Critical Analysis: Kurdistan Debates Blasphemy Law
The Kurdish parliament is considering a bill that would criminalize offending and insulting religions in response to the arrest of Hamin Ary, the editor of
An Interesting Role Reversal in the United Nations
There are several forces that deserve credit for the recently reported worldwide decline in pirate attacks – including international naval patrols, industry best practices, and the monsoon
Critial Analysis: CIA Use of Waterboarding More Widespread than Reported
On September 6, Human Rights Watch released a report alleging that the U.S. government, under the Bush Administration, covered up the extent to which it
U.S. Ratchets Up Iran Sanctions and Enforcement Actions
The U.S. Government has restricted activities with Iran since the U.S. Embassy was seized in Tehran in 1979. In 2012, the United States continued to
The Tragedy of Universal Jurisdiction
Picture a medieval town, 110 acres in size and populated entirely by 10 cattle ranchers. Each rancher lives on a 1 acre parcel of land
Some Jurisdictions Take Witness Oaths More Seriously Than Others…
A friend at the Extraordinary Chambers of the Courts of Cambodia shared with me this oath read to testifying witnesses. You’ve got to hand it
Critical Analysis: Competition for Arctic Resources Heats Up
In 2007, a submersible named Mir descended over 4 km to the bottom of the Arctic Ocean and planted the Russian flag under the
Why are War Crimes Sentences So Short?
Earlier this summer, a US District Court issued sentences in a international maritime piracy case that involved four US victims. The defendant was not an
A Second Avenue to Assert Universal Jurisdiction Over Pirate Negotiators
In my previous post, I argued that the two pirate negotiators prosecuted by the United States – Mohammad Saaili Shibin and Ali Mohamed Ali –
ICC’s Sentence for Lubanga is a Shaky Conclusion to a Troubled Case
After ten years, the International Criminal Court issued its first verdict on March 14th, finding Congolese warlord Thomas Lubanga guilty of three child soldier related
Critical Analysis: UN Peacekeepers Under Attack in Darfur
A United Nations peacekeeper serving in Sudan’s besieged Darfur region was killed, and another injured, in an attack on Sunday. The Bangladeshi peacekeeper, who was
A High Seas Requirement for Pirate Facilitators Under UNCLOS?
The economic conditions in Somalia are such that there is no shortage of men willing to hijack a ship, risking their lives in hopes of
