then-12 year old son to become a child soldier in Iraq. She was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment and is currently serving her sentence in prison. Senior Prosecutor Reena Devgun stated that her “opinion [on this case] is that all the victims were subjected to such severe mental harm that it constitutes genocide. Forcefully taking the Yazidi children from their group and, as in this case, bringing them up to be Muslims, is also an act of genocide.”
US: Lawmakers Call for Biden’s Action on Americans Detained in China
On 18 September 2024, during a Congressional hearing, US lawmakers stressed the urgency for the Biden administration to enhance efforts to secure the release of Americans reportedly detained unfairly in China. The call was led by Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), co-chairs of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC), and supported by representatives Zach Nunn (R-IA) and Michelle Steel (R-CA). In his opening remarks, Representative Smith highlighted the priority of these cases in diplomatic engagements with China, urging that the detained Americans’ names be persistently raised in discussions with Chinese officials, including President Xi Jinping. He advocated for these cases to be a principal topic at all diplomatic meetings and insisted that every visit by US officials to China should involve advocacy for these detainees. The hearing followed recent news from the US State Department announcing the release of David Lin, an American pastor held since 2009 on charges of “contract fraud” after attempting to establish a Christian training center in Beijing. This development coincided with National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan’s recent trip to Beijing, signalling a potential shift in Chinese responsiveness to US pressures. However, the plight of other detainees like Mark Swidan, who was sentenced to death in 2019 on drug trafficking charges, remains unresolved. Swidan’s attorney alleges mistreatment and lack of fair trial, a sentiment echoed by his family during the hearing. Concluding the session, Representative Smith announced plans to introduce bipartisan legislation aimed at improving the US government’s efforts to secure the release of wrongfully detained Americans, directing the State Department to strategize more effectively for their release.
EU: General Court Overturns €1.49 Billion Antitrust Fine Against Google
On 18 September 2024, the EU General Court annulled a €1.49 billion antitrust fine imposed on Google in 2019. This fine was originally levied by the European Commission for alleged anti-trust violations connected to Google’s digital advertising business, specifically through its AdSense platform. Since 2003, AdSense has enabled third-party websites to display ads from Google in response to user queries. The Commission had accused Google of restricting these websites’ ability to show competing ads, asserting that such practices abused Google’s dominant market position under Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) and Article 54 of the European Economic Area (EEA) Agreement. However, the court found that the Commission did not adequately prove that Google’s exclusivity clauses prevented its partners from using other ad intermediaries, nor did it show that these clauses blocked competitors from accessing a significant portion of the online search advertising market. The court also noted a lack of evidence that Google’s practices stifled innovation, reinforced its market dominance, or harmed consumers. This ruling can be appealed to the EU Court of Justice but only on legal grounds. In a related case, the court heard Qualcomm Inc.’s appeal against a 2019 decision by the European Commission, which fined the company for predatory pricing practices. The court upheld the Commission’s decision but reduced the fine to €238.7 million, agreeing that the initial penalty calculation did not follow proper guidelines.
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/09/18/tech/google-wins-eu-antitrust-fine/index.html
Israel: Challenges ICC Jurisdiction Over Arrest Warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant
On 20 September 2024, Israel formally contested the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) jurisdiction and the legitimacy of an arrest warrant request issued by ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan KC against Prime Minister Netanyahu and Minister of Defence Yoav Gallant. The challenge, detailed in two legal briefs submitted by Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), argues that these requests contravene the Rome Statute of the ICC and the principle of complementarity, advocating that Israel should first be allowed to self-investigate the claims brought forward by the Prosecutor. This legal manoeuvre has sparked a debate among critics and scholars regarding its procedural validity. Many assert that Israel’s challenge is procedurally incorrect, arguing that jurisdictional objections are traditionally raised post-arrest warrant issuance, as per Article 19(2)(b) of the Rome Statute. Some interpret these actions as an attempt by Israel to sidestep international legal scrutiny. The ICC, which has been deliberating on these warrants for several months, has yet to respond or make a decision on this matter. The debate this challenge has incited further examines the integrity of Israel’s judicial practices and the ICC’s role in enforcing international justice standards. In May, allegations of severe human rights abuses led ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan to seek arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant, citing crimes against humanity, including the use of starvation as a warfare tactic, inflicting severe suffering, and other cruel and inhuman acts.
