Taliban’s Discriminatory Gender Policies Disqualify Them as Afghanistan’s Legitimate Government, Says Afghan Legal Scholar

KABUL, Afghanistan — The Taliban’s reestablishment of control over Afghanistan following their seizure of Kabul on August 15, 2021, has raised questions about their legitimacy as a government under international law. The Taliban’s dismal record on human rights, particularly their discriminatory gender policies, has drawn criticism from legal scholars who argue that these policies disqualify them from being recognized as the country’s legitimate government. According to Afghan legal scholar Haroun Rahimi, the Taliban’s ability to be recognized as a government hinges on their willingness to adhere to modern-day international human rights law. However, their commitment … Read more

North End Restaurant Owners Sue City Over Alleged Discrimination in Outdoor Dining Policies

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – The ongoing battle over outdoor dining in Boston’s North End has taken a legal turn as 21 restaurant owners and the North End Chamber of Commerce filed a lawsuit against the city in federal court this week. According to the lawsuit, the restaurateurs argue that they have faced “unequal, unfair, and discriminatory treatment” from city officials during the past two outdoor dining seasons. The controversy began in 2022 when the city imposed a $7,500 fee on restaurants for operating outdoor dining. The following year, the city completely banned outdoor dining in the … Read more

Federal Judge Upholds West Point’s Affirmative Action Policies in Admissions Process, Dismissing Lawsuit Request

NEW YORK – A federal judge ruled on Wednesday that the U.S. Military Academy at West Point can continue to consider race in its admissions process, rejecting a request to block affirmative action policies at the school. Judge Philip Halpern denied a group’s request for a preliminary injunction to halt the school’s race-conscious admissions practices. The ruling is a result of a lawsuit filed by Students for Fair Admissions, the same group that prompted the Supreme Court’s landmark affirmative action ruling last year. However, the high court’s ruling did not apply to military academies, prompting … Read more