Former Pakistan president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf, who has been admitted to a hospital here due to serious health issues, has said that the high treason case lodged against him is "baseless" and asserted that justice was not being served as his lawyer was not being heard in the matter. 
 
Speaking about his health, Musharraf, in a video message from Dubai's American Hospital, said, "I am very unwell. It has been like this since a while and I keep visiting the hospital." 
 
As per medical reports, Musharraf is suffering from cardiac problem and having blood pressure issue. He was admitted to the hospital on Monday. 
"My lawyer Salman Safdar is not being heard by the court. I have fought wars for Pakistan and served my country for 10 years," he was quoted by Geo News as saying. 
 
The former military ruler expressed hope of getting justice in the case, asserting that the commission constituted in the high treason case should hear his version. 
 
"As for me, the commission can come here, I can give them a statement. They can come and hear me, see my condition and then decide for themselves. When they return they can give their statement and my lawyer will be heard in the court too and then I hope I will get justice," Musharraf said. 
 
Since 2016, Musharraf has been living in a self-imposed exile in Dubai for "seeking medical treatment" and has not returned to the country since. He is wanted by authorities in connection to the high treason case filed against him. 
 
Last month, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) stopped the special court from announcing the verdict in the matter. The order came before a special court was scheduled to announce the verdict on the basis of the available record. 
 
The IHC was hearing a petition filed by the Pakistan government seeking an adjournment of the verdict's announcement. A similar petition was also filed by Musharraf in the Lahore High Court. 
 
The special court had on November 19, concluded the trial proceedings in the high treason case against Musharraf for declaring a state emergency on November 3, 2007. The trial of the former leader has been pending since December 2013 when he was booked in the case. 
 
Musharraf was indicted on March 31, 2014, and the prosecution had tabled the entire evidence before the special court in September the same year. 
 
However, due to litigation at appellate forums, the trial of the former president lingered on and he left Pakistan in March 2016 "to seek medical treatment." 
The retired general was that year declared an absconder as he failed to appear before the court despite repeated summons and court directives issued to the Federal Investigation Agency to arrest him.

Former Pakistan president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf, who has been admitted to a hospital here due to serious health issues, has said that the high treason case lodged against him is "baseless" and asserted that justice was not being served as his lawyer was not being heard in the matter.

Former Pakistan president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf, who has been admitted to a hospital here due to serious health issues, has said that the high treason case lodged against him is "baseless" and asserted that justice was not being served as his lawyer was not being heard in the matter. Speaking about his health, Musharraf, in a video message from Dubai's American Hospital, said, "I am very unwell. It has been like this since a while and I keep visiting the hospital." As per medical reports, Musharraf is suffering from cardiac problem and having blood pressure issue. He was admitted to the hospital on Monday. "My lawyer Salman Safdar is not being heard by the court. I have fought wars for Pakistan and served my country for 10 years," he was quoted by Geo News as saying. The former military ruler expressed hope of getting justice in the case, asserting that the commission constituted in the high treason case should hear his version. "As for me, the commission can come here, I can give them a statement. They can come and hear me, see my condition and then decide for themselves. When they return they can give their statement and my lawyer will be heard in the court too and then I hope I will get justice," Musharraf said. Since 2016, Musharraf has been living in a self-imposed exile in Dubai for "seeking medical treatment" and has not returned to the country since. He is wanted by authorities in connection to the high treason case filed against him. Last month, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) stopped the special court from announcing the verdict in the matter. The order came before a special court was scheduled to announce the verdict on the basis of the available record. The IHC was hearing a petition filed by the Pakistan government seeking an adjournment of the verdict's announcement. A similar petition was also filed by Musharraf in the Lahore High Court. The special court had on November 19, concluded the trial proceedings in the high treason case against Musharraf for declaring a state emergency on November 3, 2007. The trial of the former leader has been pending since December 2013 when he was booked in the case. Musharraf was indicted on March 31, 2014, and the prosecution had tabled the entire evidence before the special court in September the same year. However, due to litigation at appellate forums, the trial of the former president lingered on and he left Pakistan in March 2016 "to seek medical treatment." The retired general was that year declared an absconder as he failed to appear before the court despite repeated summons and court directives issued to the Federal Investigation Agency to arrest him.

High treason case against me baseless, lawyer not being heard: Musharraf

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/venezuela-opposition-rallies-to-revive-stalled-effort-to-oust-maduro-262603">Venezuela's opposition</a> on Sunday vowed to investigate alleged wrongdoing within its ranks after a media outlet reported that a group of opposition lawmakers had unduly advocated for a businessman linked to the government of President Nicolas Maduro.&nbsp;

Opposition leader and congress chief Juan Guaido said the legislature would probe the incident, which according to website Armando.info involved nine legislators from the First Justice, Popular Will and A New Time parties.&nbsp;

The scandal comes as opposition efforts to oust Maduro lose steam and Guaido, who has been recognized by more than 50 countries as Venezuela's legitimate leader, struggles to launch a new wave of street protests.

"(It is) unacceptable to use a state institution to attempt to whitewash the reputation of thieves and corrupt individuals who have looted Venezuela," said Guaido, pounding a lectern as he read from notes during a press conference.

According to the Armando.info report, the lawmakers were involved in writing letters of support for a Colombian national, Carlos Lizcano, despite evidence of his ties to Alex Saab, another Colombian man who is under US&nbsp;sanction for corruption associated with Maduro's state-backed food distribution program.

It was not immediately evident if or how the legislators broke the law.&nbsp;

Guaido said he suspected the legislators received illicit payments in exchange for writing the letters, but that this would be investigated.

The letters were addressed to the US&nbsp;Treasury and Colombia's public prosecutor's office, according to the report.

Neither institution responded to requests for comment.&nbsp;

First Justice, Popular Will and A New Time on Sunday issued statements deploring the alleged corruption and promising to remove the lawmakers from the legislative comptroller commission, which focuses on fighting corruption.

"There is a smear campaign against us and some of our fellow legislators in the Venezuelan parliament," Luis Parra, who was placed under investigation by First Justice, wrote on Twitter, insisting he had been a victim of "extortion."

Freddy Superlano of Popular Will, in a letter to Guaido dated Saturday that he posted on Twitter, denied wrongdoing but said that while the investigation proceeded he was stepping down from his role as president of the comptroller commission.

The distribution programme known by the Spanish acronym CLAP has become a crucial source of food for Venezuelans facing hyperinflation, which has left a minimum wage salary so devalued it can barely buy a day's groceries.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/venezuelan-opposition-group-ends-occupation-of-embassy-in-brazil-261967">But the programme</a> has faced widespread accusations by Venezuela's opposition and US&nbsp;authorities of over-pricing food imports as part of a broad corruption racket.

Maduro has defended CLAP as an effort to help the country weather US&nbsp;sanctions that have hobbled the OPEC nation's oil exports and made it increasingly difficult to import basic goods.

Diosdado Cabello, No. 2 of the ruling Socialist Party, delighted at the opposition's infighting.

"Nobody is clean in that corruption dispute in the opposition leadership, accusations come and go between them, they're a society of political merchants," he wrote on Twitter.

Venezuela's opposition on Sunday vowed to investigate alleged wrongdoing within its ranks after a media outlet reported that a group of opposition lawmakers had unduly advocated for a businessman linked to the government of President Nicolas Maduro.

Venezuela's opposition on Sunday vowed to investigate alleged wrongdoing within its ranks after a media outlet reported that a group of opposition lawmakers had unduly advocated for a businessman linked to the government of President Nicolas Maduro. Opposition leader and congress chief Juan Guaido said the legislature would probe the incident, which according to website Armando.info involved nine legislators from the First Justice, Popular Will and A New Time parties. The scandal comes as opposition efforts to oust Maduro lose steam and Guaido, who has been recognized by more than 50 countries as Venezuela's legitimate leader, struggles to launch a new wave of street protests. "(It is) unacceptable to use a state institution to attempt to whitewash the reputation of thieves and corrupt individuals who have looted Venezuela," said Guaido, pounding a lectern as he read from notes during a press conference. According to the Armando.info report, the lawmakers were involved in writing letters of support for a Colombian national, Carlos Lizcano, despite evidence of his ties to Alex Saab, another Colombian man who is under US sanction for corruption associated with Maduro's state-backed food distribution program. It was not immediately evident if or how the legislators broke the law. Guaido said he suspected the legislators received illicit payments in exchange for writing the letters, but that this would be investigated. The letters were addressed to the US Treasury and Colombia's public prosecutor's office, according to the report. Neither institution responded to requests for comment. First Justice, Popular Will and A New Time on Sunday issued statements deploring the alleged corruption and promising to remove the lawmakers from the legislative comptroller commission, which focuses on fighting corruption. "There is a smear campaign against us and some of our fellow legislators in the Venezuelan parliament," Luis Parra, who was placed under investigation by First Justice, wrote on Twitter, insisting he had been a victim of "extortion." Freddy Superlano of Popular Will, in a letter to Guaido dated Saturday that he posted on Twitter, denied wrongdoing but said that while the investigation proceeded he was stepping down from his role as president of the comptroller commission. The distribution programme known by the Spanish acronym CLAP has become a crucial source of food for Venezuelans facing hyperinflation, which has left a minimum wage salary so devalued it can barely buy a day's groceries. But the programme has faced widespread accusations by Venezuela's opposition and US authorities of over-pricing food imports as part of a broad corruption racket. Maduro has defended CLAP as an effort to help the country weather US sanctions that have hobbled the OPEC nation's oil exports and made it increasingly difficult to import basic goods. Diosdado Cabello, No. 2 of the ruling Socialist Party, delighted at the opposition's infighting. "Nobody is clean in that corruption dispute in the opposition leadership, accusations come and go between them, they're a society of political merchants," he wrote on Twitter.

Venezuela: Opposition to investigate reports of wrongdoing by lawmakers

India celebrates the 70th anniversary of its constitution today. Politicians all over the country extended their greetings to the citizens on the occasion.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday addressed a joint session of Parliament on the occasion of 70th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution and called upon citizens to fulfil the duties enshrined in the Constitution. 
 
Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that the Indian Constitution talks about both rights and duties of the citizens. 
 
"The Constitution of India highlights both rights and duties of citizens. This is a special aspect of our Constitution...Let us think about how we can fulfil the duties enshrined in our Constitution," Modi said. 
 
He said that the citizens ensured that the democratic values enshrined in the Constitution are always upheld. 
 
He also outlined Indian citizens' faith in the democracy and stated that the holy book of constitution functions as guiding light. 
 
"I especially bow down to 130 crore Indians, who never let their faith in India's democracy diminish. Always considered our constitution to be a holy book, a guiding light," the Prime Minister told the parliamentarians.

Watch: India celebrates Constitution Day

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-celebrates-constitution-day-today-264574/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also extended greetings to all the citizens on the occasion of the Constitution Day. 
 
"As a true sentinel of the Constitution, the Modi government is committed to working for the welfare of the 130 crore Indians as well as to maintain the unity and integrity of the country by following the ideals of Babasaheb Ambedkar ji. Greetings to all the countrymen on the Constitution Day," he tweeted. 
 
"The Constitution is the soul of our democracy. Our constitution, which binds the world's largest democracy in the thread of unity, is also federal and unitary," the Union Minister said in another tweet. 
 
November 26, which was earlier celebrated as Law Day, marks the day when India had adopted its Constitution back in 1949, more than two years after attaining independence from the British rule. 
 
Constitution Day is celebrated to mark the adoption&nbsp;of the Indian Constitution by the Constituent Assembly on this day in 1949. It came into force on 26th January 1950, marking the beginning of a new era in the history of the Indian Republic. 
 
The Constitution day was first celebrated in 2015 as a mark of tribute to India's first Law Minister Bhim Rao Ambedkar, who played a pivotal role in the drafting of the Indian Constitution. 
 
The declaration regarding the same was made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 11, 2015, while laying the foundation stone of Statue of Equality in Mumbai.

On the 70th anniversary, the government has also planned to launch a campaign to make aware people about the fundamental duties that are mentioned in Part-5A of the Constitution. 
 
Meanwhile, Opposition parties staged a protest outside the Parliament as a joint sitting of both the Houses was underway in the Central Hall. 
 
Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi and party leaders including Rahul Gandhi, Ghulam Nabi Azad, AK Antony among others boycotted the joint-session and protested outside the Parliament premises in front of the Ambedkar Statue opposing government formation in Maharashtra by BJP. 
 
The Opposition parties have announced to boycott the President Ram Nath Kovind's address at the joint sitting as well.

(With inputs from ANI)

India celebrates the 70th anniversary of its constitution today. Politicians all over the country extended their greetings to the citizens on the occasion. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday addressed a joint session of Parliament on the occasion of 70th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution and called upon citizens to fulfil the duties enshrined in the Constitution.

