In France, many prison sentences are not executed for years after conviction, a fact acknowledged by judges themselves. A probation judge admits that if nothing happens for four to five years, the sentence is effectively non-existent.
Niger has enacted a new penal code that criminalizes homosexuality for the first time, imposing prison sentences of 5 to 10 years for same-sex acts and 10 to 20 years for same-sex marriage. The law also targets organizations supporting the LGBTQIA+ community.
A British couple, Craig and Lindsay Foreman, have lost their appeal against spying convictions in Iran, receiving 10-year sentences. They deny the charges and are on hunger strike. Their family expressed concern over the appeal process and lack of clarity from the UK government.
Craig and Lindsay Foreman, a British couple aged 53, have lost their appeal against spying convictions in Iran, receiving 10-year sentences. Their family reports they were denied access to the appeal hearing and are unaware of the proceedings. The couple is on hunger strike in Tehran's Evin prison, with communication cut off. The UK government expressed disappointment and vowed to continue efforts for their release.
Ghana's President John Mahama stated that the newly passed anti-LGBTQ+ bill will undergo scrutiny by his legal council and attorney general before official approval, citing potential procedural lapses and amendments that may have weakened its original intent.
Ghana's parliament has approved a sweeping bill criminalizing LGBTQ+ activities and identity, with potential prison sentences of 3-10 years. Rights groups warn of increased fear, evictions, job losses, and discrimination, as the bill is expected to be signed into law.
A UK court's decision to spare teenage boys convicted of rape from prison has ignited a national debate on youth sentencing and justice for victims, prompting a review by the Attorney General's Office.
A Nottingham couple received suspended prison sentences for arranging a marriage for their underage sons in Pakistan in 2023. The case, involving a Nikkah ceremony, marks a prosecution under the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act 2022.
Three men, including a Pakistani national, face serious charges in the US for attempting to smuggle 89 firearms, many reportedly stolen, into Canada. Authorities apprehended the trio during a traffic stop, uncovering a significant cache of weapons. The accused are now detained, facing lengthy prison sentences for their alleged involvement in illegal arms trafficking.
Two Lanarkshire businessmen who publicly projected success through sponsorships and luxury branding were unmasked as organisers of an £11 million cocaine trafficking network after EncroChat messages exposed their operation. Despite maintaining a respectable corporate image, greed and excess drove their criminal enterprise. Their prison sentences reinforce a warning: organised crime eventually collapses under scrutiny, regardless of wealth, image or influence.
A study of 1,375 Extinction Rebellion members by University of St Andrews researchers finds that criminalising direct action climate protests in the UK increases activists' determination to undertake disruptive demonstrations. Arrest, fines and prison sentences may actually radicalise nonviolent protesters, with those who have experienced repression reporting less fear of future action. The research published in Nature Climate Change found 17% of UK climate protests resulted in arrests compared with 6.3% internationally.
