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International Law

Selected Works

Torture

Articles 1 - 6 of 6

Full-Text Articles in Criminal Law

The Torture Lawyers, Jens David Ohlin Dec 2014

The Torture Lawyers, Jens David Ohlin

Jens David Ohlin

One of the longest shadows cast by the Bush Administration’s War on Terror involves the fate of the torture lawyers who authored or signed memoranda regarding torture or enhanced interrogation techniques against detainees. Should they face professional sanction or even prosecution for their involvement? The following Article suggests that their fate implicates some of the deepest questions of criminal law theory and that resolution of the debate requires a fundamental reorientation of the most important areas of justifications and excuses. First, the debate about torture has been overly focused on justifications for torture. This can be explained in part by …

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The Bounds Of Necessity, Jens David Ohlin Dec 2014

The Bounds Of Necessity, Jens David Ohlin

Jens David Ohlin

The current controversy surrounding the legality of torture can only be understood through an analysis of the distinction between justified necessity and excused necessity. Although there may be strong prudential reasons for international criminal courts to declare torture unlawful under any circumstance, this would not necessarily prevent a court from recognizing that an excuse may apply. However, the hallmark of the necessity excuse should not be understood, as it is in German law, as an exception that only applies when a defendant breaks the law to save someone close to him. Rather, the basic principle of the excuse ought to …

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Impunity Writ Large: A Study Of Crimes Committed During Anti-Veerappan Operations, Saumya Uma Dec 2012

Impunity Writ Large: A Study Of Crimes Committed During Anti-Veerappan Operations, Saumya Uma

Dr. Saumya Uma

This paper discusses the atrocities committed by police officials belonging to a Joint Special Task Force (JSTF) established by the state governments of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka in India to capture Veerappan – a well-known forest brigand. The paper traces the widespread use of torture, inhuman and degrading treatment, extra-judicial killings and enforced disappearances of persons from poor and underprivileged communities living on the borders of Satyamangalam forest in this context. It analyzes the atrocities through the lens of international legal standards as well as Indian criminal law. It critically evaluates the responses of Indian state and democratic institutions, including …

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Waiting For Justice Dec 2010

Waiting For Justice

Dr. Saumya Uma

Kandhamal district of the state of Odisha in India, was the site of targeted violence against Christian dalits and adivasis in December 2007 and August 2008. This publication is a report of the National People's Tribunal on Kandhamal, held in New Delhi on 22-24 August 2010. The report documents the testimonies of 45 victims, survivors and their representatives, 15 expert testimonies of reports of field surveys, research and fact-finding, as well as statements to the Tribunal. It was organized by the National Solidarity Forum - a countrywide solidarity platform of concerned social activists, media persons, researchers, legal experts, film makers, …

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People's Tribunal On Torture Karnataka Report, Saumya Uma Jul 2008

People's Tribunal On Torture Karnataka Report, Saumya Uma

Dr. Saumya Uma

This is the interim report of the jury of the People's Tribunal on Torture, held in Bangalore, Karnataka. The Tribunal heard about 98 cases of custodial torture through the testimonies of victims / victim-survivors and / or their family members.

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People's Tribunal On Torture Rajasthan Report, Saumya Uma Jun 2008

People's Tribunal On Torture Rajasthan Report, Saumya Uma

Dr. Saumya Uma

This is the interim report of the jury of the People's Tribunal on Torture, held in Ajmer, Rajasthan. The Tribunal heard more than 50 cases of custodial torture through the testimonies of victims / victim-survivors and / or their family members.

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