India celebrates the 70th anniversary of its constitution today. Politicians all over the country extended their greetings to the citizens on the occasion. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday addressed a joint session of Parliament on the occasion of 70th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution and called upon citizens to fulfil the duties enshrined in the Constitution. Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that the Indian Constitution talks about both rights and duties of the citizens. "The Constitution of India highlights both rights and duties of citizens. This is a special aspect of our Constitution...Let us think about how we can fulfil the duties enshrined in our Constitution," Modi said. He said that the citizens ensured that the democratic values enshrined in the Constitution are always upheld. He also outlined Indian citizens' faith in the democracy and stated that the holy book of constitution functions as guiding light. "I especially bow down to 130 crore Indians, who never let their faith in India's democracy diminish. Always considered our constitution to be a holy book, a guiding light," the Prime Minister told the parliamentarians. Watch: India celebrates Constitution Day Union Home Minister Amit Shah also extended greetings to all the citizens on the occasion of the Constitution Day. "As a true sentinel of the Constitution, the Modi government is committed to working for the welfare of the 130 crore Indians as well as to maintain the unity and integrity of the country by following the ideals of Babasaheb Ambedkar ji. Greetings to all the countrymen on the Constitution Day," he tweeted. "The Constitution is the soul of our democracy. Our constitution, which binds the world's largest democracy in the thread of unity, is also federal and unitary," the Union Minister said in another tweet. November 26, which was earlier celebrated as Law Day, marks the day when India had adopted its Constitution back in 1949, more than two years after attaining independence from the British rule. Constitution Day is celebrated to mark the adoption of the Indian Constitution by the Constituent Assembly on this day in 1949. It came into force on 26th January 1950, marking the beginning of a new era in the history of the Indian Republic. The Constitution day was first celebrated in 2015 as a mark of tribute to India's first Law Minister Bhim Rao Ambedkar, who played a pivotal role in the drafting of the Indian Constitution. The declaration regarding the same was made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 11, 2015, while laying the foundation stone of Statue of Equality in Mumbai. On the 70th anniversary, the government has also planned to launch a campaign to make aware people about the fundamental duties that are mentioned in Part-5A of the Constitution. Meanwhile, Opposition parties staged a protest outside the Parliament as a joint sitting of both the Houses was underway in the Central Hall. Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi and party leaders including Rahul Gandhi, Ghulam Nabi Azad, AK Antony among others boycotted the joint-session and protested outside the Parliament premises in front of the Ambedkar Statue opposing government formation in Maharashtra by BJP. The Opposition parties have announced to boycott the President Ram Nath Kovind's address at the joint sitting as well. (With inputs from ANI)

Constitution Day: PM Modi addresses joint session of Parliament, says he 'bows down to 130 crore Indians'

Bolivia's interim <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-least-3-dead-in-bolivia-as-protesters-clash-with-security-forces-amid-food-fuel-crisis-263256">President Jeanine Anez</a> asked Congress Wednesday to approve a law that would allow for new elections, after deadly unrest following the resignation of Evo Morales and the disputed October 20 ballot.

The announcement comes after the number of people killed in clashes with security forces at a fuel plant near La Paz on Tuesday rose to eight, officials said, taking the total death toll since last month's vote to 32. &nbsp;

Morales, who fled to Mexico after resigning November 10, accused the Bolivian security forces of engaging in "genocide" against his indigenous supporters and called for action by the international community.

The government earlier released an audio recording of a person it alleged to be Morales ordering a member of the opposition movement to continue road blockades around the landlocked country.

For weeks his supporters have been obstructing main roads leading from agricultural regions to La Paz and other major cities, causing severe food and fuel shortages.

Speaking to reporters, Anez said she hoped the caretaker government's proposal,&nbsp;which also seeks the annulment of the original ballot and the formation of a new election tribunal,&nbsp;would form the basis for generating "a national consensus."

Justice Minister Alvaro Coimbra said the hope was for Congress to approve the law "as soon as possible," to allow the selection within 15 days of a new election tribunal, which would be responsible for choosing a date for the ballot.

A similar proposal put forward by Morales' Movement for Socialism (MAS) party has been sent to a Senate committee for analysis.&nbsp;

Anez still has the option to issue a presidential decree for a new vote.

The Washington-based Organisation of the American States, which audited last month's elections and found irregularities, on Wednesday, approved a resolution calling on Bolivia to "urgently" hold a new vote.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coca-farmers-march-police-fire-tear-gas-in-worsening-bolivia-unrest-263166">Unrest in Bolivia</a> first erupted after Morales, the country's first indigenous president,&nbsp;was accused of rigging the results of last month's polls to gain re-election.

He resigned and fled to Mexico after losing the support of the security forces.

Anez, the 52-year-old former deputy speaker of the Senate, declared herself the country's interim president last week, filling a vacuum left by Morales' departure and the resignations of several ministers.

Since Morales stepped down, his supporters have demonstrated daily in the streets of La Paz and in some provincial cities to demand Anez's departure.

The United Nations, the European Union and the influential Catholic Church have been trying to broker talks between Anez's interim government and opposition parties loyal to Morales to end the violence.&nbsp;

Interior Minister Arturo Murillo played a telephone recording to journalists on Wednesday, allegedly of Morales issuing instructions to a leader of the opposition movement in Bolivia.

"Don't let food into the cities, we're going to block, really encircle (the cities)," says the voice Murillo attributed to Morales.&nbsp;

Morales' order was a "crime against humanity," Murillo told reporters, accusing the ex-president of "terrorism."

"In the coming hours we will file an international lawsuit on this," Murillo said.

Watch: Bolivians go hungry as protests snarl cities

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/bolivians-citizens-go-hungry-as-protests-snarl-cities-263283/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Deadly violence

Speaking to reporters in Mexico on Wednesday, Morales urged the international community to intervene to stop what he called a "genocide" in Bolivia.

"<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bolivian-farmers-protest-against-interim-president-at-site-of-killings-263033">This massacre</a> ... is part of a genocide that is happening in our beloved Bolivia," Morales told a press conference in Mexico City.

The deadliest clashes occurred Friday in the central city of Cochabamba, a stronghold for Morales, where nine people were killed in a confrontation with the army and police.&nbsp;

On Tuesday, deadly violence erupted in El Alto when security forces lifted a siege on a fuel plant that had caused severe shortages in the nearby capital.

The attorney general's office said eight people died in those clashes. The initial death toll had been three, with dozens more wounded. &nbsp;&nbsp;

A spokesman for the ombudsman's office said earlier two of those killed had been hit by gunfire.

The army said in a statement that "agitators and vandals" had attacked and partially destroyed the Senkata fuel plant, "using high-powered explosives."

A convoy of around 50 fuel tankers was able to leave the Senkata plant for the first time in more than a week after police and military forces using armoured vehicles secured the route to neighbouring La Paz.

But the defence ministry issued a statement Wednesday night saying protesters had surrounded the plant again and security forces were protecting it to avoid "any type of attack."

Morales supporters erected barricades around the El Alto plant last week to protest what they said was a coup by Anez.&nbsp;

Bolivia's interim President Jeanine Anez asked Congress Wednesday to approve a law that would allow for new elections, after deadly unrest following the resignation of Evo Morales and the disputed October 20 ballot.

Bolivia's interim President Jeanine Anez asked Congress Wednesday to approve a law that would allow for new elections, after deadly unrest following the resignation of Evo Morales and the disputed October 20 ballot. The announcement comes after the number of people killed in clashes with security forces at a fuel plant near La Paz on Tuesday rose to eight, officials said, taking the total death toll since last month's vote to 32. Morales, who fled to Mexico after resigning November 10, accused the Bolivian security forces of engaging in "genocide" against his indigenous supporters and called for action by the international community. The government earlier released an audio recording of a person it alleged to be Morales ordering a member of the opposition movement to continue road blockades around the landlocked country. For weeks his supporters have been obstructing main roads leading from agricultural regions to La Paz and other major cities, causing severe food and fuel shortages. Speaking to reporters, Anez said she hoped the caretaker government's proposal, which also seeks the annulment of the original ballot and the formation of a new election tribunal, would form the basis for generating "a national consensus." Justice Minister Alvaro Coimbra said the hope was for Congress to approve the law "as soon as possible," to allow the selection within 15 days of a new election tribunal, which would be responsible for choosing a date for the ballot. A similar proposal put forward by Morales' Movement for Socialism (MAS) party has been sent to a Senate committee for analysis. Anez still has the option to issue a presidential decree for a new vote. The Washington-based Organisation of the American States, which audited last month's elections and found irregularities, on Wednesday, approved a resolution calling on Bolivia to "urgently" hold a new vote. Unrest in Bolivia first erupted after Morales, the country's first indigenous president, was accused of rigging the results of last month's polls to gain re-election. He resigned and fled to Mexico after losing the support of the security forces. Anez, the 52-year-old former deputy speaker of the Senate, declared herself the country's interim president last week, filling a vacuum left by Morales' departure and the resignations of several ministers. Since Morales stepped down, his supporters have demonstrated daily in the streets of La Paz and in some provincial cities to demand Anez's departure. The United Nations, the European Union and the influential Catholic Church have been trying to broker talks between Anez's interim government and opposition parties loyal to Morales to end the violence. Interior Minister Arturo Murillo played a telephone recording to journalists on Wednesday, allegedly of Morales issuing instructions to a leader of the opposition movement in Bolivia. "Don't let food into the cities, we're going to block, really encircle (the cities)," says the voice Murillo attributed to Morales. Morales' order was a "crime against humanity," Murillo told reporters, accusing the ex-president of "terrorism." "In the coming hours we will file an international lawsuit on this," Murillo said. Watch: Bolivians go hungry as protests snarl cities Deadly violence Speaking to reporters in Mexico on Wednesday, Morales urged the international community to intervene to stop what he called a "genocide" in Bolivia. "This massacre ... is part of a genocide that is happening in our beloved Bolivia," Morales told a press conference in Mexico City. The deadliest clashes occurred Friday in the central city of Cochabamba, a stronghold for Morales, where nine people were killed in a confrontation with the army and police. On Tuesday, deadly violence erupted in El Alto when security forces lifted a siege on a fuel plant that had caused severe shortages in the nearby capital. The attorney general's office said eight people died in those clashes. The initial death toll had been three, with dozens more wounded. A spokesman for the ombudsman's office said earlier two of those killed had been hit by gunfire. The army said in a statement that "agitators and vandals" had attacked and partially destroyed the Senkata fuel plant, "using high-powered explosives." A convoy of around 50 fuel tankers was able to leave the Senkata plant for the first time in more than a week after police and military forces using armoured vehicles secured the route to neighbouring La Paz. But the defence ministry issued a statement Wednesday night saying protesters had surrounded the plant again and security forces were protecting it to avoid "any type of attack." Morales supporters erected barricades around the El Alto plant last week to protest what they said was a coup by Anez.

Bolivia: President asks Congress to approve law for new elections

Greece on Friday approved a law tightening asylum procedures that has been widely criticised by rights groups as harmful to the interests of migrants.

The government says the new rules will allow it to focus on swiftly identifying refugees that need protection, instead of being bogged down by thousands of applications by economic migrants which it says are not entitled to asylum.

"These adjustments establish a compact law on international protection," Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told lawmakers before the bill was approved by his conservative party majority, with support from the socialists.

Mitsotakis said <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/greece-and-united-states-update-mutual-defence-cooperation-pact-253940">Greece's</a> asylum system till now "was in a state of prolonged paralysis" with nearly 70,000 pending requests.

"It gave the signal that people could come to Greece and stay for unspecified periods of time, without any scrutiny," said the conservative PM who was elected in July on promises to bolster border patrols at land and sea.

"This law... sends a clear message: enough with those who attempt to enter and remain in our country whilst knowing that they are not entitled to asylum," he said.

Human rights groups have strongly criticised the bill, saying it introduces stricter rules for receiving asylum seekers, delays access to the right to work, narrows the definition of family, and imposes more burdens on torture victims in being recognised as such.

The Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatovic also noted Thursday that the draft she had seen, during a five-day visit to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/greece-can-be-pillar-for-regional-stability-pompeo-253933">Greece</a> and talks with officials, "raises concerns from a human rights perspective".

Greece on Friday approved a law tightening asylum procedures that has been widely criticised by rights groups as harmful to the interests of migrants. The government says the new rules will allow it to focus on swiftly identifying refugees that need protection, instead of being bogged down by thousands of applications by economic migrants which it says are not entitled to asylum.

Greece on Friday approved a law tightening asylum procedures that has been widely criticised by rights groups as harmful to the interests of migrants. The government says the new rules will allow it to focus on swiftly identifying refugees that need protection, instead of being bogged down by thousands of applications by economic migrants which it says are not entitled to asylum. "These adjustments establish a compact law on international protection," Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told lawmakers before the bill was approved by his conservative party majority, with support from the socialists. Mitsotakis said Greece's asylum system till now "was in a state of prolonged paralysis" with nearly 70,000 pending requests. "It gave the signal that people could come to Greece and stay for unspecified periods of time, without any scrutiny," said the conservative PM who was elected in July on promises to bolster border patrols at land and sea. "This law... sends a clear message: enough with those who attempt to enter and remain in our country whilst knowing that they are not entitled to asylum," he said. Human rights groups have strongly criticised the bill, saying it introduces stricter rules for receiving asylum seekers, delays access to the right to work, narrows the definition of family, and imposes more burdens on torture victims in being recognised as such. The Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatovic also noted Thursday that the draft she had seen, during a five-day visit to Greece and talks with officials, "raises concerns from a human rights perspective".

Greece approves controversial migration law

President of Iraq vows for fresh polls after the new law.

Breaking News: Iraq President calls for new Voting Law

A Banda court has said that it will grant bail to a person accused of creating nuisance on condition that they will have to plant five saplings.

The clause is an addition to the existing punishment prescribed under the law.

"People are appreciating it and following the orders. The accused are granted bail after they submit photos of the saplings being planted by them to the court every month for the next six months," said Vandita Srivastava, Sub-District Magistrate (SDM).

In the last 15 days, the SDM court has directed over 500 accused to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/modi-plants-sapling-at-presidents-secretariat-in-colombo-225714">plant the saplings</a>.

"I have not amended any provisions of the law, but simply added a necessary condition to avail the bail," Srivastava said.

Appreciating her work, the District Magistrate has now directed every court in the Banda district to take up the initiative.

A Banda court has said that it will grant bail to a person accused of creating nuisance on condition that they will have to plant five saplings. The clause is an addition to the existing punishment prescribed under the law.

A Banda court has said that it will grant bail to a person accused of creating nuisance on condition that they will have to plant five saplings. The clause is an addition to the existing punishment prescribed under the law. "People are appreciating it and following the orders. The accused are granted bail after they submit photos of the saplings being planted by them to the court every month for the next six months," said Vandita Srivastava, Sub-District Magistrate (SDM). In the last 15 days, the SDM court has directed over 500 accused to plant the saplings. "I have not amended any provisions of the law, but simply added a necessary condition to avail the bail," Srivastava said. Appreciating her work, the District Magistrate has now directed every court in the Banda district to take up the initiative.

'Eco-friendly verdict': Plant 5 saplings to get bail, orders Uttar Pradesh court

Expressing concern over the incidents of judiciary stepping into the executive domain, Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Thursday sought the creation of an "in-house corrective mechanism" for judicial accountability.

