[This is a roundup of news articles and other materials circulating on Occupation, Intervention, and Law and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of the O.I.L. Page Editors or of Jadaliyya. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each biweekly roundup to OIL@jadaliyya.com by Monday night of every other week]
Academic Journals
“The Legal Environment of the Environment in the Gulf”, Rolf Meyer-Reumann
“The Islamic Law of Tort: A Study of the Owner and Possessor of Animals with Special Reference to the Civil Codes of the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Tunisia, Morocco, Sudan and Iraq”, Abdul Basir bin Mohamad
Animal rights and the liability of animal owners in Islam.
“Arab Islamic Developments on Human Rights”, Tabet Korayem
Analysis of the declarations of Human Rights in the Arab Islamic World in the last 30 years given the regional context.
Blogs
"Israel’s Destruction of Solar Panels in the West Bank”, Kevin Jon Heller
Israel`s demolition of Solar Panels integral in privdign electrivity in the West Bank because they are "illegal".
“Report of Bomb Plot Puts Afghan Defense Ministry in Lockdown”, Matthew Rosenberg and Jawad Sukhanyar
10 suicide vests have been found inside the Afghan Defence Ministry causing the arrest of more than a dozen Afghan soldiers.
"U.N. Leader Presses Assad on Peace Plan”, Anne Barnard and Alan Cowell
UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon urges President Assad to put into effect a peace plan to end revolts.
"Ahmed on Drone Attacks in Pakistan”, Kevin Jon Heller
How Pakistan can utilize international law principles to stop US drone strikes.
“Blurred Lines”, Jane Harman
Argues that the United States has never had a public conversation about the relationship between its values and its need to gather intelligence, the result being a litany of unclear legal boundaries and abuses such as those at Abu Ghraib. Points out four legal issues that should be given “top priority” by the next President.
News
"Abu Hamza can be extradited to US, human rights court rules", Vikram Dodd
Rejecting arguments that the United States` practices of solitary confinement long prison sentences would violate the suspects` human rights, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that the United Kingdom may deport suspects wanted in the United States on terror charges.
“FBI Documents reveal profiling of N. California Muslims”, Maria L. La Ganga
In a practice one legal expert called outrageous, FBI agents are reported to have gathered intelligence about Muslim communities in the Bay Area under the guise of “outreach programs” between 2004-2008, according to reports released by the ACLU.
“Secrecy likely to surround Guantanamo testimony of alleged USS Cole bomber”, Carol Rosenberg
Though Abd al Rahim Nashiri is expected to testify about his treatment at the hands of the CIA in the detention center at Guantanmo Bay, much or all of his testimony may be kept from public ears.
“Lawyers tested in court over anti-terrorism act”, Grant McCool
Describes the efforts of New York Times war correspondent Chris Hedges and others to challenge the National Defense Authorization Act`s “Homeland Battlefield” provisions. Hedges and other journalists and civilian activists are concerned that the relevant provisions could leave them in fear of being detained, and argued in court against the “chilling effect” it might have on their work.
“CIA Drone war in Pakistan in sharp decline”, Peter Bergen
Discusses the recent slowdown in America`s use of drones to kill al Qaeda leader in Pakistan within the context of the outrage these activities have provoked in the Pakistani parliament and public opinion.
From Jadaliyya
“On Kony2012: In Defense of the Armchair”, Tendayi Achiume
“Bahrain Human Rights Report on Human Rights Violations since the BCI Report”
"Does International Law Shelter States from Accountability?", Sharon Weill
"Reading Fanon in Palestine/Israel", Nasser Rego
Upcoming Conferences
“The Judge and Women’s Right to Nationality”; Wednesday, April 11, 2012 5pm; Ashkal Alwan Organization Building, Beirut, Lebanon
“When Drones Attack: The Legal and Political Implications of US Policy”; Friday, April 13, 2012, 5:30pm; St. John`s Univ. School of Law, Manhattan Campus, 101 Murray Street, New York, NY 10007
“The Legal Dimensions of the Arab Spring”; 17 April 2012, 9am-3pm; City View Room, 7th Floor, 1957 E St, NW, Elliott School of International Affairs, The George Washington University. RSVP here.
"The ILA British Branch Spring Conference 2012"; 20 April 2012, 9:30am-5:30pm to 21 April 2012, 9:30am-2pm; University of Nottingham School of Law, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD. Register here.