The introduction of the Peaceful Assembly Bill comes just after Razak repealed Malaysia's widely criticized internal security laws [JURIST report], which allowed the imprisonment of individuals deemed to be national security threats for up to two years without trial. Although the prime minister has pledged that his administration will protect civil liberties, the Malaysian government has previously been criticized in response to its handling of protesters. In July, UN Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression Frank La Rue asserted [press release] that Malaysia's response to protests on July 9 [JURIST report] was too strong, and that such actions restrict the freedom of association while hindering the democratic process. In support of his claim, La Rue pointed to reports that the harsh reaction from Malaysian authorities resulted in injuries, at least one death, and more than 1,600 arrests in the nation's capital of Kuala Lumpur.

In July, USITC ruled that HTC infringed two Apple patents [JURIST report] relating to the Android operating system. This ruling came days after Apple filed a complaint against Samsung [JURIST report] in an effort to bar importation of Samsung's smartphones and tablets. Apple claimed Samsung's "Galaxy" line copies its iPhone and iPad technology. This complaint came just weeks after Samsung filed a similar complaint [JURIST report] seeking to prevent Apple from importing iPads and iPhones. Samsung claimed Apple violated five patents also related to smartphones and tablets. In March 2010, Apple also filed suit against HTC [JURIST report] in the US District Court for the District of Delaware [official website] for 10 patents involving various areas of technology.

Last week, Arroyo and her husband attempted to leave the country after posting bond in order to seek medical treatment for Arroyo, but the government refused to allow them transit. In June, the Philippines Supreme Court [official website] said that it would allow the live broadcast [JURIST report] of the November 2009 Maguindanao Massacre trial subject to guidelines set by the court. The court decided to allow broadcast coverage in this particular situation involving the trial of several members of a clan accused of killing 57 people, including 31 journalists, supporting a rival political candidate. Earlier in June, a Philippine court froze USD $23 million worth of assets [JURIST report] owned by the Ampatuan family, who are accused of ordering the 2009 slayings, while investigators determine how the Ampatuans accumulated accumulated the assets.

The death penalty continues to arouse legal, political and moral controversy nationwide. Two weeks ago, the US Supreme Court [official website] declined [JURIST report] to hear the case of a Texas death row inmate who was allegedly convicted partially on the basis of race. Earlier in November, the Ohio Supreme Court [official website] announced [JURIST report] that it was forming a committee to ensure that the death penalty was not administered arbitrarily. In March, Illinois abolished capital punishment [JURIST report], concluding [press release] that there was no way to rid the capital punishment system of its discriminatory flaws. In 2009, New Mexico repealed its death penalty [JURIST report] on similar grounds to Illinois, asserting that the state could not possibly administer the death penalty impartially. In 2005, the Connecticut House of Representatives [official website] voted down legislation[JURIST report] that would have eliminated the state's death penalty.

The hearings into Fox's refusal to open public inquiries began in November 2010 [JURIST report]. The Public Interest Lawyers (PIL) [law firm website], the group representing the Iraqi civilians, submitted videos to support claims that UK soldiers and interrogators abused Iraqi detainees in British internment facilities. In September 2010, a Ministry of Defence (MOD) [official website] report found that the UK's treatment of detainees complies with domestic and international law [JURIST report]. In July 2010, UK Prime Minister David Cameron [official website] announced that he would create a panel [JURIST report] to investigate claims that British government agents were complicit in the torture of terrorism suspects held overseas. The investigation stems from a civil action, brought by 12 ex-detainees who allege that British agents participated in their abuse while they were held in prisons in Pakistan, Morocco and other countries. The UK will ask them to drop their lawsuits in exchange for possible compensation and a promise that the impending inquiry will fully investigate their claims. In June, the UK government indicated that it will issue a new set of regulations regarding the use of information obtained via torture [JURIST report] as claims of complicity in torture were made against the government in a Human Rights Watch (HRW) [advocacy website] report [materials] released the same day.