"I am seeing a new trend happening. Some judges, two days before their retirement, give judgement of the questionable legal validity and sit on television for three days to justify it. I don`t think it is fair. The way PIL has been detained in some states, it seems as if they are parallel to the state government`s governance," he said speaking at the Independence Day celebrations organised by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA).

Calling in-house a corrective mechanism, the Law Minister said that the role of the judiciary today has become a matter of trust for the country.&nbsp;

"It is equally important that in-house corrective mechanism must exist with the Supreme Court at the apex to ensure discipline, propriety and in some way judicial accountability," he added.

Prasad highlighted that several crores of rupees were allocated for the judicial infrastructure in the last five years of the Modi government.

"As far as the government is concerned, our job is to provide infrastructure. The government, centre or state should have no business in interfering as far as the adjudication process of the judiciary is concerned. That`s entirely the domain of the judiciary. We need to respect that," he said.

Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, who was also present there on the occasion, in a veiled attack at some judges said that the judiciary has witnessed a surge in instances of "indecorous acts".

"Indian judiciary has, since some time past, witnessed an unprecedented rise in instances of indecorous acts which don`t align with the charter of our institution. Such instances of inappropriate behaviour have raised their ugly head in all courts, including the Supreme Court," he said.

Calling for urgent steps to end immoral behaviour, Gogoi said that stakeholders must quickly identify, isolate such animals and put them to quarantine.

"Graceful, pleasing and pleasant discourses and deliberations are increasingly being replaced by loud and motivated conduct. It is important that stakeholders quickly identify and isolate such animals and put them to quarantine," he added.

"It is time for all of us to introspect and redraw the lines that ought to bind each of the stakeholders to ensure that decorum and dignity of this great institution is not lost so that the meritorious enjoy space and are able to contribute to the good of the institution and steer it to new standards of excellence," CJI Gogoi said.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Expressing concern over the incidents of judiciary stepping into the executive domain, Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Thursday sought the creation of an "in-house corrective mechanism" for judicial accountability.

Expressing concern over the incidents of judiciary stepping into the executive domain, Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Thursday sought the creation of an "in-house corrective mechanism" for judicial accountability. "I am seeing a new trend happening. Some judges, two days before their retirement, give judgement of the questionable legal validity and sit on television for three days to justify it. I don`t think it is fair. The way PIL has been detained in some states, it seems as if they are parallel to the state government`s governance," he said speaking at the Independence Day celebrations organised by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA). Calling in-house a corrective mechanism, the Law Minister said that the role of the judiciary today has become a matter of trust for the country. "It is equally important that in-house corrective mechanism must exist with the Supreme Court at the apex to ensure discipline, propriety and in some way judicial accountability," he added. Prasad highlighted that several crores of rupees were allocated for the judicial infrastructure in the last five years of the Modi government. "As far as the government is concerned, our job is to provide infrastructure. The government, centre or state should have no business in interfering as far as the adjudication process of the judiciary is concerned. That`s entirely the domain of the judiciary. We need to respect that," he said. Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, who was also present there on the occasion, in a veiled attack at some judges said that the judiciary has witnessed a surge in instances of "indecorous acts". "Indian judiciary has, since some time past, witnessed an unprecedented rise in instances of indecorous acts which don`t align with the charter of our institution. Such instances of inappropriate behaviour have raised their ugly head in all courts, including the Supreme Court," he said. Calling for urgent steps to end immoral behaviour, Gogoi said that stakeholders must quickly identify, isolate such animals and put them to quarantine. "Graceful, pleasing and pleasant discourses and deliberations are increasingly being replaced by loud and motivated conduct. It is important that stakeholders quickly identify and isolate such animals and put them to quarantine," he added. "It is time for all of us to introspect and redraw the lines that ought to bind each of the stakeholders to ensure that decorum and dignity of this great institution is not lost so that the meritorious enjoy space and are able to contribute to the good of the institution and steer it to new standards of excellence," CJI Gogoi said.

Ravi Shankar Prasad seeks in-house corrective mechanism for judicial accountability

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/there-will-be-no-court-cases-in-india-if-we-have-a-happy-lot-of-citizens-chief-justice-ranjan-gogoi-239700">Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi</a> on Sunday said that the present times are witnessing "belligerent and reckless behaviour by a few individuals and some groups" which is "unfortunate".&nbsp;

Gogoi added that he is hopeful that such "incidents would turn out to be exceptions," and that strong traditions of legal institutions will tackle the same, news agency ANI reported.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Chief Justice of India, Ranjan Gogoi in Guwahati: After SC took upon itself to fill up 6000 vacancies of trial judges, it appears to me that about 4000 of these vacancies have been filled up. About 1500 vacancies will be filled by the end of November or end of December. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Assam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Assam</a> <a href="https://t.co/7yEWwscG07">pic.twitter.com/7yEWwscG07</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1157989632602251264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 4, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

"The strong traditions and ethos of our institution shall always assist the stakeholders to display resilience to overcome the belligerence of such wayward constituents," Gogoi noted.&nbsp;

Gogoi was speaking at the auditorium of the Gauhati High Court.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Chief Justice of India, Ranjan Gogoi: And that the strong traditions &amp; ethos of our institution shall always assist the stakeholders to display resilience to overcome the belligerence of such wayward constituents. (2/2) <a href="https://t.co/1f66S9C07j">https://t.co/1f66S9C07j</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1157986540636782593?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 4, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

During his speech, Gogoi said that out of about 90 lakh civil cases in the country, over 20 lakh are pending at the summoning stage.&nbsp;

"Out of 2 crore 10 lakh criminal cases, over 1 crore cases are pending at summoning stage," he said.&nbsp;

"After SC took upon itself to fill up 6000 vacancies of trial judges, it appears to me that about 4000 of these vacancies have been filled up. About 1500 vacancies will be filled by the end of November or end of December," Gogoi said.&nbsp;

Gogoi on Wednesday said&nbsp;that we can reduce the number of litigations in the country if we make the young generation of India.&nbsp;

Speaking at the 'Happiness Education Conference' of the Delhi government, Gogoi said youths were unhappy and feel dejected, so having such an initiative was important.

"We go to school to learn something, be it History, Geography, Science, Maths etc, but what is the point behind gaining knowledge if we stay negative and unhappy? We won't be able to contribute. Hence, a happiness curriculum has been introduced in the schools of Delhi. India as a country needs it." said Gogoi in his speech during the conference.

"As the Chief Justice of the country, I was thinking yesterday that if I have a happy lot of people in this country, my problem of litigation will be over. There will be no cases because everybody is happy," he added.

"And I have seriously thought about it, perhaps we can have something like happiness classes in our judicial academies also; without happiness, education can never be complete," said Gogoi.

 
&nbsp;

Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi on Sunday said that the present times are witnessing "belligerent and reckless behaviour by a few individuals and some groups" which is "unfortunate".

Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi on Sunday said that the present times are witnessing "belligerent and reckless behaviour by a few individuals and some groups" which is "unfortunate". Gogoi added that he is hopeful that such "incidents would turn out to be exceptions," and that strong traditions of legal institutions will tackle the same, news agency ANI reported. Chief Justice of India, Ranjan Gogoi in Guwahati: After SC took upon itself to fill up 6000 vacancies of trial judges, it appears to me that about 4000 of these vacancies have been filled up. About 1500 vacancies will be filled by the end of November or end of December. #Assam pic.twitter.com/7yEWwscG07 — ANI (@ANI) August 4, 2019 × "The strong traditions and ethos of our institution shall always assist the stakeholders to display resilience to overcome the belligerence of such wayward constituents," Gogoi noted. Gogoi was speaking at the auditorium of the Gauhati High Court. Chief Justice of India, Ranjan Gogoi: And that the strong traditions & ethos of our institution shall always assist the stakeholders to display resilience to overcome the belligerence of such wayward constituents. (2/2) https://t.co/1f66S9C07j — ANI (@ANI) August 4, 2019 × During his speech, Gogoi said that out of about 90 lakh civil cases in the country, over 20 lakh are pending at the summoning stage. "Out of 2 crore 10 lakh criminal cases, over 1 crore cases are pending at summoning stage," he said. "After SC took upon itself to fill up 6000 vacancies of trial judges, it appears to me that about 4000 of these vacancies have been filled up. About 1500 vacancies will be filled by the end of November or end of December," Gogoi said. Gogoi on Wednesday said that we can reduce the number of litigations in the country if we make the young generation of India. Speaking at the 'Happiness Education Conference' of the Delhi government, Gogoi said youths were unhappy and feel dejected, so having such an initiative was important. "We go to school to learn something, be it History, Geography, Science, Maths etc, but what is the point behind gaining knowledge if we stay negative and unhappy? We won't be able to contribute. Hence, a happiness curriculum has been introduced in the schools of Delhi. India as a country needs it." said Gogoi in his speech during the conference. "As the Chief Justice of the country, I was thinking yesterday that if I have a happy lot of people in this country, my problem of litigation will be over. There will be no cases because everybody is happy," he added. "And I have seriously thought about it, perhaps we can have something like happiness classes in our judicial academies also; without happiness, education can never be complete," said Gogoi.

'Present times witnessing belligerent, reckless behaviour,' says Justice Gogoi, expresses hope in legal institutions 

President Donald Trump's choice of a lawmaker with limited experience to oversee the massive US intelligence community has sparked concerns over the possible politicisation of crucial national security decisions.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../outrage-as-donald-trump-brands-mostly-black- baltimore-infested-mess-238913">Trump</a> declared Tuesday that John Ratcliffe is "strong" and "talented", two days after announcing the Republican congressman as his pick to replace Dan Coats as Director of National Intelligence, the person who coordinates the 17 agencies that make up the US intelligence community.

But strong criticism of the choice from Democrats and a tepid response from key Republicans -- some say they had never met him -- &nbsp;put a question mark over whether Ratcliffe can gain Senate confirmation.

"I'm gravely concerned when it appears that the president is trying to look for someone who will be a political loyalist rather than that independent voice standing up for the intelligence community," said Democratic Senator John Warner.

"I don't know John, but I look forward to getting to know him," said Senator Richard Burr, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, which must approve the nomination.

&nbsp;Fox News commentator&nbsp;

Coats, previously a longtime legislator on the Senate Intelligence Committee and US ambassador to Germany, spent 24 months as DNI quietly advancing and defending the intelligence community's global threats assessments.

Occasionally Coats publicly challenged Trump's rejection of those views, especially on Russia, Iran and North Korea.

Ratcliffe, by comparison, has made his name over four years in the House of Representatives as a staunch defender of the president.

Like many Trump appointees, he frequently appears on Fox News repeating conservative conspiracy theories, like alleging that special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian election interference was a political hit-job by Democrats working with US intelligence.

"So was the Trump investigation really about our national security -- or was it politically motivated?" he said last year.

"John Ratcliffe is a good man," Trump said Tuesday. "He's a very talented guy. Strong man. It's what we need in that position."

&nbsp;Former small-town mayor&nbsp;

Ratcliffe, 53, would take over a crucial job that involves collating and distilling intelligence from the CIA, the National Security Agency, the FBI, the Pentagon and other bodies, to prioritize for the president the threats the country faces.&nbsp;

All previous directors have been former diplomats steeped in security and military issues, senior Pentagon officials, and intelligence agency chiefs.

Ratcliffe's resume is thin: before arriving in Congress in 2015, he was mayor of a small, wealthy lakeside suburb of Dallas, Texas for eight years, a staff lawyer for the local federal district attorney, and then interim district attorney for just one year in 2007.

His office in Congress has claimed that during that time he investigated and prosecuted major terror cases, but there is no evidence of that in available court records.

In Congress, he has served on the House Intelligence Committee only since January, where he has made a mark attacking the Mueller investigation and insinuating that the intelligence community itself threatens the president.

"Ratcliffe would be the first DNI without significant intelligence or ambassadorial experience," said John McLaughlin, former CIA deputy director.

'Hyper-political time'&nbsp;

Ratcliffe's nomination -- which has not yet been formalized by the White House -- comes as the intelligence community has struggled with Trump's determination to see the world his way and use intelligence for his own political goals.

Earlier this month, Sue Gordon, the deputy director of national intelligence, said Coats' independence has been important in the current political environment.

"The intelligence community has been able to keep its eyes in the boat, because he plays it down the middle, even when it's unpopular," she told CBS News' "Intelligence Matters" program.&nbsp;

"There is something great about people who understand the world in the way intelligence officers understand the world," she added.&nbsp;

"Where it has gotten difficult in this time is, this is a hyper-political time. And it's difficult because we are all serious people who are just trying to solve some really serious issues."

Democrats have made clear they will fight against his nomination.

"Congressman Ratcliffe is the most partisan and least qualified individual ever nominated to serve as Director of National Intelligence," said Senator Ron Wyden, who serves on the Senate Intelligence Committee.

"Confirming this individual would amount to an endorsement of this administration's drive to politicize our intelligence agencies."

President Donald Trump's choice of a lawmaker with limited experience to oversee the massive US intelligence community has sparked concerns over the possible politicisation of crucial national security decisions.

