Laws

Detained and Released: Immigration Crimes Bear No Jail Time Under Emergency Laws

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MELBOURNE, Australia – Two dozen individuals who were released from immigration detention have been charged with crimes, although none of them have been imprisoned under emergency laws. In December 2023, the government rushed through powers that allowed the responsible minister to apply for community safety or supervision orders. These orders granted the authorities the ability to lock up or closely monitor individuals who had been released from detention. However, as of January 31, no applications had been made to enforce these powers. The release of 149 people was triggered by a High Court ruling on … Read more

Landmark Ruling: Malaysian Federal Court Declares Kelantan State Sharia Laws Unconstitutional

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Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – The Malaysian federal court ruled on Friday that several Kelantan state Sharia laws are unconstitutional. The decision came after lawyer Nik Elin Zurina Nik Abdul Rashid and her daughter, Tengku Yasmin Natasha Tengku Abdul Rahman, filed a petition challenging the constitutionality of provisions in the Kelantan Syariah Criminal Code (I) Enactment 2019 which dealt with offenses such as destroying places of worship, sodomy, sexual harassment, use of intoxicating substances, incest, and others. The petition was based on Article 4 of the Malaysian Federal Constitution, which states that any law inconsistent with … Read more

Lawmakers, Parents, and Educators Gather to Discuss ‘Common Sense’ Gun Laws and School Safety in Iowa

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Davenport, Iowa – In response to a recent shooting in Perry, Iowa, Iowa House Representative Ken Croken, a Democrat from Davenport, organized a forum at Davenport West High School. The forum brought together lawmakers, parents, and educators to discuss “common sense” gun laws and school safety. The attendees included State Senator Cindy Winckler, a Democrat from Davenport, as well as Trey Jackson, the legislative affairs director for March for Our Lives, Ben Layer, the crisis prevention coordinator for the Mississippi Bend Area Education Agency, and Kaleigh Rogers, the director of the local advocacy group “Moms … Read more

Progressive California Mayors Rally to Amend Controversial Crime Laws and Address Soaring Drug Use and Theft

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SAN FRANCISCO, California – Progressive mayors in California are supporting a campaign to amend a decades-old state law that critics argue has emboldened criminals. Proposition 47, a law passed in 2014, downgraded penalties for petty theft and drug possession, reclassifying them as misdemeanors. Under the law, even multiple offenses of petty theft below $950 are considered misdemeanors. Additionally, many narcotics possession offenses that were once felonies were converted to misdemeanors. A new ballot initiative called the Homelessness, Drug Addiction, and Theft Reduction Act aims to amend Proposition 47. The measure has garnered support from both … Read more