https://www.gov.il/en/pages/israel-submits-official-challenge-to-icc-jurisdiction-20-sep-2024#
International Peace & Security Section
Lebanon: 20 Killed in Another Day of Pager-Explosions
On Wednesday, 18 September 2024, 20 people were killed, and at least 450 injured across Lebanon after a second day of pager-explosions. Pagers were targeted as Hezbollah has since banned mobile phones earlier this year, saying they were too easy to track. The first of the pager explosions happened on Tuesday, where 12 were killed– including two children – and almost 3,000 injured in hospitals. These attacks are widely believed to be carried out by Israel targeting Hezbollah, with Israel’s defence minister saying they are “opening a new phase of the war”, and the “centre of gravity is shifting to the north”. The second wave has raised concerns regarding the “potentially indiscriminate casualties caused in the attacks, in which hundreds of blasts went off wherever the holder of the pager happened to be — in homes, cars, at grocery stores and in cafes, often with family or bystanders nearby.”
Afghanistan: Authoritarian Taliban Rule is Increasing Humanitarian Crises Further
On 18 September 2024, the UN Security Council reported growing concerns for women, and the overall state of humanitarian rights in Afghanistan following further legal suppressions by the Taliban. The country’s de facto rulers have imposed their own interpretation of strict Islamic law which has ‘delivered a level of stability not seen in Afghanistan in decades.’ However, this comes as the country’s humanitarian and overall development are in a worsening crisis with a drop in international funding. The current regime is worsening the crisis with policies that focus insufficiently on the real needs of its people and undermine its economic potential. The lack of funding has “discontinued over 200 mobile and static healthcare services this year and another 171 health facilities are set to close in the next few months.” Additionally, food rations in communities already struck by hunger have been cut from 75 to 50 per cent of the required amount, while millions of already vulnerable citizens live in areas with limited access to safe water.
Myanmar: Typhoon Yagi Has Greatly Affected the Region
In early September, the storm Yagi swept through northern Vietnam, Laos, Thailand and Myanmar, killing more than 500 people in the region. In Myanmar, there were at least 226 killed as a result of the severe floods and mudslides. According to the UN, the typhoon has destroyed nine states and regions, including the capital city Nay Pyi Taw and the regions that lie along the Irrawaddy, the longest river in the country. Some hit in the north-east of Shan State and southern parts. About 630,000 have been affected by the flooding with blocked roads, damaged bridges and severed communications lines, according to the UN disaster response agency. The UN warned that there is an urgent need for food, drinking water, shelter and clothes for the refugees. Yagi caused 10 casualties in Thailand, and one in Laos, and the death toll stands at 292 in Vietnam.
Mali: Dozens Killed by an Al-Qaeda Affiliate
On 17 September 2024, an elite police training academy and the airport in the capital of Mali, Bamako, were attacked by an Al-Qaeda affiliate Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM). The incident killed 70 people and 200 wounded, according to diplomatic and security sources, without any detailed information on the casualties.
https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/dozens-killed-mali-attack-by-al-qaeda-affiliate-2024-09-19/
Hong Kong: Two Hong Kong Men were Imprisoned for Sedition
On 19 September 2024, two Hong Kong men, Chu Kai-pong, 27 and Chung Man-kit, 29 were found guilty of being seditious under the new security law; one for wearing a shirt with a protest slogan “Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times”, and the other, for writing similar messages on bus seats. Back in 2020, Beijing implemented a national security law to quash the months-long protests in the financial hub which Hong Kong passed as a second new security law in March 2024. The new law increases the sentence from two years to seven years in prison, and up to 10 years if “collusion with foreign forces” is involved.