President Donald Trump's choice of a lawmaker with limited experience to oversee the massive US intelligence community has sparked concerns over the possible politicisation of crucial national security decisions. Trump declared Tuesday that John Ratcliffe is "strong" and "talented", two days after announcing the Republican congressman as his pick to replace Dan Coats as Director of National Intelligence, the person who coordinates the 17 agencies that make up the US intelligence community. But strong criticism of the choice from Democrats and a tepid response from key Republicans -- some say they had never met him -- put a question mark over whether Ratcliffe can gain Senate confirmation. "I'm gravely concerned when it appears that the president is trying to look for someone who will be a political loyalist rather than that independent voice standing up for the intelligence community," said Democratic Senator John Warner. "I don't know John, but I look forward to getting to know him," said Senator Richard Burr, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, which must approve the nomination. Fox News commentator Coats, previously a longtime legislator on the Senate Intelligence Committee and US ambassador to Germany, spent 24 months as DNI quietly advancing and defending the intelligence community's global threats assessments. Occasionally Coats publicly challenged Trump's rejection of those views, especially on Russia, Iran and North Korea. Ratcliffe, by comparison, has made his name over four years in the House of Representatives as a staunch defender of the president. Like many Trump appointees, he frequently appears on Fox News repeating conservative conspiracy theories, like alleging that special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian election interference was a political hit-job by Democrats working with US intelligence. "So was the Trump investigation really about our national security -- or was it politically motivated?" he said last year. "John Ratcliffe is a good man," Trump said Tuesday. "He's a very talented guy. Strong man. It's what we need in that position." Former small-town mayor Ratcliffe, 53, would take over a crucial job that involves collating and distilling intelligence from the CIA, the National Security Agency, the FBI, the Pentagon and other bodies, to prioritize for the president the threats the country faces. All previous directors have been former diplomats steeped in security and military issues, senior Pentagon officials, and intelligence agency chiefs. Ratcliffe's resume is thin: before arriving in Congress in 2015, he was mayor of a small, wealthy lakeside suburb of Dallas, Texas for eight years, a staff lawyer for the local federal district attorney, and then interim district attorney for just one year in 2007. His office in Congress has claimed that during that time he investigated and prosecuted major terror cases, but there is no evidence of that in available court records. In Congress, he has served on the House Intelligence Committee only since January, where he has made a mark attacking the Mueller investigation and insinuating that the intelligence community itself threatens the president. "Ratcliffe would be the first DNI without significant intelligence or ambassadorial experience," said John McLaughlin, former CIA deputy director. 'Hyper-political time' Ratcliffe's nomination -- which has not yet been formalized by the White House -- comes as the intelligence community has struggled with Trump's determination to see the world his way and use intelligence for his own political goals. Earlier this month, Sue Gordon, the deputy director of national intelligence, said Coats' independence has been important in the current political environment. "The intelligence community has been able to keep its eyes in the boat, because he plays it down the middle, even when it's unpopular," she told CBS News' "Intelligence Matters" program. "There is something great about people who understand the world in the way intelligence officers understand the world," she added. "Where it has gotten difficult in this time is, this is a hyper-political time. And it's difficult because we are all serious people who are just trying to solve some really serious issues." Democrats have made clear they will fight against his nomination. "Congressman Ratcliffe is the most partisan and least qualified individual ever nominated to serve as Director of National Intelligence," said Senator Ron Wyden, who serves on the Senate Intelligence Committee. "Confirming this individual would amount to an endorsement of this administration's drive to politicize our intelligence agencies."

Donald Trump nominee sparks worries of intelligence politicisation

Egyptian lawmakers on Sunday tabled proposed constitutional changes that would allow President <a href="http://wionews.com/world/watch-putin-gives-president-sisi-a-ride-around-f-1-circuit-in-sochi-172062">Abdel Fattah al-Sisi </a>to extend his rule beyond 2022, legislators said.

The bill submitted to speaker Ali Abdel Aal calls for several amendments to the constitution, including on the duration of presidential mandates currently limited to two four-year terms.

The lawmakers who put forward the amendments hope to extend the length of mandates to two six-year terms, which they say would allow Sisi to run for the presidency two more times after his second term expires in 2022.

That could see the former military chief ruling over Egypt until 2034.&nbsp;

The parliament's website said speaker Abdel Aal had received a "request from a fifth of the elected representatives (120 deputies out of the total 596) to amend certain articles of the constitution".&nbsp;

That number fulfils the quorum required for such a request.

A statement published later on the parliament's website outlined seven amendments that it said would address "severe deficiencies in determining the presidency term".

Terms would become six years instead of four years since the current term length "isn't quite reasonable given the reality and the country's and region's circumstances", it said.

The revisions were aimed at supporting the parliamentary representation of women, youths, Christians, people with special needs and Egyptians in the diaspora, it added.

They would include "the establishment of the second chamber of parliament... and the creation of the post of vice president to assist the president in his duties," said the statement.

The bill was submitted by the majority pro-government Support Egypt coalition along with some independents, said Mustafa Bakri, one of the lawmakers who favour the change.

Jean Talaat, another Sisi backer said, "the amendments concern fewer than 10 articles of the constitution, including on the duration of the presidential term for its extension to six years".

The establishment of a lower house would see a return to a bicameral parliamentary system.&nbsp;

That chamber was removed in the 2012 constitution, a year after the uprising that toppled long-time president Hosni Mubarak.

Another amendment would see the reinstatement of an information ministry, a portfolio that was abolished in 2014.

Sisi was elected for the first time in 2014, after ousting his predecessor, the Islamist Mohamed Morsi. The former army head was re-elected in 2018 with an official 97 per cent of the vote.

The vast majority of the current parliament supports the Sisi government, with only around 10 lawmakers making up the opposition. 
&nbsp;

Egyptian lawmakers on Sunday tabled proposed constitutional changes that would allow President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to extend his rule beyond 2022, legislators said.

Egyptian lawmakers on Sunday tabled proposed constitutional changes that would allow President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to extend his rule beyond 2022, legislators said. The bill submitted to speaker Ali Abdel Aal calls for several amendments to the constitution, including on the duration of presidential mandates currently limited to two four-year terms. The lawmakers who put forward the amendments hope to extend the length of mandates to two six-year terms, which they say would allow Sisi to run for the presidency two more times after his second term expires in 2022. That could see the former military chief ruling over Egypt until 2034. The parliament's website said speaker Abdel Aal had received a "request from a fifth of the elected representatives (120 deputies out of the total 596) to amend certain articles of the constitution". That number fulfils the quorum required for such a request. A statement published later on the parliament's website outlined seven amendments that it said would address "severe deficiencies in determining the presidency term". Terms would become six years instead of four years since the current term length "isn't quite reasonable given the reality and the country's and region's circumstances", it said. The revisions were aimed at supporting the parliamentary representation of women, youths, Christians, people with special needs and Egyptians in the diaspora, it added. They would include "the establishment of the second chamber of parliament... and the creation of the post of vice president to assist the president in his duties," said the statement. The bill was submitted by the majority pro-government Support Egypt coalition along with some independents, said Mustafa Bakri, one of the lawmakers who favour the change. Jean Talaat, another Sisi backer said, "the amendments concern fewer than 10 articles of the constitution, including on the duration of the presidential term for its extension to six years". The establishment of a lower house would see a return to a bicameral parliamentary system. That chamber was removed in the 2012 constitution, a year after the uprising that toppled long-time president Hosni Mubarak. Another amendment would see the reinstatement of an information ministry, a portfolio that was abolished in 2014. Sisi was elected for the first time in 2014, after ousting his predecessor, the Islamist Mohamed Morsi. The former army head was re-elected in 2018 with an official 97 per cent of the vote. The vast majority of the current parliament supports the Sisi government, with only around 10 lawmakers making up the opposition.

Egypt MPs table law amendment to extend President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi rule

How an amendment bill become a law in India?

The European Union on Tuesday warned Romania to respect EU democratic values before it assumes the bloc's rotating presidency in January, or risk undermining its bid to join Europe's passport-free zone.

The European Commission, the EU's executive arm, has expressed concern about changes to Romania's penal code recently pushed through by the ruling Social Democratic Party which its critics say are unconstitutional.

During a debate in the European Parliament with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker warned Romania not to undermine its bid to join Europe's passport-free Schengen zone.

"I hope Romania joins the Schengen zone, but it must not mortgage that by turning away from the (European) principles on rule of law," Juncker said during debate in the European Parliament.&nbsp;

"I hope in Romania there is a consensus for the fight against corruption, otherwise the European Commission will have trouble with its recommendations and getting them adopted unanimously," he added.

To become a member of the Schengen zone, Romania needs a recommendation from the Commission and unanimous support from the other 27 EU member countries.&nbsp;

Romania's and neighbouring Bulgaria's bid to join the Schengen zone have been blocked since 2007.

During its tenure of the six-month presidency from January 1, Juncker suggested, Romania's recommendations on other subjects may also face trouble.&nbsp;

Several members of the European Parliament took Iohannis to task over what they see is the damage to the rule of law in Romania caused by the judicial reforms.

'Systemic threat'&nbsp;

Guy Verhofstadt, the leader of the ALDE liberal group in the parliament, also warned that the weakening of the penal code undermined the fight against corruption.

Verhofstadt urged Romania not to "follow the example" of Poland and Hungary for which EU bodies have launched actions that could lead to unprecedented sanctions for allegedly posing a "systemic threat" to the rule of law.

EU Commission vice president Frans Timmermans has repeatedly expressed his "concern" about some of Romania's judicial changes and asked clarification from Prime Minister Dancila in a letter sent earlier this month.&nbsp;

In June, 12 western countries warned that some of Romania's judicial reforms could "impede cooperation (with Romania) in international law enforcement."

Prosecutors have had some success in the clamping down on corruption in Romania, one of the EU's most graft-ridden country, but the government accuses them of overstepping their power.

After winning elections in late 2016, the Social Democrat-led government attempted to water down anti-corruption legislation, but abandoned the plans in face of the biggest wave of protests since the collapse of communism in 1989.

The Schengen area is one of the pillars of the European project, enshrining the fundamental right to free movement.

Twenty-two EU countries, plus non-EU Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein are part of Schengen. The six EU countries that do not participate are Britain, Ireland, Bulgaria, Romania, Cyprus and Croatia.

The European Union on Tuesday warned Romania to respect EU democratic values before it assumes the bloc's rotating presidency in January, or risk undermining its bid to join Europe's passport-free zone.

The European Union on Tuesday warned Romania to respect EU democratic values before it assumes the bloc's rotating presidency in January, or risk undermining its bid to join Europe's passport-free zone. The European Commission, the EU's executive arm, has expressed concern about changes to Romania's penal code recently pushed through by the ruling Social Democratic Party which its critics say are unconstitutional. During a debate in the European Parliament with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker warned Romania not to undermine its bid to join Europe's passport-free Schengen zone. "I hope Romania joins the Schengen zone, but it must not mortgage that by turning away from the (European) principles on rule of law," Juncker said during debate in the European Parliament. "I hope in Romania there is a consensus for the fight against corruption, otherwise the European Commission will have trouble with its recommendations and getting them adopted unanimously," he added. To become a member of the Schengen zone, Romania needs a recommendation from the Commission and unanimous support from the other 27 EU member countries. Romania's and neighbouring Bulgaria's bid to join the Schengen zone have been blocked since 2007. During its tenure of the six-month presidency from January 1, Juncker suggested, Romania's recommendations on other subjects may also face trouble. Several members of the European Parliament took Iohannis to task over what they see is the damage to the rule of law in Romania caused by the judicial reforms. 'Systemic threat' Guy Verhofstadt, the leader of the ALDE liberal group in the parliament, also warned that the weakening of the penal code undermined the fight against corruption. Verhofstadt urged Romania not to "follow the example" of Poland and Hungary for which EU bodies have launched actions that could lead to unprecedented sanctions for allegedly posing a "systemic threat" to the rule of law. EU Commission vice president Frans Timmermans has repeatedly expressed his "concern" about some of Romania's judicial changes and asked clarification from Prime Minister Dancila in a letter sent earlier this month. In June, 12 western countries warned that some of Romania's judicial reforms could "impede cooperation (with Romania) in international law enforcement." Prosecutors have had some success in the clamping down on corruption in Romania, one of the EU's most graft-ridden country, but the government accuses them of overstepping their power. After winning elections in late 2016, the Social Democrat-led government attempted to water down anti-corruption legislation, but abandoned the plans in face of the biggest wave of protests since the collapse of communism in 1989. The Schengen area is one of the pillars of the European project, enshrining the fundamental right to free movement. Twenty-two EU countries, plus non-EU Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein are part of Schengen. The six EU countries that do not participate are Britain, Ireland, Bulgaria, Romania, Cyprus and Croatia.

Romania urged to heed rule of law before assuming EU presidency

Hungary's government will begin a major revision of the country's constitution in the autumn that could take 12-18 months, Prime Minister Viktor Orban told state radio on Friday.

Right-wing nationalist Orban, who was reelected with a landslide in April elections for a third straight term, did not reveal any further details.

He said "discussion" about changes to the 2011 constitution would start in September.

Orban's ruling Fidesz party holds 133 of 199 seats in Hungary's parliament which ensures the necessary two-third majority to change any laws.

"In the autumn we would like to launch a 1-1.5 year long constitution revision where we will look at what has worked and what could have worked ... and find potential gaps which we need to fill in with new constitutional text," Orban said.

After he rose to power in 2010, Orban used his strong mandate in parliament to rewrite Hungary's constitution.

One of the criticised changes was curbing the powers of the top court in budget and tax matters.

Orban's ruling Fidesz party holds 133 of 199 seats in Hungary's parliament which ensures the necessary two-third majority to change any laws

Hungary's government will begin a major revision of the country's constitution in the autumn that could take 12-18 months, Prime Minister Viktor Orban told state radio on Friday. Right-wing nationalist Orban, who was reelected with a landslide in April elections for a third straight term, did not reveal any further details. He said "discussion" about changes to the 2011 constitution would start in September. Orban's ruling Fidesz party holds 133 of 199 seats in Hungary's parliament which ensures the necessary two-third majority to change any laws. "In the autumn we would like to launch a 1-1.5 year long constitution revision where we will look at what has worked and what could have worked ... and find potential gaps which we need to fill in with new constitutional text," Orban said. After he rose to power in 2010, Orban used his strong mandate in parliament to rewrite Hungary's constitution. One of the criticised changes was curbing the powers of the top court in budget and tax matters.