In the name of ensuring security and stability, the authorities have committed numerous human rights violations, ignoring the very demands for social justice and fundamental freedoms that triggered the uprising. Indeed, 10 months later, the SCAF has been moving further and further from meeting the human rights demands voiced by millions of Egyptians during the "25 January Revolution" and the promises that ensued from it. Since February, the SCAF have issued a number of laws that have been detrimental to the protection of human rights. Some were meant to appease sentiments of insecurity ... others appear aimed at discouraging criticism of the authorities and protest. The recent endorsement in full of the Emergency Law and its expansion ... has been considered the greatest erosion of rights since the January uprising.

On Monday, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon [official profile] and a group of independent human rights experts issued a joint statement [JURIST report] "express[ing] alarm at the degree of violence and deterioration of the freedoms of peaceful assembly and association which have led to loss of life in Egypt." Last Friday, as many as 50,000 protesters took to Tahrir Square in Egypt [JURIST report], decrying the military's continued rule over the nation since this year's revolution, and on Saturday were reportedly met with a violent reprisal from police forces. The Muslim Brotherhood (MB) [party website] organized the protests earlier this week [press release] in an attempt to force the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces to "intervene and withdraw the supra-constitutional principles proposed by Deputy Prime Minister Ali Elselmy." The MB believes the proposed law [text] would integrate the military into the political system in violation of the constitution [text]. Since the protests began, reportedly more than 500 people have been injured and 18 arrested [Al Ahram report]. Struggles began when riot police attempted to dismantle a tent camp [Al Jazeera report] memorializing activists killed in the revolution. Latest reports reveal that protesters were attempting to storm the Ministry of the Interior [official website] and were deterred by police firing rubber bullets. Many fear the recent protests will impede upcoming elections. The November 28 election is considered the first free election following the overthrow [JURIST report] of Mubarak in February.

In August, a Turkish court issued arrest warrants [JURIST report] for seven generals and admirals accused of creating anti-government websites in 2009. A number of other senior military officials are in detention for a separate investigation of the Balyoz Security Operation Plan (also known as "Operation Sledgehammer") [Taraf report, in Turkish; JURIST news archive], a military plot to overthrow the Islamic-rooted government. The "Sledgehammer" plot is similar to the Ergenekon conspiracy. The Ergenekon group is alleged to be involved in bombings, political assassination plots and the death of journalist Hrant Dink. The probe into the Ergenekon conspiracy has been criticized as an attempt by the AKP to silence opposition and further its imposition of Islamic principles [JURIST report] in violation of Turkey's secular constitution. Trials against the Ergenekon group [JURIST report] opened over two years ago with more than 200 suspects in custody.

Bahrain continues to deal with the fallout from the pro-democracy protests earlier this year. Last month, a Bahrain court began hearing the appeals of 20 medical staff members [JURIST report] who were convicted in September of participating in the protests against the ruling regime. Earlier in October, Bahrain granted retrials for the medics who were convicted and sentenced [JURIST reports] by the National Safety Court of Appeal to terms ranging from five to 10 years imprisonment. In June, Khalifa announced that an independent commission will investigate human rights violations [JURIST report] related to the country's pro-democracy protests. Earlier that month, UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) [official websites] announced that Bahrain agreed to permit a UN commission [JURIST report] to investigate human rights violations related to protests. In April, human rights organizations including Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Doctors Without Borders (DWB) [advocacy websites] criticized Bahrain for rampant human rights abuses [JURIST report] related to anti-government protests.

Other nations have also struggled with balancing citizens' rights with the need to protect state secrets. In August, US Attorney General Eric Holder [official profile] invoked the state secrets privilege to block evidence [JURIST report] in a lawsuit against the FBI over its investigation into Muslim mosques. Holder had ordered a review [JURIST report] of all government claims invoking the state secrets privilege in 2009. Last year, the Chinese government revised [JURIST report] its often-criticized state secrets law to require Internet and telecommunications companies to inform on customers who share state secrets.

