Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Thomas Probert

Thomas Probert @thomasprobert.com · 5d

Another important statement from the UN Special Rapporteur on torture in favour of a new global treaty to regulate the trade in law enforcement equipment

#Torture-FreeTrade

euobserver — EU news that matters @euobserver.com · 6d

Torture weapons are being used on Europe's streets to put down protests

Rubber bullets, chemical substances, experimental acoustic weapons have been used recently by various police on Europe's streets against peaceful protests, writes the UN special rapporteur on torture.

euobserver.com

1

Thomas Probert @thomasprobert.com · 5d

Another important statement from the UN Special Rapporteur on torture in favour of a new global treaty to regulate the trade in law enforcement equipment

#Torture-FreeTrade

euobserver — EU news that matters @euobserver.com · 6d

Torture weapons are being used on Europe's streets to put down protests

Rubber bullets, chemical substances, experimental acoustic weapons have been used recently by various police on Europe's streets against peaceful protests, writes the UN special rapporteur on torture.

euobserver.com

1

Thomas Probert @thomasprobert.com · 7d

(Which is finally coming out in hard copy in a few weeks!)

global.oup.com/academic/pro...

global.oup.com

1

Thomas Probert @thomasprobert.com · 7d

Always a pleasure to listen to Albie Sachs, this evening in conversation with @abbottkingsley.bsky.social at the @icws-sas.bsky.social

His passion for the struggle is infectious, and we were delighted that he contributed a moving dedication at the start of our Oxford Handbook of Peaceful Assembly

1 2 4

Reposted by Thomas Probert

Jonathan W. Gray @elmcitytree.blacksky.app · 13d

Some people here love to dismiss ‘sportsball’ but S. African teams being banned from international competition was an important factor in ending Apartheid because it made their crimes real for non-political folk.

Nathan Kalman-Lamb @nkalamb.bsky.social · 13d

It appears that there is an increasingly high chance Israel will be banned next week from UEFA due to its genocide in Gaza, which would in turn effectively end its hopes of qualifying for the World Cup.

I have heard this independently confirmed from another source.

www.thetimes.com/article/11e9...

Uefa members in favour of banning Israel from European football next week
Pressure has ramped up on European football’s governing body after protests and the UN Commission’s declaration of genocide in Gaza
exclusive

8 800 2.4K

Reposted by Thomas Probert

Tom Clark @tom-clark.bsky.social · 15d

Useful reminder from Peter Kellner on the problems we refuse to acknowledge are getting better, and the politics of hopelessness that this breeds

open.substack.com/pub/kellnerp...

37 470 890

Reposted by Thomas Probert

Joe Noonan @joenoonan.bsky.social · 21d

CPS guidance is here. Includes section on ECHR Freedom of Expression. www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidan...

3 10

Reposted by Thomas Probert

Stop Killer Robots @stopkillerrobots.bsky.social · Sep 1

“We believe the progress states have made in their discussions means that the international community can now move to negotiating a legally binding instrument on autonomous weapons systems” – our Policy Manager @elizabethminor.bsky.social takes the floor at #CCWUN

6 8

Reposted by Thomas Probert

Tomas Hirst @tomashirstecon.bsky.social · Sep 2

Not sure I agree with @chrisgiles.ft.com over the delay of tax rises - especially if it implies delay in spending on improving services - but overall this is a much better analysis of the UK's fiscal state than most of the rest you'll read

Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · Sep 2

Food for thought from @chrisgiles.ft.com

The UK is a fiscal saint, not a sinner

Markets ultimately will take notice if the government demonstrates its ability to lower deficits

www.ft.com

2 2 5

Reposted by Thomas Probert

Alex Andreou @sturdyalex.bsky.social · Aug 26

I go. I try. And I will keep trying, even though it feels like a losing battle. Because I remember the whole point of the far-right astroturfing of social media is to make it feel like a losing battle, to make us give up.

Anyway, a few snippets on small boat crossings and immigration.

160 730 2.9K

Thomas Probert @thomasprobert.com · Aug 16

This is a very lengthy piece, but a very interesting journey…

London Review of Books @lrb.co.uk · Aug 14

‘The CPS got the result it wanted, at enormous cost, but it failed to get Marten and Gordon to accept the legitimacy of the court, or to acknowledge responsibility for what happened.’

Clair Wills reports from the trials of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon: www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...

Clair Wills · The Price of Safety: Constance Marten’s Defiance

The trials of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon were held to determine their criminal responsibility for their daughter...

www.lrb.co.uk

1

Thomas Probert @thomasprobert.com · Aug 8

Using draconian penalties from broadly-cast counter-terrorism legislation to restrict basic protest rights? We should know by now where this leads

‘This is lawfare’: Kenya ‘weaponising the law’ to silence critics and protesters

Those swept up in mass arrests of demonstrators in July faced punitive bail terms and draconian charges under terrorism laws

www.theguardian.com

1

Reposted by Thomas Probert

Amnesty EU @amnestyeu.bsky.social · Aug 5

📢 Last week the EU expanded its pioneering Anti-Torture Regulation, adding more equipment used for torture and other ill-treatment to the trade ban and control lists – a key move to protect detainees, protesters and human rights defenders.