PM Orban flags big changes in Hungary's constitution

Two in three Pakistanis or 67 per cent of the country's population have said that they support the imposition of Sharia as the only law, suggesting that Pakistan has become increasingly radicalized.&nbsp

According to a joint poll prepared and carried out by Gallup Pakistan and the Gilani Research Foundation, seven years ago, only 51 percent of those surveyed had said that the Sharia should be the only law applicable to their society.&nbsp

Today, only five percent of those surveyed this year have said that they are not in favour of the Sharia being imposed on society.&nbsp

The Gallup Pakistan-Gilani Research Foundation survey said that they asked a nationally representative sample of men and women from all four provinces of Pakistan (Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtukhwa) what described their understanding of Sharia and its implementation in Pakistan, and 67 percent said that the Sharia should be the only law, 24 percent said that the Sharia should be the law, but not the only law (that is other legislation is also possible, while five percent said Sharia should not be the law of the land, while four percent said they had no opinion on the matter.&nbsp

In 2010, 51 percent said Sharia should be the only law, 30 percent said Sharia should not be the only law applicable, eight percent said Sharia should not be the law of the land and 11 percent said they had no opinion or view on the matter.&nbsp

If a comparison is done over the change in the mindset of Pakistanis, then the poll finds that there is a 16 percent increase in the proportion of Pakistanis who have become more radicalized and believe that Sharia should be the only law, while there is a six percent decrease in the proportion of Pakistanis who say Sharia should not be the only law. The survey was carried out recently.&nbsp

Around 1846 men and women took part in it, and they were from both rural and urban areas in all four provinces. The margin of error in the survey was approximately ± 2-3 per cent at 95 per cent confidence level.&nbsp

Pakistan's current population is 196,397,041 as of Friday, June 2, 2017, based on the latest United Nations estimates. . Pakistan population is equivalent to 2.62 percent of the total world population. . Pakistan ranks sixth in list of countries (and dependencies) by population. The population density in Pakistan is 255 per Km2 (661 people per mi2). The Shia population is pegged at least 16 million, while the Sunni population is a majority of 95 to 97 per cent.

Pakistan's total land area is 770,998 square kilometers or 297,684 square miles . About 39.2 percent (77,107,125) of the population is urban . The median age in Pakistan is 22.7 years. The Gilani Research Foundation is headed by Dr. Ijaz Shafi Gilani, a pioneer in the field of opinion polling in Pakistan. He is also the Chairman of Gallup Pakistan.

In 2010, 51 percent said Sharia should be the only law, 30 percent said Sharia should not be the only law applicable, eight percent said Sharia should not be the law of the land and 11 percent said they had no opinion or view on the matter.

Two in three Pakistanis or 67 per cent of the country's population have said that they support the imposition of Sharia as the only law, suggesting that Pakistan has become increasingly radicalized. According to a joint poll prepared and carried out by Gallup Pakistan and the Gilani Research Foundation, seven years ago, only 51 percent of those surveyed had said that the Sharia should be the only law applicable to their society. Today, only five percent of those surveyed this year have said that they are not in favour of the Sharia being imposed on society. The Gallup Pakistan-Gilani Research Foundation survey said that they asked a nationally representative sample of men and women from all four provinces of Pakistan (Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtukhwa) what described their understanding of Sharia and its implementation in Pakistan, and 67 percent said that the Sharia should be the only law, 24 percent said that the Sharia should be the law, but not the only law (that is other legislation is also possible, while five percent said Sharia should not be the law of the land, while four percent said they had no opinion on the matter. In 2010, 51 percent said Sharia should be the only law, 30 percent said Sharia should not be the only law applicable, eight percent said Sharia should not be the law of the land and 11 percent said they had no opinion or view on the matter. If a comparison is done over the change in the mindset of Pakistanis, then the poll finds that there is a 16 percent increase in the proportion of Pakistanis who have become more radicalized and believe that Sharia should be the only law, while there is a six percent decrease in the proportion of Pakistanis who say Sharia should not be the only law. The survey was carried out recently. Around 1846 men and women took part in it, and they were from both rural and urban areas in all four provinces. The margin of error in the survey was approximately ± 2-3 per cent at 95 per cent confidence level. Pakistan's current population is 196,397,041 as of Friday, June 2, 2017, based on the latest United Nations estimates. . Pakistan population is equivalent to 2.62 percent of the total world population. . Pakistan ranks sixth in list of countries (and dependencies) by population. The population density in Pakistan is 255 per Km2 (661 people per mi2). The Shia population is pegged at least 16 million, while the Sunni population is a majority of 95 to 97 per cent. Pakistan's total land area is 770,998 square kilometers or 297,684 square miles . About 39.2 percent (77,107,125) of the population is urban . The median age in Pakistan is 22.7 years. The Gilani Research Foundation is headed by Dr. Ijaz Shafi Gilani, a pioneer in the field of opinion polling in Pakistan. He is also the Chairman of Gallup Pakistan.

Sharia should be the only law, say 67% of Pakistanis

By:&nbsp;Fiona de Londras*

I write this sitting in a small cafe in Ranelagh, a prosperous part of Dublin. It is early on Saturday morning and, although you wouldn’t think it just by walking down the street, I may have woken in a new Ireland.

If exit polls are to be believed, an overwhelming majority of Irish people have voted to repeal the 8th amendment of the national constitution. The Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI poll suggested 68 per cent of voters chose to repeal the amendment against 32 per cent who were opposed. Another, by RTE, put the repeal vote at 69.4 per cent. The result is due to become clear around mid-morning.

This insidious, cruel and harmful provision was inserted in 1983 as a preemptive strike against women’s liberation. It has reduced women in pregnancy to a constitutional being with the right only not to die and the obligation to sacrifice all else to bring the foetus to term.

The sanitised story of the 8th amendment is that it recognises the right to life of the foetus with due regard to the equal right to life of the pregnant woman. The lived reality of this constitutional story is more than 170,000 journeys across the Irish Sea to access abortion, thousands of illegal abortions through self-administration of the abortion pill, and countless women "caught out" and becoming mothers when they did not want to.

It is part of a long, difficult and deliberate construction of Irish womanhood as linked inextricably to motherhood, of sex as stigma, and of establishment attempts to use the force of the law to keep us in our nation-building, post-colonial place.

No freedom without the freedom of women

Now men and women, the young and the old, parents and those without children, politicians (including those considered conservative), and generations of activists who always believed we would finally unshackle ourselves from this constitutional confinement have cast votes to usher in a country of free women and girls.

The path ahead will be bumpy and hard. As in every other country, the forces that oppose sexual freedom, bodily autonomy and women's ethical agency will continue to do so. And they remain powerful. But they can no longer rely on a constitutional text to fuel their mission.

Under the next 36th amendment to the constitution "provision may be made by law for the regulation of termination of pregnancy". That legislation will, should the count back up the exit polling, go through the political process and hopefully be completed by the end of the year.

Until then we will continue to rely with gratitude on the kindness and care of doctors and nurses in the UK and elsewhere to provide the healthcare Irish women need. Today, as I watch the votes being counted, nine women will get on planes and go to London, Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester for their abortions. But they will go knowing they are among the last.

Ni&nbsp;saoirse go saoirse na mban (There is no freedom until the freedom of women).

Professor of Global Legal Studies, Birmingham Law School, University of Birmingham

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

The path ahead will be bumpy and hard. As in every other country, the forces that oppose sexual freedom, bodily autonomy and women's ethical agency will continue to do so

By: Fiona de Londras* I write this sitting in a small cafe in Ranelagh, a prosperous part of Dublin. It is early on Saturday morning and, although you wouldn’t think it just by walking down the street, I may have woken in a new Ireland. If exit polls are to be believed, an overwhelming majority of Irish people have voted to repeal the 8th amendment of the national constitution. The Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI poll suggested 68 per cent of voters chose to repeal the amendment against 32 per cent who were opposed. Another, by RTE, put the repeal vote at 69.4 per cent. The result is due to become clear around mid-morning. This insidious, cruel and harmful provision was inserted in 1983 as a preemptive strike against women’s liberation. It has reduced women in pregnancy to a constitutional being with the right only not to die and the obligation to sacrifice all else to bring the foetus to term. The sanitised story of the 8th amendment is that it recognises the right to life of the foetus with due regard to the equal right to life of the pregnant woman. The lived reality of this constitutional story is more than 170,000 journeys across the Irish Sea to access abortion, thousands of illegal abortions through self-administration of the abortion pill, and countless women "caught out" and becoming mothers when they did not want to. It is part of a long, difficult and deliberate construction of Irish womanhood as linked inextricably to motherhood, of sex as stigma, and of establishment attempts to use the force of the law to keep us in our nation-building, post-colonial place. No freedom without the freedom of women Now men and women, the young and the old, parents and those without children, politicians (including those considered conservative), and generations of activists who always believed we would finally unshackle ourselves from this constitutional confinement have cast votes to usher in a country of free women and girls. The path ahead will be bumpy and hard. As in every other country, the forces that oppose sexual freedom, bodily autonomy and women's ethical agency will continue to do so. And they remain powerful. But they can no longer rely on a constitutional text to fuel their mission. Under the next 36th amendment to the constitution "provision may be made by law for the regulation of termination of pregnancy". That legislation will, should the count back up the exit polling, go through the political process and hopefully be completed by the end of the year. Until then we will continue to rely with gratitude on the kindness and care of doctors and nurses in the UK and elsewhere to provide the healthcare Irish women need. Today, as I watch the votes being counted, nine women will get on planes and go to London, Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester for their abortions. But they will go knowing they are among the last. Ni saoirse go saoirse na mban (There is no freedom until the freedom of women). Professor of Global Legal Studies, Birmingham Law School, University of Birmingham This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Ireland abortion referendum - voters have freed women from this insidious law

China is reviewing a draft law to protect the reputation and honour of "heroes and martyrs" and punish those who "glorify wars of invasion", state media said on Wednesday, amid public anger at people dressing up in Japanese army uniforms. 
 
China unveiled the law to protect heroes and martyrs in December, and it is likely to be passed by the largely rubber-stamp parliament on Friday. 
 
Xi Jinping&nbsphas ushered in new legislation aimed at securing China from threats both within and outside its borders since taking over as president in 2013, as well as presiding over a sweeping crackdown on dissent and free speech. 
 
China amended its criminal in November to extend punishments for publicly desecrating the national flag and emblem to include disrespecting the national anthem. Punishments include jail terms of up to three years.

The latest proposed legislation is aimed at protecting the reputation of martyrs - those who have given their lives for China or the Communist Party - and who are already publicly lauded in the country.

The official Xinhua news agency said that the second draft of the law mandates punishment for "people who profane the deeds and spirit of the heroes and martyrs and those who glorify wars or acts of invasion". 
 
It did not say what punishment they might receive. 
 
The news agency said the wording was added following recent incidents where Chinese people had dressed in Japanese World War Two army uniforms and spread the pictures online "to glorify the war of invasion", igniting widespread outrage in China. 
 
"The legislation aims to promote patriotism and socialist core values," Xinhua said. 
 
Party history is a sensitive subject because so much of the party's legitimacy rests on its position as claiming great historical achievements, such as leading China to victory over Japan during World War Two. 
 
China and Japan have sparred frequently about their painful history, with Beijing often accusing Tokyo of not properly atoning for Japan's invasion of China before and during the war.

The latest proposed legislation is aimed at protecting the reputation of martyrs - those who have given their lives for China or the Communist Party

China is reviewing a draft law to protect the reputation and honour of "heroes and martyrs" and punish those who "glorify wars of invasion", state media said on Wednesday, amid public anger at people dressing up in Japanese army uniforms. China unveiled the law to protect heroes and martyrs in December, and it is likely to be passed by the largely rubber-stamp parliament on Friday. Xi Jinping&nbsphas ushered in new legislation aimed at securing China from threats both within and outside its borders since taking over as president in 2013, as well as presiding over a sweeping crackdown on dissent and free speech. China amended its criminal in November to extend punishments for publicly desecrating the national flag and emblem to include disrespecting the national anthem. Punishments include jail terms of up to three years. The latest proposed legislation is aimed at protecting the reputation of martyrs - those who have given their lives for China or the Communist Party - and who are already publicly lauded in the country. The official Xinhua news agency said that the second draft of the law mandates punishment for "people who profane the deeds and spirit of the heroes and martyrs and those who glorify wars or acts of invasion". It did not say what punishment they might receive. The news agency said the wording was added following recent incidents where Chinese people had dressed in Japanese World War Two army uniforms and spread the pictures online "to glorify the war of invasion", igniting widespread outrage in China. "The legislation aims to promote patriotism and socialist core values," Xinhua said. Party history is a sensitive subject because so much of the party's legitimacy rests on its position as claiming great historical achievements, such as leading China to victory over Japan during World War Two. China and Japan have sparred frequently about their painful history, with Beijing often accusing Tokyo of not properly atoning for Japan's invasion of China before and during the war.

Amid public anger, China mulls law to punish glorifying "Wars Of Invasion"

While government all across the world struggle to come up with more stringent measures to curb incidents of sexual harassment, France seems to have found a one-of-a-kind solution to the problem -- on the spot fining of the culprits.&nbsp;

According to France&#39;s Gender Equality Minister Marlene Schiappa, the fines to be paid on the spot by offenders would range from 90 euros to 750 euros ($110 to $920) and could reach 1,500 euros in case of aggravating circumstances. Repeat offenders may even end up shelling out as much as a whopping 3,000 euros.

President Emmanuel Macron said the bill is meant to ensure &quot;women are not afraid to be outside&quot;.

The legislation needs to get the parliamentary nod and will set an age limit under which one will be presumed not to have agreed to have sex with someone aged 18 or above. The age of content, set at 15 years, will facilitate rape prosecutions.