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/hong-kong-man-jailed-t-shirt-protest-slogan-2024-09-19/
UN: General Assembly Adopts Resolution Demanding an End to Israel’s Occupation in Palestine
On 18 September 2024, the UN General Assembly voted to adopt a Palestinian-drafted resolution which demands an end to Israel’s occupation in Palestine. The resolution passed with 124 in favour, 14 against and 43 abstentions. Among those who abstained included the US. The resolution calls for Israel to withdraw its military forces, cease all new settlements, remove settlers from occupied land, and take down parts of the separation wall it constructed in the West Bank. While the resolution is not legally binding, the extent of its support is symbolic. The resolution stems from an advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in July, which found that Israel’s presence in the Palestinian territories “is unlawful” and must end. The resolution calls on Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to present a report to the General Assembly within three months of the resolution in place, to include any actions taken by Israel, other states and international organisations.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/09/1154496
Colombia: Peace Talks with ELN Rebel Group Suspended Following Attack on Military Base
On 18 September 2024, the Colombian government announced it had called off peace talks with leftist rebel group, the National Liberation Army (ELN). The decision follows an attack at a military base which killed two soldiers. This comes as a setback to Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s total peace policy, which aimed to remove the ELN from its role in Colombia’s internal armed conflict. The government stated the talks can “only go ahead with an unequivocal demonstration of peace by the ELN.” The peace negotiations had been in jeopardy for some time after the government began separate talks with a group based in the southwest of the country that had split from the rest of the ELN. This halted negotiations, with the ELN restarting kidnappings after initially stopping this element during talks. Further to this, the ELN has ramped up offensives against the military and police. Colombia has also restarted operations against the ELN. The suspension of peace talks indicates the reissue of arrest warrants for the ELN’s top commanders, who are not currently in Colombia, the government claims they are based in Venezuela and Cuba.
Peru: Declares State of Emergency in Regions Affected by Forest Fires
On 18 September 2024, Peruvian President, Dina Boluarte, declared a state of emergency in three regions impacted by forest fires. The fires have devastated the regions affected, 16 people have died, and croplands have been destroyed. The northern regions of Amazonas, San Martin and Ucayali are under emergency measures following calls for more resources to be made available to battle the fires. Forest fires are common in Peru between the months of August and November. Peru’s environment ministry has said this is largely due to the burning of dry grassland to expand agriculture frontiers and also by land traffickers. Boluarte has strongly advised farmers to stop burning grasslands, while also noting the fires are a consequence of the lack of rainfall caused by climate change. Boluarte stated that 238 fires had been registered across most of its regions, with about 80% controlled. The governor in Ucayali called for military aircrafts to help firefighters put out fires on grounds that are difficult-to-access and also damaging the region’s palm and cocoa crops. This month, a new record was reached of 346 112 registered fires across South America, surpassing the 2007 record of 345 322 according to data analysed from Brazil’s space research agency.
Nigeria: Government Issues Flood Warning as Cameroon Releases Water from Dam
On 19 September 2024, it was reported the Nigerian Government issued a warning of possible flooding in 11 states as Cameroon releases water from the Lagdo Dam. On Wednesday, the Nigerian hydrological agency stated the water would be released slowly from the dam in neighbouring Cameroon and could cause flooding in Nigeria, but there was no cause for immediate alarm. Severe floods have wreaked havoc across northeastern Nigeria, with the UN estimating more than 400,000 people are affected. In Borno state, floods have forced people from their homes into displacement sites. Earlier in September, floods killed 30 people in Borno after a dam collapsed, with about 15% of the state capital, Maiduguri, underwater. Nigeria was already suffering a humanitarian crisis due to armed violence particularly affecting the northern region where millions of people were displaced. The flooding has worsened the crisis in Nigeria. This year, two million people are estimated to be impacted by flooding in West Africa, three times more than in 2023. This year’s flooding is regarded as some of the heaviest and severest the region has suffered in decades. In 2022, more than 600 people in Nigeria were impacted by flooding when water was released from the Lagdo dam in Cameroon.
https://apnews.com/article/nigeria-cameroon-floods-dam-f20160f993f51003dd37fb28ce6a4f7c
Ukraine: Joins NATO in Anti-Drone Exercise for the First Time
On 20 September 2024, it was reported NATO concluded an anti-drone exercise, with Ukraine taking part for the first time. The drills took place at a Dutch military base and involved more than 20 countries. They tested new innovative systems to detect and counter drones. The 11-day exercise concluded with a display of jamming and hacking drones. This comes as there was a large drone attack on Ukraine on Wednesday, which triggered a large explosion at a major Russian arsenal. The increased use of drones in the Russian-Ukraine war has encouraged NATO to focus on the threat they could pose to the alliance. Experts have warned NATO of the dangers and urged them to catch up on drone warfare. A report last September by the Center for European Policy Analysis found NATO has too few drones for a high-intensity fight against an opponent. NATO’s anti-drone exercise included trends such as the transformation of FPV (first-person view) drones, originally made for civilian racers but now turned into deadly weapons. Such weapons have been widespread in Ukraine. An official at Ukraine’s defence ministry stated they had developed new kamikaze drones to destroy such weapons, a cheaper option than firing missiles to counter the drone which Ukraine had previously done.
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-joins-nato-drill-test-anti-drone-systems-2024-09-20/
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