LIAM ROGERS WRITES — Afghanistan has been an unfriendly place for women. During the 1996-2001 Taliban rule, women were not allowed to attend school, work, leave their homes without men, or show skin in public. The 2018 Academy Award Nominee, The Breadwinner, featured a beautifully horrific presentation of this reality.…
Full Article AFGHANISTAN: WITH THE WITHDRAWAL OF AMERICAN TROOPS, ARE WOMEN LEFT BEHIND?
ALEXIS CRUZ WRITES – In just four years, Qatar will become the center of the sports world as host country of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the world’s premiere sports event. Hence, when this year’s World Cup in Russia concludes, Qatar is anticipated to become the focus of massive media…
Full Article QATAR: ITS CUP RUNNETH OVER WITH THE OBVIOUS AND THE LESS SO
ALEXIS CRUZ WRITES- Qatar has been fairly confident about keeping the 2022 World Cup. The country has passed some labor reforms and FIFA still backs them, but the country’s officials might have to be more cautious. Harvard professor John Ruggie wrote a FIFA-commissioned report on the organization’s human rights responsibilities…
Full Article QATAR: Will the World Cup Bubble Burst?
ALEXIS CRUZ WRITES- Immune to accusations of bribery, human rights abuses, and having really hot weather, Qatar intends to host the 2022 World Cup as planned, come what may. Such immunity can make anyone cocky, and at a New York Times art conference in Doha, the Emir’s sister Sheikha Al…
Full Article QATAR: Bring It On, Critics
ALEXIS CRUZ WRITES- A corruption scandal is still brewing in international soccer, but it’s business as usual for Qatar, and the country’s top priority is making sure their chance to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup goes off without a hitch. Even if it means bumping into a few hitches…
Full Article QATAR: World Cup Flub on Workers’ Rights
ALEXIS CRUZ WRITES – Qatar reinforced their cybercrime law when the government approved an amendment that criminalizes photographing those who are injured or killed in accidents and posting them on social media. The amendment was added to the 2004 penal law code, and according to the state-run organization Qatar News agency, it…
Full Article QATAR: Posting vs. PrivacyInstitutionalized violence against women is nothing new to the Maldives. A 15-year-old rape victim was prosecuted after she confessed to having a physical relationship with another man besides her rapist. Her sentence is 100 humiliating lashes when she turns 18 plus 8 months of house arrest at a children’s home.…
Full Article MALDIVES: Flog the Rape Victim – the Country’s Oxymoronic Tension Between Islamic Law and DemocracyAmnesty International recently released a report condemning police actions in response to the December 24th protests near Bima, Indonesia. The protest came in response to recent approval of an exploration permit given to a gold mining company operating in the region.
Full Article INDONESIA: Amnesty International Condemns Police ViolenceAmnesty International has released a stunning report on the death of three peaceful protesters participating in the Third Papuan Peoples’ Congress rally on October 19th that came at the hands of Indonesian security forces…
Full Article INDONESIA: Jakarta Post Take a Tough Stand on Papuan Death Controversy