The legislation also proposes an extension to the maximum age until when a rape victim can file a complaint. According to the proposal, a rape victim, ageing 18 years or older, can now lodge a complaint until she turns 48. Previously a victim, ageing 20 years or above, could not file a complaint if ageing above 38 years.&nbsp;

(With inputs from Reuters)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

President Emmanuel Macron has said the bill is meant to ensure 'women are not afraid to be outside'

While government all across the world struggle to come up with more stringent measures to curb incidents of sexual harassment, France seems to have found a one-of-a-kind solution to the problem -- on the spot fining of the culprits. According to France's Gender Equality Minister Marlene Schiappa, the fines to be paid on the spot by offenders would range from 90 euros to 750 euros ($110 to $920) and could reach 1,500 euros in case of aggravating circumstances. Repeat offenders may even end up shelling out as much as a whopping 3,000 euros. President Emmanuel Macron said the bill is meant to ensure "women are not afraid to be outside". The legislation needs to get the parliamentary nod and will set an age limit under which one will be presumed not to have agreed to have sex with someone aged 18 or above. The age of content, set at 15 years, will facilitate rape prosecutions. The legislation also proposes an extension to the maximum age until when a rape victim can file a complaint. According to the proposal, a rape victim, ageing 18 years or older, can now lodge a complaint until she turns 48. Previously a victim, ageing 20 years or above, could not file a complaint if ageing above 38 years. (With inputs from Reuters)

New anti-sexual harassment law in France proposes on-spot fines

Indonesians could be jailed for criticising national politicians under a new law which came into force on Thursday, in what critics slammed as a major step back for the world&#39;s third-biggest democracy.

The vaguely worded bill passed the 560-member house last month but has just become official, over the objections of President Joko Widodo who refused to sign off on the controversial legislation.

Widodo does not have veto power over the bill, although it can be challenged at the Constitutional Court.

The so-called MD3 law opens to the door to press charges against anyone who &quot;disrespects parliament or its members&quot; but does not set out possible minimum or maximum jail terms.

Indonesia is the third biggest democracy globally behind India and the United States.

Protesters across the Southeast Asian archipelago who blasted the bill could potentially see themselves jailed for such demonstrations in the future, critics said.

&quot;How does the law define disrespect?&quot; said Sebastian Salang from the monitoring group Indonesian Parliament Watchdog.

&quot;It is not clearly explained and could be loosely interpreted as long as it fits the lawmakers&#39; interest to silence critics.&quot;

Hundreds of protesters staged a rally outside the Constitutional Court in Jakarta Thursday, calling on it to revoke the legislation.

A spokesman for the court said it had already received three petitions challenging the law, but it could take months before it renders a decision.

Any investigation of a parliamentarian would have to be approved by the House Ethics Council under the new law, which could block probes by Indonesia&#39;s powerful Corruption Eradication Commission.

Some observers say the new law would criminalise criticism of the endemic corruption and poor performance among some members of Indonesia&#39;s political system.

At least eight lawmakers have been arrested for corruption in recent years, including former house speaker Setya Novanto who is on trial in one of the country&#39;s biggest-ever graft scandals.

There have been growing concerns about freedom of speech and human rights during Widodo&#39;s tenure.

Indonesia is pushing to clamp down on gay and pre-marital sex as part of a sweeping criminal law overhaul, while the government has used sweeping Internet legislation to arrest people accused of defaming the president and other high-ranking officials online.

Last year, the government issued a decree allowing the country to ban groups that oppose its official state ideology.

Widodo has called for drug dealers to be shot if they resist arrest as the country wrestles with what he has called a drug &quot;emergency&quot;.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Under a new law Indonesians could be jailed for criticising national politicians

Indonesians could be jailed for criticising national politicians under a new law which came into force on Thursday, in what critics slammed as a major step back for the world's third-biggest democracy. The vaguely worded bill passed the 560-member house last month but has just become official, over the objections of President Joko Widodo who refused to sign off on the controversial legislation. Widodo does not have veto power over the bill, although it can be challenged at the Constitutional Court. The so-called MD3 law opens to the door to press charges against anyone who "disrespects parliament or its members" but does not set out possible minimum or maximum jail terms. Indonesia is the third biggest democracy globally behind India and the United States. Protesters across the Southeast Asian archipelago who blasted the bill could potentially see themselves jailed for such demonstrations in the future, critics said. "How does the law define disrespect?" said Sebastian Salang from the monitoring group Indonesian Parliament Watchdog. "It is not clearly explained and could be loosely interpreted as long as it fits the lawmakers' interest to silence critics." Hundreds of protesters staged a rally outside the Constitutional Court in Jakarta Thursday, calling on it to revoke the legislation. A spokesman for the court said it had already received three petitions challenging the law, but it could take months before it renders a decision. Any investigation of a parliamentarian would have to be approved by the House Ethics Council under the new law, which could block probes by Indonesia's powerful Corruption Eradication Commission. Some observers say the new law would criminalise criticism of the endemic corruption and poor performance among some members of Indonesia's political system. At least eight lawmakers have been arrested for corruption in recent years, including former house speaker Setya Novanto who is on trial in one of the country's biggest-ever graft scandals. There have been growing concerns about freedom of speech and human rights during Widodo's tenure. Indonesia is pushing to clamp down on gay and pre-marital sex as part of a sweeping criminal law overhaul, while the government has used sweeping Internet legislation to arrest people accused of defaming the president and other high-ranking officials online. Last year, the government issued a decree allowing the country to ban groups that oppose its official state ideology. Widodo has called for drug dealers to be shot if they resist arrest as the country wrestles with what he has called a drug "emergency".

Indonesia makes criticising politicians a crime

In the wake of the acquittal of Gerald Stanley in the death of Colten Boushie, there have been loud calls for reform to address Canada&rsquo;s blatant systemic racism in the criminal justice system.

Boushie, 22, died after being shot by Stanley in the back of the head as he sat in an SUV on a farm near Biggar, Sask.

The Canadian justice system works against Indigenous people at every level, from police checks and arrests to bail denial and detention, sentencing miscarriages and disparities and high incarceration rates.

These trends are also well-documented in countries like the United States, Australia and New Zealand. It is clear that the problem lies in our justice systems.

Around the time that Canada started receding its formal &ldquo;Indian assimilation&rdquo; policies in the 1950s, including the end of the residential school requirement, penitentiary and child welfare systems started to quietly assume a new role in the lives of Indigenous people.

In fact, prior to the 1960s, Indigenous people only represented one to two per cent of the federal prison population. The rates have consistently increased every year since.

The Office of the Correctional Investigator reports the incarceration rate of Indigenous people is now at 26.4 per cent of the federal prison population, while they comprise only four per cent of the Canadian population. Incidentally, the Canadian crime rate has fallen in the last 20 years.

Placed in segregation

Not only are Indigenous people more likely to be imprisoned, but they are also more often subjected to some of the most restrictive levels of punishment, including segregation, forced interventions, higher security classifications, involuntary transfers, physical restraints and self-harm.&nbsp;

Kinew James died of a heart attack after the emergency call button in her cell was routinely ignored at the Saskatoon Regional Psychiatric Centre.

Eddie Snowshoe committed suicide after 162 days in solitary confinement at the Edmonton maximum security institution.

Renee Acoby accumulated an additional 21 years of charges in prison, spent more than half of her time in segregation, and was eventually given a dangerous offender designation for a series of prison hostage-takings. She is now effectively behind bars for life.

Addressing these deeply problematic prison realities is currently at the forefront of the government of Canada&rsquo;s criminal justice review, including two House of Commons studies and one by a Senate committee.

In considering remedies, two important issues are at play.

Imprisoned more often

First, Indigenous people are more often criminalized and imprisoned for acts that are linked to poverty, lack of educational and employment opportunities, lifestyles of substance use, mental health concerns and histories of sexual abuse, violence and trauma &mdash; in other words, colonialism.

Second, prisons are characterized by authoritarianism, power imbalances, restriction of movement and activities, isolation, lack of freedom of association and enforcement of sometimes arbitrary and trivial demands. Prison environments often reflect and even perpetuate the very trauma and violence experienced by Indigenous people.&nbsp;

The federal government would do well to consider community options.

According to the Parliamentary Budget Officer, it costs upwards of $343,810 to incarcerate one woman for a year and $223,687 to incarcerate a man. The community placement option, on the other hand, is priced at $85,653 per year per person, and parole costs as little as $39,084.

There are already existing remedies in the Correctional and Conditional Release Act, Sections 81 and 84, that allow for agreements in the community where Indigenous and non-Indigenous prisoners can serve their sentence and parole in a supported way.

If we want to alleviate the conditions that foster conflict and harm in the first place, we also need to ensure that basic national standards and human rights are being met for Indigenous people.

The private members&rsquo; Bill C-262, which outlines the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People, just passed its second reading.

Approving this bill would ensure some of the most basic rights for Indigenous communities, including the provision of clean water, electricity, employment, education and adequate social and health services.

In its calls to action, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada has recommended that the federal, provincial and territorial governments make a commitment to eliminate the over-representation of Indigenous people in custody over the next decade.

If the federal government takes up this call, prisons would no longer be part of the solution. As noted by Romeo Saganash, NDP&rsquo;s critic for Intergovernmental Indigenous Affairs, &ldquo;there will be no reconciliation without justice.&rdquo;&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Colten Boushie's death and the subsequent acquittal of his killer has fuelled loud calls for reforms to Canada's criminal justice system and its treatment of the Indigenous. Why has it taken so long?

In the wake of the acquittal of Gerald Stanley in the death of Colten Boushie, there have been loud calls for reform to address Canada’s blatant systemic racism in the criminal justice system. Boushie, 22, died after being shot by Stanley in the back of the head as he sat in an SUV on a farm near Biggar, Sask. The Canadian justice system works against Indigenous people at every level, from police checks and arrests to bail denial and detention, sentencing miscarriages and disparities and high incarceration rates. These trends are also well-documented in countries like the United States, Australia and New Zealand. It is clear that the problem lies in our justice systems. Around the time that Canada started receding its formal “Indian assimilation” policies in the 1950s, including the end of the residential school requirement, penitentiary and child welfare systems started to quietly assume a new role in the lives of Indigenous people. In fact, prior to the 1960s, Indigenous people only represented one to two per cent of the federal prison population. The rates have consistently increased every year since. The Office of the Correctional Investigator reports the incarceration rate of Indigenous people is now at 26.4 per cent of the federal prison population, while they comprise only four per cent of the Canadian population. Incidentally, the Canadian crime rate has fallen in the last 20 years. Placed in segregation Not only are Indigenous people more likely to be imprisoned, but they are also more often subjected to some of the most restrictive levels of punishment, including segregation, forced interventions, higher security classifications, involuntary transfers, physical restraints and self-harm. Kinew James died of a heart attack after the emergency call button in her cell was routinely ignored at the Saskatoon Regional Psychiatric Centre. Eddie Snowshoe committed suicide after 162 days in solitary confinement at the Edmonton maximum security institution. Renee Acoby accumulated an additional 21 years of charges in prison, spent more than half of her time in segregation, and was eventually given a dangerous offender designation for a series of prison hostage-takings. She is now effectively behind bars for life. Addressing these deeply problematic prison realities is currently at the forefront of the government of Canada’s criminal justice review, including two House of Commons studies and one by a Senate committee. In considering remedies, two important issues are at play. Imprisoned more often First, Indigenous people are more often criminalized and imprisoned for acts that are linked to poverty, lack of educational and employment opportunities, lifestyles of substance use, mental health concerns and histories of sexual abuse, violence and trauma — in other words, colonialism. Second, prisons are characterized by authoritarianism, power imbalances, restriction of movement and activities, isolation, lack of freedom of association and enforcement of sometimes arbitrary and trivial demands. Prison environments often reflect and even perpetuate the very trauma and violence experienced by Indigenous people. The federal government would do well to consider community options. According to the Parliamentary Budget Officer, it costs upwards of $343,810 to incarcerate one woman for a year and $223,687 to incarcerate a man. The community placement option, on the other hand, is priced at $85,653 per year per person, and parole costs as little as $39,084. There are already existing remedies in the Correctional and Conditional Release Act, Sections 81 and 84, that allow for agreements in the community where Indigenous and non-Indigenous prisoners can serve their sentence and parole in a supported way. If we want to alleviate the conditions that foster conflict and harm in the first place, we also need to ensure that basic national standards and human rights are being met for Indigenous people. The private members’ Bill C-262, which outlines the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People, just passed its second reading. Approving this bill would ensure some of the most basic rights for Indigenous communities, including the provision of clean water, electricity, employment, education and adequate social and health services. In its calls to action, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada has recommended that the federal, provincial and territorial governments make a commitment to eliminate the over-representation of Indigenous people in custody over the next decade. If the federal government takes up this call, prisons would no longer be part of the solution. As noted by Romeo Saganash, NDP’s critic for Intergovernmental Indigenous Affairs, “there will be no reconciliation without justice.” (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Why are indigenous Canadians in prison?

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/de-blasio-wins-new-york-city-mayoral-election-23752" target="_blank">New York&#39;s mayor</a> on Monday signed into law the repeal of a 91-year-old piece of legislation that had technically banned dancing in thousands of bars, clubs and restaurants in the city.

The city council voted overwhelmingly on October 31 to axe the law, which had come into effect in 1926 during Prohibition and which campaigners decried as racist, saying it was used initially to crack down on Harlem&#39;s jazz clubs, where blacks and whites mixed.

Campaigners say it was also used historically to target Hispanics and members of the LGBT community. In the 1990s, mayor Rudy Giuliani used the law to get tough on clubs in his fight against crime.

&quot;It&#39;s 2017 and this law just didn&#39;t make sense. Nightlife is part of the New York melting pot that brings people together,&quot; said Mayor Bill de Blasio.

&quot;We want to be a city where people can work hard, and enjoy their city&#39;s nightlife without arcane bans on dancing.&quot;

Although the law was rarely enforced in recent years, it required public spaces that sell food and drink to acquire near impossible-to-obtain permits to authorize dancing indoors or risk a fine.

Yet only around 100 of New York&#39;s more than 22,000 bars, restaurants and clubs had the elusive permit.

Brooklyn Democratic councilman Rafael Espinal led the charge to repeal the law, saying it unfairly discriminated against small businesses.

&quot;Artist, musicians, businesses owners, workers and everyday New Yorkers looking to let loose will no longer have to fear the dance police will shut down their favorite venues,&quot; he said Monday.

A search is also now on for a &quot;nightlife mayor&quot; who can liaise between city hall, residents and the city&#39;s multi-billion-dollar nightlife industry, in order to support a safe nightlife scene that supports 300,000 jobs and attracts tourists far and wide.

