Lawyers file suit against Belarus Lukashenko in Germany
A group of Belarusians are seeking justice in German courts against Lukashenko s regime over alleged torture. Their lawyers say there are at least 100 other victims.
Protesters took to the streets after Alexander Lukashenko claimed victory in the 2020 presidential election
Ten Belarusians have filed a criminal complaint in Germany against President Alexander Lukashenko and his security apparatus, lawyers representing them said on Wednesday.
The four German lawyers allege that their clients were victims of crimes against humanity during the Belarusian government s crackdown on protests since August 2020.
They submitted the complaint on behalf of torture victims with Germany s Federal Public Prosecutor s Office in the southwestern city of Karlsruhe, home to the country s top courts.
The Sri Lankan Cabinet has agreed a ban on wearing burqas and other full face veils in public, which is almost certain to be approved by Parliament. This follows other measures targeting Muslims and other minorities.
Many in Sri Lanka and internationally condemned this as a breach of human rights. The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Ahmed Shaheed, tweeted that burqa bans are incompatible with international law guarantees of the right to manifest one’s religion or belief and of freedom of expression.
Minister of Public Security Sarath Weerasekara had earlier claimed that the burqa affects “national security” and is a “sign of religious extremism”. Yet the ban is likely to damage, rather than improve, national security and is a dangerous distraction from attempts to tackle the coronavirus pandemic. Indeed it undermines the building of trust which would help the nation to unite to counter the rise in infection, as well as other hazards.
Brittany Conklin
This photo of Brittany Conklin and her father, Jeff Conklin, was taken before he died in 1988.
The National Retail Federation expects spending for Mother’s Day to top $28 billion, up $1.4 billion from last year. While many restaurants and retailers are looking to cash in, a few companies are offering customers a way to avoid the holiday.
Painful Reminders
All the tender commercials and sentimental social media posts about a mother’s unconditional love can move a person to tears. For Phoenix resident Brittany Conklin, they produce tears of sadness.
“Everyone saying don’t forget your mom on Mother’s Day, it’s really hard because you know that you can’t forget your mom any day,” she said.