AllAboutLaw Blog - Human rights abuse in the Xijiang region, war crimes in Iraq and more

Nov 20, 2019

Written By Tuula Petersen

This week’s edition of the AllAboutLaw Blog looks at the recent publication of the Xinjiang papers, the evidence of war crimes by the army in Iraq, and the call to publish a report on Russian interference in UK politics.

The Xinjiang Papers

Leaked documents published by the New York Times on Saturday reveal details of the treatment of Uighurs and other Muslim minorities in the western Xinjiang region of China. The documents were supposedly leaked by a member of the Chinese political establishment and contain transcripts of speeches given by President Xi Jinping to officials.

The leaked papers include a script for officials telling students that their family members had been detained, saying “Freedom is only possible when this ‘virus’ in their thinking is eradicated and they are in good health”. The document also provides details of officials who have defied the party’s orders by failing to comply with the crackdown to “satisfactory standards”.

The Chinese government has not denied the existence of detention facilities in the Xinjiang province but has labelled them “reeducation camps” to encourage the integration of Muslims in Chinese societies. However, in response to the publication of these leaked documents, the state-run Global Times wrote that the report “lacks morality” while accusing the West of being “eager to see Xinjiang engulfed in extreme violence and chaos”.

In conjunction with the Senate’s ambition to pass the presidential veto-proof Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, the publication of these documents could have profound effects on foreign diplomacy and trade talks between the United States and China.

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“The state of Alaska has known of the profound dangers of climate change for decades, and in the midst of that knowledge and in the midst of that climate crisis, enacted an energy policy that makes things worse”

Andrew Welle, the counsel for the plaintiffs in Sinnok v Alaska, one of the ever-increasing number of climate-change lawsuits.

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Firm News

Find the best law firm in each area of specialities, with the Times’ Best Law Firms 2020.

Charlotte Duly has been appointed head of brand protection in Charles Russell Speechlys’ intellectual property group.

BBC Studios has appointed Ryan Shiotani and Fiona Lang as General Managers to lead Australia & New Zealand and South & South East Asia.

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The evidence of war crimes the government tried to avoid

The British army and government are accused of covering up war crimes following an investigation by the BBC and the Sunday Times. The Iraq Historic allegation team (IHAT) and Operation Northmoor provided evidence of murders by a SAS soldier, in addition to deaths in custody, beatings, torture and sexual abuse of detainees by members of the Black Watch, an infantry battalion. The government closed IHAT after a solicitor who actively brought cases to the allegation team was barred from practising law due to allegations of mispractice. However, ex-investigators at IHAT and Operation Northmoor claim this was a practical excuse to close down the inquiries.

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Calls to publish Russian interference report prior to elections

With the general elections less than a month away, the pressure is mounting on the government to publish a report on Russian interference in UK politics. The report from the Parliament’s intelligence committee was leaked in part to the general public concluding that Russian interference may have affected the 2016 referendum. However, many questions are left unanswered prompting campaigners to ask for its full publication. Maria Litvinenko, whose husband was poisoned with a radioactive isotope in 2006, is one such individual. She is considering legal action.

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Recommended Reading

1. The impeachment inquiry against Trump is now well underway, and in case you need a refresher, watch A beginner’s guide to impeachment and Trump.

2. The use of emergency legislation in Hong Kong to ban masks has been found to be “incompatible with the Basic Law.”

3. As a result of Robert Mueller’s investigation into the Russian election interference, Roger Stone becomes the sixth man to be convicted.

4. A much-awaited Supreme Court decision on patents could have far-reaching consequences at an international level.

5. Mo’Nique, an actress and comedian, is suing Netflix for gender and race discrimination.

6. Germany has passed a climate-protection law to reach its 2030 goals.

7. Royal Mail wins a high court injunction to block a postal strike over the Christmas period – the decision is likely to be appealed.

8. The Fawcett Society is campaigning for a law that would force firms to declare if men are paid more for doing the same job as a woman.

9. The International Criminal Court has granted prosecutors to open an investigation into crimes against humanity committed against the Rohingya community in Myanmar.

10. Should the use of AI in patents and trademarks lead to a change in copyright law?

11. A third-year law student created a rate-your-accommodation website to help students navigate tenancy.

12. A new ruling by the European Court of Justice forces food from Israel to state whether it comes from Israeli settlements in territories such as the West Bank and the Golan Heights.

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