While venues will not need a special dancing permit, the city will still require security guards and surveillance cameras in many venues.

&nbsp;

The ban had come into effect in 1926 during Prohibition

New York's mayor on Monday signed into law the repeal of a 91-year-old piece of legislation that had technically banned dancing in thousands of bars, clubs and restaurants in the city. The city council voted overwhelmingly on October 31 to axe the law, which had come into effect in 1926 during Prohibition and which campaigners decried as racist, saying it was used initially to crack down on Harlem's jazz clubs, where blacks and whites mixed. Campaigners say it was also used historically to target Hispanics and members of the LGBT community. In the 1990s, mayor Rudy Giuliani used the law to get tough on clubs in his fight against crime. "It's 2017 and this law just didn't make sense. Nightlife is part of the New York melting pot that brings people together," said Mayor Bill de Blasio. "We want to be a city where people can work hard, and enjoy their city's nightlife without arcane bans on dancing." Although the law was rarely enforced in recent years, it required public spaces that sell food and drink to acquire near impossible-to-obtain permits to authorize dancing indoors or risk a fine. Yet only around 100 of New York's more than 22,000 bars, restaurants and clubs had the elusive permit. Brooklyn Democratic councilman Rafael Espinal led the charge to repeal the law, saying it unfairly discriminated against small businesses. "Artist, musicians, businesses owners, workers and everyday New Yorkers looking to let loose will no longer have to fear the dance police will shut down their favorite venues," he said Monday. A search is also now on for a "nightlife mayor" who can liaise between city hall, residents and the city's multi-billion-dollar nightlife industry, in order to support a safe nightlife scene that supports 300,000 jobs and attracts tourists far and wide. While venues will not need a special dancing permit, the city will still require security guards and surveillance cameras in many venues.

New York repeals 91-year-old dancing ban

The &ldquo;#metoo&rdquo; campaign is the voice of the people who are rightly exasperated by the culture of sexual aggression and the surrounding shame. Indeed, removing the culture of shame and its predecessor, silence, is the first step towards dismantling the arsenal of the aggressor, who goes by many names, &ldquo;rapist&rdquo; and &ldquo;sexual predator&rdquo; being two of them.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="row">
<div class="article-blockquote">
<div class="col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 blockquote-content quoteshare">
<blockquote>
<h5>A woman on facebook as part of the naming and shaming process of the &ldquo;metoo&rdquo; campaign, has raised serious ethical and legal dilemmas.</h5>
</blockquote>
</div>

<div class="col-sm-1 blockquote-content">
<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=A woman on facebook as part of the naming and shaming process of the ?metoo? campaign, has raised serious ethical and legal dilemmas." target="_blank">&nbsp;</a></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqquoteclosemark">&times;</a></div>
</div>
</div>

By facilitating a safe space to vent and express, the campaign has also assumed a therapeutic purpose. However, the listing of important names in academia as aggressors by a woman on Facebook, as part of the naming and shaming process of the &ldquo;metoo&rdquo; campaign, has raised serious ethical and legal dilemmas. While there are no easy answers to these questions, I also fear the impact of this debate on the credibility and overall efficacy of the victim&rsquo;s rights movement in India.

I proceed on the premise that sexual violence can be seen from three perspectives, one as an experience of the victim, two as a definition under the law and three as a convergence of one and two. Sexual violence is an experience, but the terms &ldquo;rape&rdquo;, &ldquo;stalking&rdquo;, &ldquo;voyeurism&rdquo; and &ldquo;sexual harassment&rdquo; are legal concepts. Sometimes the sense of victimisation is also perceived and defined by law, in which case sexual aggression qualifies as &ldquo;rape&rdquo;, &ldquo;sexual harassment&rdquo;, &ldquo;voyeurism&rdquo;, &ldquo;stalking&rdquo;, etc.

You see, if an experience qualifies as a legal definition of sexual aggression, the offender cannot get away with a simple apology, no matter how sincere or well-intentioned. Similarly, the complainant, where a legal offence of sexual aggression is alleged, is bound by rules of evidence. The law attempts to strike a balance when sexual aggression qualifies as a crime viz., the severity of consequences for the offender, but tempered by the burden of proof to establish accountability.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="row">
<div class="article-blockquote">
<div class="col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 blockquote-content quoteshare">
<blockquote>
<h5>As an experience of the victim, sexual violence is far more pervasive and diverse, than the law can foresee, perceive and define.</h5>
</blockquote>
</div>

<div class="col-sm-1 blockquote-content">
<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=As an experience of the victim, sexual violence is far more pervasive and diverse, than the law can foresee, perceive and define." target="_blank">&nbsp;</a></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqquoteclosemark">&times;</a></div>
</div>
</div>

In other words, guilt beyond reasonable doubt. An objective act of sexual aggression beyond excuse or reproach. In recent times, many big persons were named in social media posts as having indulged in sexual harassment. However, we did not see punishment for any of them with the exception of Harvey Weinstein who got fired from his own company. Mr Weinstein remains perhaps the sole exception to the &quot;no consequences for sexual predators through social media posts&quot; rule.

As an experience of the victim, sexual violence is far more pervasive and diverse, than the law can foresee, perceive and define. This diversity stems from the inherently subjective nature of negotiating consent for a sexual relationship. To cite an example, western media content taught us that men go to bars to find single women. A man would then ask the woman out for a drink or a cup of coffee and if successful, commences on the process of dating. However, despite my best intentions, a similar attempt to &quot;ask out&quot; a woman in India may very well constitute sexual aggression, considering the diversity of cultural contexts in gender relations.

The defence of the man to such an accusation would be, &quot;I asked her out. She could have said no and I would have backed out&quot;. I have asked out women, I have been rejected and I have backed out. But does that then mean that asking out the woman itself is sexual aggression? I have avoided committing the criminal offence of &quot;sexual harassment&quot; because on being made aware of the woman&rsquo;s lack of interest and lack of consent to the continued conversation, I backed out.

But the fact remains that any girl who felt intimidated by the actions of a stranger wanting to have a conversation over a cup of coffee has still experienced sexual aggression even if in the eyes of society or law or the man- it is not such an act. This insensitivity to the experience of women lies at the heart of the &quot;metoo&quot; campaign. For too long, formal rules of procedure, inherent challenges of evidence and inexcusable conviction rates, have eroded the trust of women in the legal concepts around sexual aggression and the justice system&rsquo;s ability to help them address sexual aggression.

But my experience of assisting the prosecution of sexual assault cases or training internal complaints committees to adjudicate complaints of sexual harassment has also opened my eyes to the inherent limitations of the law when it comes to addressing very diverse experience around sexual victimisation.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="row">
<div class="article-blockquote">
<div class="col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 blockquote-content quoteshare">
<blockquote>
<h5>Our system of laws is guilty of not being nuanced enough to recognise the different versions of sexual aggression and address them with punishments that could range from a simple acknowledgement of your experience to life imprisonment, depending upon the nature of aggression.</h5>
</blockquote>
</div>

<div class="col-sm-1 blockquote-content">
<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Our system of laws is guilty of not being nuanced enough to recognise the different versions of sexual aggression and address them with punishments that could range from a simple acknowledgement of your experience to life imprisonment, depending upon the nature of aggression." target="_blank">&nbsp;</a></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqquoteclosemark">&times;</a></div>
</div>
</div>

Sexual aggression as an experience suffers from the same difficulty that sexuality suffers from, it is subjective and ranges from person to person. But the law attempts to standardise a form of victimisation that is fundamentally unique to each individual. Therefore, legal definitions of sexual aggression as &ldquo;rape&rdquo; or &ldquo;sexual harassment&rdquo; will always stop short of addressing sexual aggression as an experience.

So, to all the women out there, let me say this, simply because what you experienced may not lead to a conviction or doesn&rsquo;t qualify as a crime, doesn&rsquo;t undermine your experience nor does it mean that the wrongdoer was not the wrongdoer. It simply means our system of laws is guilty of not being nuanced enough to recognise the different versions of sexual aggression and address them with punishments that could range from a simple acknowledgement of your experience to life imprisonment, depending upon the nature of aggression. But it does mean that when your victimisation doesn&rsquo;t fit into the several definitions of sexual aggression such as &ldquo;rape&rdquo; or &ldquo;sexual harassment&rdquo;, your remedy doesn&rsquo;t exist in the law.

The authors of the list containing the academics&rsquo; names could argue that because conventional legal systems are likely to fail them on account of inherent evidentiary challenges, late reporting, and the shallow attempts of law to define diverse forms of sexual aggression, this was their only means of venting. But is naming a perpetrator of something that may not be a crime, simply to vent, justified?

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="row">
<div class="article-blockquote">
<div class="col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 blockquote-content quoteshare">
<blockquote>
<h5>The rule of law protects the bodily integrity and autonomy of every individual, man or woman, no doubt. But it also protects people, men and women, from having their reputations tarnished publicly through libel and slander laws.</h5>
</blockquote>
</div>

<div class="col-sm-1 blockquote-content">
<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=The rule of law protects the bodily integrity and autonomy of every individual, man or woman, no doubt. But it also protects people, men and women, from having their reputations tarnished publicly through libel and slander laws." target="_blank">&nbsp;</a></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqquoteclosemark">&times;</a></div>
</div>
</div>

But where does a legitimate cry for justice, stop being that, and becomes instead a feminist version of the Spanish Inquisition? The rule of law protects the bodily integrity and autonomy of every individual, man or woman, no doubt. But it also protects people, men and women, from having their reputations tarnished publicly through libel and slander laws. When does a social media post about sexual aggression stop being a complaint and becomes libel instead? And how can we balance the right to reputation with the right to justice for violation of bodily autonomy and integrity?

Social media trials operate on the premise that there is no need to balance the right to reputation with the right to justice for violation of bodily autonomy and integrity. It does away the need to determine not just the wrong, but the full extent of the wrong, so as to determine what is a proportional punishment. The prior discussion around the differences between the sociological/psychological understanding of sexual aggression and its legal understanding was to highlight the dangers of social media trials of sexual aggression cases.

How do we determine based on a single Facebook post the true extent of victimisation and sexual aggression? Because that determination is possible only through a nuanced inquiry which none of us can hope to initiate. That inquiry may either reveal a crime or sexual victimisation not constituting a crime. Based on that, we can judge.

However, without a complete and thorough understanding of the victimisation or sexual aggression involved, how do we determine, if the academics named on the list qualified for being defamed online? Social media trials often only satisfy voyeuristic curiosity, but seldom fail to bring about justice. We are all vulnerable to amnesia and even the most serious sexual predator out there knows that if he lies low long enough, we will convince ourselves that he doesn&rsquo;t exist.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="row">
<div class="article-blockquote">
<div class="col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 blockquote-content quoteshare">
<blockquote>
<h5>Justice is the product of a legal system and not just a lynch mob, no matter how just the mob&rsquo;s cause may be.</h5>
</blockquote>
</div>

<div class="col-sm-1 blockquote-content">
<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Justice is the product of a legal system and not just a lynch mob, no matter how just the mob?s cause may be." target="_blank">&nbsp;</a></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqquoteclosemark">&times;</a></div>
</div>
</div>

So, how should the academics respond? Defamation suit could be tempting, but no woman deserves to be sued for making a complaint, no matter how unsustainable. Rather, the academics in the list, many of whom are feminists have a golden opportunity. Let them write to the jurisdictional Internal Complaints Committees asking for the complaints to be probed, impartially and dispassionately.

Such an initiative on their part would demonstrate that their claims of innocence are premised on confidence and not on our propensity for amnesia. It would also be a telling endorsement of the rule of law and provoke our legal system to action. And either way, there will be closure at the end of the inquiry. After all, justice is the product of a legal system and not just a lynch mob, no matter how just the mob&rsquo;s cause may be.

Me too campaign has raised voyeuristic curiosity on social media but the intervention of judiciary would help in bringing about justice

