Thom Dyke
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thomdyke.bsky.social
Thom Dyke
@thomdyke.bsky.social
Barrister | Crime & International Human Rights | Effing the Ineffable

ORCID ID: 0000-0002-5844-3088
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I'm excited to share my piece from the current issue of the
@lrb.co.uk. It follows my visit to Guantánamo Bay last year, and examines the trial of the 9/11 detainees as both sides gear up for an inevitable showdown in the US Supreme Court over the proposed plea deal:

www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Thom Dyke · Short Cuts: Detained in Guantánamo
When I told people I was going to Guantánamo Bay last September to observe the trial of the 9/11 hijackers, I was met...
www.lrb.co.uk
I’m struck by the tone in which judgments are written in South Africa. Not just in the Constitutional Court, but across the board, where they often provide an object lesson in the power of quietly dignified judicial writing.
November 10, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Reposted by Thom Dyke
The great poet of the English Republic and of free speech comes to @innertemple.org.uk
“Give me the liberty to know, to utter, and to argue freely according to conscience, above all liberties.”
#milton #Paradise_Lost #Areopagitica PS that Royal Proclamation is Charles II banning his books
October 30, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Reposted by Thom Dyke
Are you in Oxford on November 6? If so, consider joining me for my talk, "War Unbound"! Details below.
We warmly invite you to our second PIL Discussion Group event of this term, scheduled for next Thursday, 6 November 2025. Prof @oonahathaway.bsky.social will deliver a talk entitled ‘War Unbound’. For more information and to register for the event, see here: www.law.ox.ac.uk/content/even....
PIL Discussion Group: War Unbound | Faculty of
Abstract International humanitarian law, also known as the law of armed conflict, is supposed to
www.law.ox.ac.uk
October 30, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Reposted by Thom Dyke
Periodic reminder that Erskine May is freely available online
October 23, 2025 at 9:25 AM
Reposted by Thom Dyke
Not how. Why.
October 24, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Having been described in previous years as “punchy” and “pugilistic”, it’s a genuine pleasure to have my advocacy recognised in Chambers and Partners as compassionate and empathetic. It goes to show that you can be every bit as effective without any need for aggression in court.
October 16, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Congratulations to The Criminal Bar Association for their inaugural Young Bar Day which took place on Saturday. It was a pleasure and a privilege to to speak to the next generation of advocates about wellbeing and mental health issues, alongside a stellar cast including The Rt Hon Lord Justice…
October 13, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Reposted by Thom Dyke
If you're in Copenhagen October 10, come see Andrew Cayley KC, who ran the Palestine investigation at the #ICC, give a
Centre for Military Studies talk entitled "The Future of International Criminal Justice: An Insider’s View." 15:00 at the Law Faculty. Register: cms.polsci.ku.dk/events/the-f...
The Future of International Criminal Justice: An Insider’s View
International Criminal Justice is facing a tipping point. Questions about its efficacy, its efficiency and a hostile political climate are raising doubts about its relevance and, even further, its ver...
cms.polsci.ku.dk
September 25, 2025 at 4:28 PM
October 10, 2025 at 12:28 PM
It was great fun to give a lecture to the Criminal Law and Constitution Research Group at PUCRS, alongside Thiago Alves Pinto and John Burke, on the vexed question of the relationship between the UK and ECtHR in the context of the whole life sentences and Hutchinson: www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJZk...
October 6, 2025 at 10:06 AM
Reposted by Thom Dyke
Today is the 89th anniversary of The Battle of Cable Street when the people of the East End of London halted the march of Oswald Mosley’s Blackshirts through Stepney.
October 4, 2025 at 3:08 PM
It's always nice to be recognised in the Legal 500, where I'm ranked in the 2026 edition as a leading junior in the areas of crime, fraud, and police law. Thanks to my solicitors and referees for your kind words!
October 1, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Reposted by Thom Dyke
Proving Genocide: A Follow-up to Marko Milanovic | by Kai Ambos
Proving Genocide: A Follow-up to Marko Milanovic
In his recent – as always highly inspiring – post on proving genocide, Marko Milanovic makes five points on the “correct legal position” of which I will challenge here the second and fifth one. 1. Fir...
www.ejiltalk.org
October 1, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Reposted by Thom Dyke
Pop by New College for the #OxOpenDay! We’d love to show you around and have a chat about studying at Oxford

#oxford #openday #newcollege
September 19, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Reposted by Thom Dyke
Two snipers in the Israeli army are thought to have committed war crimes in Gaza. Video evidence appears to corroborate those accusations. One of them is a young man from Bavaria. #GazaSniper www.spiegel.de/internationa...
Targeted Killings: Israeli soldier from Munich allegedly shot unarmed men in Gaza
Two snipers in the Israeli army are thought to have committed war crimes in Gaza. Video evidence appears to corroborate those accusations. One of them is a young man from Bavaria.
www.spiegel.de
September 10, 2025 at 4:39 PM
A fascinating examination of the politics underlying the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine by Kate McInnes. Along with the decision in the al-Assad warrants case, is this an inflection point in the battle between international law and the rules based international order?
September 4, 2025 at 12:00 PM
It’s nearly time for me to leave New College, Oxford for another year. There are many things I’ll miss, but most of all I’ll miss the thrill and privilege of spending time with the most extraordinarily talented cohort of international human rights lawyers and academics. Here’s to 2026!
August 10, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Reposted by Thom Dyke
A Historic Chance Missed: Harmonization of the ICC’s Jurisdiction over the Crime of Aggression Delayed Once More

opiniojuris.org/2025/07/25/a...
A Historic Chance Missed: Harmonization of the ICC’s Jurisdiction over the Crime of Aggression Delayed Once More
[Arne Bardelle is a senior legal advisor at the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR). ECCHR has supported the reform process and is among the over 80 co-signatories of the Jo…
opiniojuris.org
July 27, 2025 at 7:06 AM
Reposted by Thom Dyke
🚨 Iran’s State Media Calls for Repetition of #1988Massacre

Fars News' article–“Why the 1988 Executions Should Be Repeated”–not only justifies and glorifies crimes against humanity, but also incites future atrocity crimes.

@drmaisato.bsky.social must urgently speak out

iran1988.org/irans-state-...
Iran’s State Media Calls for Repetition of 1988 Massacre, JVMI Urges UN Action - Iran 1988 Massacre
Justice for Victims of 1988 Massacre in Iran (JVMI) -Iran1988.org
iran1988.org
July 9, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Reposted by Thom Dyke
Isoroku Yamamoto, “we are not at war with the US, we are at war with the US naval program”
JD Vance: "We're not at war with Iran."
June 22, 2025 at 5:29 PM
The stuff of which anxiety dreams are made…
I need all of #lawsky to see this video from a Colorado appeals court livestream yesterday. I am in actual tears. Sound *incredibly* on, the subtitles will not help.
June 19, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Reposted by Thom Dyke
After ruling, with anger in his voice, Judge Young:

"This represents racial discrimination. And discrimination against America's LGBTQ community. That's what this is. I would be blind not to call it out. My duty is to call it out. And I do so."
June 16, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Reposted by Thom Dyke
Just Security is hosting a YouTube Live on Thursday at 11am ET: "The Situation in Los Angeles and the U.S. Military"

Top experts:

@lizagoitein.bsky.social
MaryMcCord (@icapgeorgetown.bsky.social)
@stevevladeck.bsky.social

@rgoodlaw.bsky.social (moderating)

www.youtube.com/live/M24S3Rc...
The Situation in Los Angeles and the U.S. Military
YouTube video by Just Security
www.youtube.com
June 11, 2025 at 3:27 PM