Proposals for this amendment to the Egyptian political corruption law were criticized by Human Rights Watch (HRW) [advocacy website] in October for their potential for abuse [JURIST report]. HRW reported that the amendments, proposed by the Egyptian Cabinet of Ministers [official website], would allow authorities to imprison anyone convicted of crimes involving "political corruption," which the organization alleges are vaguely defined, as well as deprive convicted persons of their rights to vote and run for office. As a result of this vague definition, HRW feared individuals will be convicted simply for association with certain political groups and not on the basis of actual criminal activity. While HRW recognized the interest the new government has in keeping corrupt former officials from affecting the direction the country's government takes into the future, it maintained that these amendments are too arbitrary to be effective in this way. Instead, HRW recommends that Egypt refrain from basing judgments on the ability to hold political authority on past or present associations and require clear and convincing evidence that the "individual in question knowingly and actively furthered criminal practices of the organization." The proposals at issue seek to amend the country's 1952 "Law on Political Treachery," which would be renamed "The Political Corruption Law."

Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi and Abdullah Al-Senussi must face justice. ... Their arrest is a crucial step in bringing to justice those most responsible for crimes committed in Libya. This is not a military or political issue, it is a legal requirement.

Saif al-Islam Gaddafi was arrested [JURIST report] by Libyan opposition forces Friday, and the arrest of al-Senussi was confirmed [Channels report] by the Libyan National Transitional Council [official website] Monday. The ICC issued arrest warrants for Muammar Gaddafi, his son and al-Senussi in June, after Ocampo requested the warrants [JURIST reports] in May. The warrants were issued for crimes against the Libyan people, including shooting, torture, unlawful arrests and forced disappearances of civilians. Muammar Gaddafi was killed [JURIST report] by opposition forces in October.

The Secretary-General is deeply concerned about the violence in Egypt during the last few days, particularly in Cairo. He deplores the loss of life and the many injuries. The Secretary-General calls on the transitional authorities to guarantee the protection of human rights and civil liberties for all Egyptians, including the right to peaceful protest. He urges restraint and calm by all parties to enable a peaceful and inclusive electoral process as part of Egypt's transition to democracy and the early establishment of civilian rule."

As many as 50,000 protesters took to Tahrir Square in Egypt on Friday, decrying the military's continued rule over the nation since this year's revolution, and on Saturday were reportedly met with a violent reprisal from police forces. The Muslim Brotherhood (MB) [party website] organized the protests earlier this week [press release] in an attempt to force the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) [NYT backgrounder] to "intervene and withdraw the supra-constitutional principles proposed by Deputy Prime Minister Ali Elselmy." The MB believes the proposed law [text] would integrate the military into the political system in violation of the constitution [text]. Since the protests began, reportedly more than 500 people have been injured and 18 arrested [Al Ahram report]. Struggles began when riot police attempted to dismantle a tent camp [Al Jazeera report] memorializing activists killed in the revolution. Latest reports reveal that protesters were attempting to storm the Ministry of the Interior [official website] and were deterred by police firing rubber bullets.

This does not mark the first time Bram will face charges before a military tribunal for misconduct. Bram was court-martialed last year [JURIST report] for charges unrelated to the murders. He was accused of severely beating an Army private in his unit to keep the soldier from informing superiors about alleged drug abuse within the unit. The charges included conspiracy to commit assault and battery, unlawfully striking another soldier, violating a lawful order, dereliction of duty, cruelty, maltreatment and endeavoring to impede an investigation. The probe into 12 members of the 5th Stryker Brigade regarding the civilian deaths began in May 2010 [JURIST report]. Staff Sgt. Robert Stevens, another member of the brigade, pleaded guilty in December [JURIST report] to shooting two unarmed Afghan farmers following a plea agreement that will allow him to remain in the military after serving a nine month sentence and testifying against other soldiers accused of terrorizing civilians.