The “#metoo” campaign is the voice of the people who are rightly exasperated by the culture of sexual aggression and the surrounding shame. Indeed, removing the culture of shame and its predecessor, silence, is the first step towards dismantling the arsenal of the aggressor, who goes by many names, “rapist” and “sexual predator” being two of them. A woman on facebook as part of the naming and shaming process of the “metoo” campaign, has raised serious ethical and legal dilemmas. × By facilitating a safe space to vent and express, the campaign has also assumed a therapeutic purpose. However, the listing of important names in academia as aggressors by a woman on Facebook, as part of the naming and shaming process of the “metoo” campaign, has raised serious ethical and legal dilemmas. While there are no easy answers to these questions, I also fear the impact of this debate on the credibility and overall efficacy of the victim’s rights movement in India. I proceed on the premise that sexual violence can be seen from three perspectives, one as an experience of the victim, two as a definition under the law and three as a convergence of one and two. Sexual violence is an experience, but the terms “rape”, “stalking”, “voyeurism” and “sexual harassment” are legal concepts. Sometimes the sense of victimisation is also perceived and defined by law, in which case sexual aggression qualifies as “rape”, “sexual harassment”, “voyeurism”, “stalking”, etc. You see, if an experience qualifies as a legal definition of sexual aggression, the offender cannot get away with a simple apology, no matter how sincere or well-intentioned. Similarly, the complainant, where a legal offence of sexual aggression is alleged, is bound by rules of evidence. The law attempts to strike a balance when sexual aggression qualifies as a crime viz., the severity of consequences for the offender, but tempered by the burden of proof to establish accountability. As an experience of the victim, sexual violence is far more pervasive and diverse, than the law can foresee, perceive and define. × In other words, guilt beyond reasonable doubt. An objective act of sexual aggression beyond excuse or reproach. In recent times, many big persons were named in social media posts as having indulged in sexual harassment. However, we did not see punishment for any of them with the exception of Harvey Weinstein who got fired from his own company. Mr Weinstein remains perhaps the sole exception to the "no consequences for sexual predators through social media posts" rule. As an experience of the victim, sexual violence is far more pervasive and diverse, than the law can foresee, perceive and define. This diversity stems from the inherently subjective nature of negotiating consent for a sexual relationship. To cite an example, western media content taught us that men go to bars to find single women. A man would then ask the woman out for a drink or a cup of coffee and if successful, commences on the process of dating. However, despite my best intentions, a similar attempt to "ask out" a woman in India may very well constitute sexual aggression, considering the diversity of cultural contexts in gender relations. The defence of the man to such an accusation would be, "I asked her out. She could have said no and I would have backed out". I have asked out women, I have been rejected and I have backed out. But does that then mean that asking out the woman itself is sexual aggression? I have avoided committing the criminal offence of "sexual harassment" because on being made aware of the woman’s lack of interest and lack of consent to the continued conversation, I backed out. But the fact remains that any girl who felt intimidated by the actions of a stranger wanting to have a conversation over a cup of coffee has still experienced sexual aggression even if in the eyes of society or law or the man- it is not such an act. This insensitivity to the experience of women lies at the heart of the "metoo" campaign. For too long, formal rules of procedure, inherent challenges of evidence and inexcusable conviction rates, have eroded the trust of women in the legal concepts around sexual aggression and the justice system’s ability to help them address sexual aggression. But my experience of assisting the prosecution of sexual assault cases or training internal complaints committees to adjudicate complaints of sexual harassment has also opened my eyes to the inherent limitations of the law when it comes to addressing very diverse experience around sexual victimisation. Our system of laws is guilty of not being nuanced enough to recognise the different versions of sexual aggression and address them with punishments that could range from a simple acknowledgement of your experience to life imprisonment, depending upon the nature of aggression. × Sexual aggression as an experience suffers from the same difficulty that sexuality suffers from, it is subjective and ranges from person to person. But the law attempts to standardise a form of victimisation that is fundamentally unique to each individual. Therefore, legal definitions of sexual aggression as “rape” or “sexual harassment” will always stop short of addressing sexual aggression as an experience. So, to all the women out there, let me say this, simply because what you experienced may not lead to a conviction or doesn’t qualify as a crime, doesn’t undermine your experience nor does it mean that the wrongdoer was not the wrongdoer. It simply means our system of laws is guilty of not being nuanced enough to recognise the different versions of sexual aggression and address them with punishments that could range from a simple acknowledgement of your experience to life imprisonment, depending upon the nature of aggression. But it does mean that when your victimisation doesn’t fit into the several definitions of sexual aggression such as “rape” or “sexual harassment”, your remedy doesn’t exist in the law. The authors of the list containing the academics’ names could argue that because conventional legal systems are likely to fail them on account of inherent evidentiary challenges, late reporting, and the shallow attempts of law to define diverse forms of sexual aggression, this was their only means of venting. But is naming a perpetrator of something that may not be a crime, simply to vent, justified? The rule of law protects the bodily integrity and autonomy of every individual, man or woman, no doubt. But it also protects people, men and women, from having their reputations tarnished publicly through libel and slander laws. × But where does a legitimate cry for justice, stop being that, and becomes instead a feminist version of the Spanish Inquisition? The rule of law protects the bodily integrity and autonomy of every individual, man or woman, no doubt. But it also protects people, men and women, from having their reputations tarnished publicly through libel and slander laws. When does a social media post about sexual aggression stop being a complaint and becomes libel instead? And how can we balance the right to reputation with the right to justice for violation of bodily autonomy and integrity? Social media trials operate on the premise that there is no need to balance the right to reputation with the right to justice for violation of bodily autonomy and integrity. It does away the need to determine not just the wrong, but the full extent of the wrong, so as to determine what is a proportional punishment. The prior discussion around the differences between the sociological/psychological understanding of sexual aggression and its legal understanding was to highlight the dangers of social media trials of sexual aggression cases. How do we determine based on a single Facebook post the true extent of victimisation and sexual aggression? Because that determination is possible only through a nuanced inquiry which none of us can hope to initiate. That inquiry may either reveal a crime or sexual victimisation not constituting a crime. Based on that, we can judge. However, without a complete and thorough understanding of the victimisation or sexual aggression involved, how do we determine, if the academics named on the list qualified for being defamed online? Social media trials often only satisfy voyeuristic curiosity, but seldom fail to bring about justice. We are all vulnerable to amnesia and even the most serious sexual predator out there knows that if he lies low long enough, we will convince ourselves that he doesn’t exist. Justice is the product of a legal system and not just a lynch mob, no matter how just the mob’s cause may be. × So, how should the academics respond? Defamation suit could be tempting, but no woman deserves to be sued for making a complaint, no matter how unsustainable. Rather, the academics in the list, many of whom are feminists have a golden opportunity. Let them write to the jurisdictional Internal Complaints Committees asking for the complaints to be probed, impartially and dispassionately. Such an initiative on their part would demonstrate that their claims of innocence are premised on confidence and not on our propensity for amnesia. It would also be a telling endorsement of the rule of law and provoke our legal system to action. And either way, there will be closure at the end of the inquiry. After all, justice is the product of a legal system and not just a lynch mob, no matter how just the mob’s cause may be.

#Metoo: Will cry for justice turn into mob lynching?

Israeli lawmakers approved jailing children as young as 12 convicted of &quot;terrorist offences&quot; in the wake of repeated attacks by young Palestinians, parliament said today. 
 
&quot;The &#39;Youth Bill&#39; which will allow the authorities to imprison a minor convicted of serious crimes such as murder, attempted murder or manslaughter, even if he or she is under the age of 14, passed its second and third readings Tuesday night,&quot; an English-language statement said. 
 
It added that the seriousness of attacks in recent months &quot;demands a more aggressive approach, including toward minors&quot;. 
 
The statement quoted Anat Berko, a lawmaker from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu&#39;s right-wing Likud party and the bill&#39;s sponsor, as saying &quot;to those who are murdered with a knife in the heart, it does not matter if the child is 12 or 15&quot;. 
 
Violence in the Palestinian territories and Israel since October has killed at least 218 Palestinians, 34 Israelis, two Americans, an Eritrean and a Sudanese, according to an AFP count. 
 
Most of the Palestinians killed were carrying out knife, gun or car-ramming attacks, according to Israeli authorities.&nbsp;Many of the assailants were young people, including teenagers. Other youths have been shot dead during protests and clashes with security forces.&nbsp;Israeli justice minister Ayelet Shaked gave the bill full backing when it came before a ministerial committee last year. 
 
&quot;Youths, such as Ahmed Manasra, who engage in terror and seek the death of Jewish civilians will not be shown mercy by the law,&quot; media quoted her as saying. 
 
Manasra, a 14-year-old Palestinian, was convicted in May of the attempted murder of two Israelis in a knife attack last October. He was 13 when he carried out the attack and is yet to be sentenced. 
 
Along with a 15-year-old cousin, he stabbed and seriously wounded a 20-year-old and a 12-year-old boy in the Jewish settlement neighbourhood of Pisgat Zeev in annexed east Jerusalem.&nbsp;The cousin was shot dead by security forces, while Manasra was hit by a car as they fled. 
 
Manasra, an east Jerusalem resident, was the youngest Palestinian to be convicted by an Israeli civilian court in the current round of violence.&nbsp;Israeli rights group B&#39;Tselem criticised the bill and Israel&#39;s treatment of Palestinian youths. 
 
&quot;Rather than sending them to prison, Israel would be better off sending them to school where they could grow up in dignity and freedom, not under occupation,&quot; it said in a statement today.&nbsp;&quot;Imprisoning such young minors denies them the chance of a better future.&quot; 
 
Military law, applied to Palestinian residents of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, already allows imprisonment of 12-year-olds. 
 
A 12-year-old Palestinian girl from the West Bank, convicted of attempted murder by a military court as part of a plea bargain and sentenced to four months, was released from prison in April. 
 
(AFP)

In the wake of repeated attacks by young Palestinians, 'Youth Bill' will allow a minor convicted of crimes like murder to be imprisoned

Israeli lawmakers approved jailing children as young as 12 convicted of "terrorist offences" in the wake of repeated attacks by young Palestinians, parliament said today. "The 'Youth Bill' which will allow the authorities to imprison a minor convicted of serious crimes such as murder, attempted murder or manslaughter, even if he or she is under the age of 14, passed its second and third readings Tuesday night," an English-language statement said. It added that the seriousness of attacks in recent months "demands a more aggressive approach, including toward minors". The statement quoted Anat Berko, a lawmaker from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party and the bill's sponsor, as saying "to those who are murdered with a knife in the heart, it does not matter if the child is 12 or 15". Violence in the Palestinian territories and Israel since October has killed at least 218 Palestinians, 34 Israelis, two Americans, an Eritrean and a Sudanese, according to an AFP count. Most of the Palestinians killed were carrying out knife, gun or car-ramming attacks, according to Israeli authorities. Many of the assailants were young people, including teenagers. Other youths have been shot dead during protests and clashes with security forces. Israeli justice minister Ayelet Shaked gave the bill full backing when it came before a ministerial committee last year. "Youths, such as Ahmed Manasra, who engage in terror and seek the death of Jewish civilians will not be shown mercy by the law," media quoted her as saying. Manasra, a 14-year-old Palestinian, was convicted in May of the attempted murder of two Israelis in a knife attack last October. He was 13 when he carried out the attack and is yet to be sentenced. Along with a 15-year-old cousin, he stabbed and seriously wounded a 20-year-old and a 12-year-old boy in the Jewish settlement neighbourhood of Pisgat Zeev in annexed east Jerusalem. The cousin was shot dead by security forces, while Manasra was hit by a car as they fled. Manasra, an east Jerusalem resident, was the youngest Palestinian to be convicted by an Israeli civilian court in the current round of violence. Israeli rights group B'Tselem criticised the bill and Israel's treatment of Palestinian youths. "Rather than sending them to prison, Israel would be better off sending them to school where they could grow up in dignity and freedom, not under occupation," it said in a statement today. "Imprisoning such young minors denies them the chance of a better future." Military law, applied to Palestinian residents of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, already allows imprisonment of 12-year-olds. A 12-year-old Palestinian girl from the West Bank, convicted of attempted murder by a military court as part of a plea bargain and sentenced to four months, was released from prison in April. (AFP)

Israel approves law jailing terrorists aged 12

North Korea&#39;s first and only law firm set up by a foreigner, Hay, Kalb &amp; Associates, will suspend operations, the firm&#39;s principal said in a statement on Monday, as the country grows increasingly isolated. 
 
The firm is a joint venture between the North Korean state and British-French citizen Michael Hay, who has represented foreign clients in the capital, Pyongyang, for 12 years. 
 
Hay said he had made the decision based on &quot;business and geopolitical principles&quot;. 
 
&quot;This decision has been taken only after lengthy and thorough deliberation and an examination of the continuing deterioration of inter-regional relations pertaining to the Korean peninsula,&quot; Hay said in a statement. 
 
&quot;It is not unreasonable to assume that no meaningful change or indicator of change in relations shall occur, if at all, until well after the United States Presidential Inauguration, on January 20, 2017,&quot; Hay said in the statement. 
 
North Korea has come under growing diplomatic pressure since its January nuclear test and a long-range rocket launch in February, which led to a new UN Security Council resolution in March that tightened sanctions against Pyongyang. 
 
The majority of Hay&#39;s clients are foreign investors, many of whom have been negatively affected by the sanctions, Hay told Reuters. 
 
&quot;Sanctions are hurting legitimate foreign investors. There still is no credible, consistent evidence I see of DPRK companies hurting,&quot; Hay said. DPRK stands for Democratic People&#39;s Republic of Korea, the North&#39;s official title. 
 
Very few foreigners live or work in North Korea. Those who do are usually members of the diplomatic or NGO community, although a small group of foreign investors have maintained a quiet and steady presence inside the country. 
 
The suspension takes effect from midnight on Monday, Hay said, with an official suspension scheduled for Aug. 14, the firm&#39;s 12-year anniversary. 
 
Hay, who bills his firm as the only foreign-invested firm in North Korea, said he will still maintain an office in Pyongyang. 
 
North Korea has more than 8000 law graduates, according to an official 2008 census, half of whom are based in Pyongyang. Most are employed by the state. 
 
(Reuters) 
&nbsp;

Hay, Kalb & Associates?founder says he had made the decision based on 'business and geopolitical principles'

North Korea's first and only law firm set up by a foreigner, Hay, Kalb & Associates, will suspend operations, the firm's principal said in a statement on Monday, as the country grows increasingly isolated. The firm is a joint venture between the North Korean state and British-French citizen Michael Hay, who has represented foreign clients in the capital, Pyongyang, for 12 years. Hay said he had made the decision based on "business and geopolitical principles". "This decision has been taken only after lengthy and thorough deliberation and an examination of the continuing deterioration of inter-regional relations pertaining to the Korean peninsula," Hay said in a statement. "It is not unreasonable to assume that no meaningful change or indicator of change in relations shall occur, if at all, until well after the United States Presidential Inauguration, on January 20, 2017," Hay said in the statement. North Korea has come under growing diplomatic pressure since its January nuclear test and a long-range rocket launch in February, which led to a new UN Security Council resolution in March that tightened sanctions against Pyongyang. The majority of Hay's clients are foreign investors, many of whom have been negatively affected by the sanctions, Hay told Reuters. "Sanctions are hurting legitimate foreign investors. There still is no credible, consistent evidence I see of DPRK companies hurting," Hay said. DPRK stands for Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the North's official title. Very few foreigners live or work in North Korea. Those who do are usually members of the diplomatic or NGO community, although a small group of foreign investors have maintained a quiet and steady presence inside the country. The suspension takes effect from midnight on Monday, Hay said, with an official suspension scheduled for Aug. 14, the firm's 12-year anniversary. Hay, who bills his firm as the only foreign-invested firm in North Korea, said he will still maintain an office in Pyongyang. North Korea has more than 8000 law graduates, according to an official 2008 census, half of whom are based in Pyongyang. Most are employed by the state. (Reuters)

North Korea's only foreign-founded law firm suspends operations

Law, News on Law, stories on Law, articles on Law, Law stories at Wion, Law news, Law latest news