EU: Welcome changes to the EU’s Anti-Torture Regulation should inspire more ambitious global efforts against torture – European Institutions Office

On 31 July, the European Union (EU) extended the scope of goods covered by its pioneering Anti-Torture Regulation, strengthening its region-wide measures preventing the transfer of law enforcement equ...

www.amnesty.eu

1 21 19

Reposted by Thomas Probert

Omega Research Foundation @omegarf.bsky.social · Jul 31

🎉🇪🇺 🎉
Great news from the EU as it significantly strengthens its measures preventing the transfer of law enforcement equipment to those who would use it for torture & other ill-treatment.
🔗: omegaresearchfoundation.org/news/europea...
#torturefreetrade

10 6

Thomas Probert @thomasprobert.com · Jul 31

At the same time, we call on all States Parties to the Rome Statute to cooperate fully with the Court. El Hishri is the second suspected perpetrator of international crimes at Mitiga Prison to be arrested on European soil this year.
In January, Italian authorities arrested Osama Elmasry Njeem, another Libyan national and high-ranking member of Al-Radaa, accused of similar crimes at Mitiga. However, instead of surrendering him to the ICC to face
accountability, Italian authorities returned him to Libya, where he was welcomed by both officials and armed actors - reinforcing the prevailing climate of impunity.

1

Reposted by Thomas Probert

Bassam Khawaja @khawaja.bsky.social · Jul 31

The arrest of Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri in Germany, wanted by the ICC, marks a significant step toward accountability for grave international crimes in Libya. Authorities should transfer him to the Hague without delay. www.hrw.org/news/2025/07...

Joint Statement: Arrest of El Hishri in Germany a Breakthrough for International Justice

States must ensure prompt surrender of suspects and full cooperation with the ICC’s Libya investigation

www.hrw.org

3

Reposted by Thomas Probert

Glyn Moody @glynmoody.bsky.social · Jul 25

UK ban on Palestine Action at odds with international law, says UN rights chief - www.theguardian.com/politics/202... "says the Home Office proscription restricts right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly" you'd think #starmer the lawyer would understand that, but no...

UK ban on Palestine Action at odds with international law, says UN rights chief

Volker Türk says the Home Office proscription restricts right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly

www.theguardian.com

4 32 55

Reposted by Thomas Probert

Omar Wasow @owasow.bsky.social · Jul 12

“The fact that organized protest can break the spiral of silence, and correct our impressions of what other Americans think, is one of the most immediate and important values of protesting in the first place. Scientists have [shown] protests update our impressions of what other citizens believe.”

What a ‘Spiral of Silence’ Can Do to a Democracy

Protests show people they are not alone in caring about an issue.

www.aol.com

7 200 550

Thomas Probert @thomasprobert.com · Jul 14

Plastics pollution is surging — the planned UN treaty to curb it must be ambitious

New research on nanoplastics pollution and ‘chemicals of concern’ underscores the need for a strong agreement when negotiations restart in Switzerland next month.

www.nature.com

1

Reposted by Thomas Probert

Kelly Hereid @kellyhereid.bsky.social · Jul 11

This heat wave mortality graphic tells quite the story.

Europe needs to get over itself and start rolling out air conditioning.

Paired curves comparing heat wave mortality impacts in US vs European cities. EU are much higher across the board

32 95 290

Reposted by Thomas Probert

Tyler McBrien @tylermcbrien.com · Jul 11

Signs posted today inside the State Department read:

"Colleagues, if you remain: RESIST FASCISM, Remember the oath you vowed to uphold"

"Here sat America's experts on democracy, human rights...and more. You've just released them and hundreds of their colleagues into the wild"

11 140 440

Reposted by Thomas Probert

Nahal Toosi @nahaltoosi.bsky.social · Jul 11

1/I’ve obtained a farewell note a person in the human rights bureau sent out to his colleagues after being fired from the State Department today. A few tidbits from it:

13 300 670

Thomas Probert @thomasprobert.com · Jul 10

"By framing the ICC as separate mechanism for condemning & adjudicating the legality of military actions, esp in situations where States disagree with the UNSC's decisions, States seek to amplify broader efforts at UN reform & secure a definitive outcome beyond the political compromises of New York"

Just Security @justsecurity.org · Jul 7

The International Criminal Court cannot afford to overpromise and underdeliver anymore, writes Nema Milaninia.

He outlines steps to strengthen the ICC’s ability to fulfill its current mandate rather than expand its authority:
www.justsecurity.org/116359/rethi...

Rethinking ICC Reform Ahead of the Special Session

States should use this session to reinforce the ICC’s foundations and ensure it can credibly discharge its existing mandate.

www.justsecurity.org

Reposted by Thomas Probert

Adam Gurri @adamgurri.liberalcurrents.com · Jul 6

If Labour cared about stopping Reform they’d implement proportional representation before the next election

14 19 210

Thomas Probert @thomasprobert.com · Jul 1

Ollie took his research to a new level by actually playing for @authorscc.bsky.social over the weekend!

Royal Historical Society @royalhistsoc.org · Jul 1

This week we conclude our review of the articles and books shortlisted for this year's RHS Early Career Article and First Book Prizes.

Today: Ollie Randall, ‘Cricket, Literary Culture and In-Groups in Early Twentieth-Century Britain’, bit.ly/3I8tUkv Transactions of the Royal Historical Society, 1/2

Cover page of Ollie Randall, ‘Cricket, Literary Culture and In-Groups in Early Twentieth-Century Britain’, Transactions of the Royal Historical Society

1 2