Former Assad official sentenced to 60 years in US for torture Samir Ousman Alsheikh was convicted by a jury in March of three counts of torture, one count of conspiracy to commit torture, visa fraud and attempted naturalization fraud. Syria
Turkey's Erdogan to run for 'final' third term in 2028, adviser says If Turkey's parliament votes to move the next election up during President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s second term, he could constitutionally run for third. Turkey
After gun found in lake, French police probe link to 2012 Iraqi family murder A recently discovered Luger pistol may have been used in the mysterious 2012 killing of the al-Hilli family near the Alpine town of Chevaline in eastern France. Iraq
Top European court says Kavala case exposes erosion of judicial independence in Turkey Europe's top human rights court has renewed its call for Turkey to immediately release jailed philanthropist Osman Kavala, saying his imprisonment reflects a broader “systemic problem” over independence and impartiality of the judiciary. Turkey
Turkish court sentences former police chiefs over Armenian-Turkish journalist's murder More than two dozen suspects, including Istanbul's former police intelligence chief, were handed various sentences for their alleged roles in the 2007 murder of Hrant Dink. News Brief
Egyptian women’s access to judiciary still limited The Egyptian State Council approved the appointment of women as members to the council and the Public Prosecution office, in tandem with the launch of a social media campaign against a personal status draft law that activists say denies women’s rights to take control of their own decisions. Egypt
Will Egypt heed Sudan’s call to hand over fugitives linked to Bashir’s regime? During a visit to Cairo, Sudan's prime minister asked Egyptian officials to extradite exiled Sudanese officials who worked with the Omar al-Bashir regime. Sudanese. Egypt
Israel's foreign minister continues anti-ICC campaign in Russia In his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi presented his stand against the International Criminal Court probe, a renewed Iran deal and the Iranian presence in Syria. Israel
For Israelis, ICC decision hypocritical, politicized Families of the three Israeli youths kidnapped and killed in 2014 wonder why the ICC would not start with an investigation into these murders. Israel
Biden faces calls to lift Trump's controversial ICC sanctions The International Criminal Court’s investigation into potential war crimes committed by Israel and Hamas is looming over the Biden administration’s review of sanctions on the Hague-based tribunal. Palestine
Israeli leaders unite in slamming ICC prosecutor Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Reuven Rivlin harshly condemned the decision by International Criminal Court prosecutor Fatou Bensouda to investigate Israel for alleged war crimes. Israel
Israel’s Ashkenazi on diplomatic blitz against ICC ruling Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi is busy calling counterparts worldwide, to convince them to object the ICC ruling on judging Israel for alleged war crimes. Israel
Netanyahu’s fate to be determined by COVID-19, not corruption trial Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fears failure in dealing with Israel's coronavirus pandemic even more than his corruption trial. Israel
Netanyahu pushes for evidentiary stage to be postponed until after election The legal defense team of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tries postponing the evidentiary stage of his trial until after the March 23 election. Israel
Autopsy of slain Lebanese intellectual Lokman Slim shows no torture Slim's wife said an independent autopsy was necessary and is also calling for an international investigation, as opposed to leaving it up to the Lebanese government. Lebanon
Netanyahu pleads not guilty in corruption trial Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust in three separate corruption cases. Israel
