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Free Malaysia Today
a day ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
SIS hails court ruling as milestone in keeping religious authorities accountable
The Federal Court today quashed a 2014 fatwa labelling Sisters in Islam 'deviant', in a ruling hailed as a win for constitutional rights and accountability. PETALING JAYA : Women's rights group Sisters in Islam (SIS) has hailed today's Federal Court ruling as a milestone in ensuring that religious authorities remain accountable to constitutional principles and the rule of law. The NGO said the landmark judgment, which quashed a 2014 fatwa issued by Selangor religious authorities, reaffirmed the supremacy of the Federal Constitution, the right to judicial review, and the principle that no institution, including those issuing fatwas, is above the law. 'This is not just a victory for SIS, but a win for all Malaysians who believe in due process, democratic oversight, and the inclusive spirit of Islam,' it said in a statement. SIS also maintained that when religious policies infringe on rights or discriminate, especially against women, citizens have the right to seek judicial review. 'This case is not about Islam, but about public law and public policy that must pass the test of public scrutiny,' it said. The NGO reiterated that its struggle 'was never an attack on Islam', but was a 'principled legal challenge to a process that lacked transparency, natural justice and faireness'. SIS had sought to quash the fatwa by the Selangor Islamic Religious Council that the NGO had deviated from the teachings of Islam by purportedly subscribing to 'liberalism' and 'religious pluralism'. It failed in its previous challenge of the fatwa in the lower courts between 2019 and 2023.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Political events in Southern Colorado this weekend
(COLORADO SPRINGS) — There are two very different political events in Southern Colorado this Saturday, June 14. People are protesting President Donald Trump in many locations, in light of the military parade at the nation's capital. At the same time, the El Paso County Young Republicans will host their second annual Summer Ranch Social. FOX21 News spoke with both groups. It's very important to note that these events are completely unrelated and just happen to fall on the same day. The protests stem from a global movement called 'No Kings'. If you check out their protest map by clicking here, you can see it's happening across America, but also overseas. 'When you have somebody who is making executive orders by the dozen, that is just, you know, bypassing Congress and bypassing the laws that we have, threatening the courts, threatening journalists, these important rights… you know, saying that protesters will be arrested. These are all part of the Constitution,' said Shawn Maddox, with 50501 Colorado Springs, 'these are our constitutional rights, and we respect and want to defend our Constitution.' In Southern Colorado, organizers have protests planned for Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Trinidad, and more. Local political organizations, 50501 Colorado Springs and Indivisible Colorado Springs, both decided to get involved. 'As an organization, we expect all of our supporters to conduct themselves lawfully and responsibly, and disavow anything advocating for disruption or violence,' said Maddox. 'We try to make sure that people stay out of the streets and don't block traffic. We, you know, are just there for the people and to keep the protests peaceful.' The Colorado Springs Police Department says it is aware of the event and prepared to respond to potential threats that may arise. The El Paso County Young Republicans Co-chair says its Summer Ranch Social is a day for connection, and only about 5% politics. 'Right now our focus is, to the extent that it's possible here in Colorado, forwarding President Trump's agenda and helping make the case for what he's doing… Protecting the rule of law,' said Joel Sorensen, the El Paso County Young Republicans Co-chair. Congressman Jeff Crank, who represents El Paso County, will attend as a special guest. 'One party domination doesn't do good things for the citizens of that community, especially here in El Paso, where we're really, you know, a red dot in a blue state… and then just making sure that that voice of resistance is there in the Denver capital,' said Sorensen. He says it's a time of unity within the party, and that President Trump is doing exactly what he was elected to do. 'Our parents' generation was able to afford a home. They were able to have a family… I think that there's a recognition that the Republican Party has come to, that there is something that we've lost and that we want to restore that,' said Sorensen. If you're interested in attending the Summer Ranch Social, an RSVP is required. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Washington Post
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Families file suit challenging Arkansas law that requires Ten Commandments be posted in classrooms
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Seven Arkansas families filed a lawsuit Wednesday challenging an upcoming state requirement that public school classrooms have posted copies of the Ten Commandments, saying the new law will violate their constitutional rights. The federal lawsuit challenges a measure Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed into law earlier this year, similar to a requirement enacted by Louisiana and one that Texas' governor has said he'll sign.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Yahoo
Lewiston Party House defendant seeks dismissal
The man who previously pleaded guilty to charges of providing booze and pot to teenagers in a Mountain View Drive home that became known as the 'Lewiston Party House' is asking to have his case dismissed. Gary Sullo, 58, has appealed to Niagara County Court Judge John Ottaviano, asking to have the charges he has already admitted to — and been sentenced for — thrown out because he claims his constitutional rights to a speedy trial were denied. Lawyers for Sullo and Niagara County District Attorney Brian Seaman argued the appeal before Ottaviano on Wednesday. Defense attorney Jessica Kulpit told the judge that after Sullo was first charged in 2018 it took '4 years, 9 months and 8 days' to resolve his case. 'There is no universe I can think of where it takes 5 years to resolve a misdemeanor case,' Kulpit said. While admitting that proceedings in the case were impacted by restrictions imposed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kulpit insisted that 'the Town of Lewiston Court did nothing, without explanation, the court did nothing (to advance the case). This is a deprivation of constitutional rights.' Sullo was sentenced by Lewiston Town Justice Hugh Gee to three years probation for his guilty plea to misdemeanor charges for providing alcohol and marijuana to teenagers in the home he shared with his late wife Tricia Vacanti, who was also originally charged in the case. His sentencing came more than six years after the first reports of booze and drug-fueled teenage parties at the home. Sullo was charged with multiple counts of endangering the welfare of a child and unlawful dealing with a child but ultimately pleaded guilty to just two counts of endangering the welfare of a child in a deal with Niagara County prosecutors. At the time of that deal, Sullo had filed a motion in Lewiston court to have the case dismissed, arguing that his speedy trial rights had been violated. Before prosecutors could respond to that motion, and before Gee could issue a ruling on it, Sullo reportedly emailed the judge and said he wanted to take the DA's plea offer. Kulpit said that despite her client's decision to take the prosecutor's offer, the request to have the case dismissed should have been ruled on in the Lewiston court. She said Sullo always expected to get a ruling. 'He took the plea believing he could still appeal,' Kulpit said. Assistant Niagara County District Attorney Laura Jordon told Ottaviano that Sullo has no right to appeal. 'The case law is clear,' Jordan told the judge. 'A guilty plea precludes a (speedy trial) appeal.' Jordan also said all of the delays in the case, before Sullo's guilty plea, were a result of either Covid restrictions or requests from his defense attorney. 'Not a single delay was attributable to the people,' Jordan said. 'The record (in the case) shows all those delays, outside of Covid, were at the defendant's request.' Sullo's sentencing followed the sentencing of the other remaining adult in the case, Jessica Long. Long, 43, was sentenced by Gee in January 2024 to six months of interim probation for her guilty plea to one count of first-degree unlawfully dealing with a child. Vacanti had faced 41 counts of unlawfully dealing with a minor and endangering the welfare of a child in connection with the house parties. But she died suddenly on July 3, 2022, and the charges against her were set aside. Specifically, Vacanti had been accused of providing booze and pot to at least three teenage girls, who later claimed they were sexually assaulted in her home by her then-teenage son, Christopher Belter. Belter was indicted, and pleaded guilty in June 2019, to felony charges of third-degree rape and attempted first-degree sexual abuse and two misdemeanor charges of second-degree sexual abuse for encounters with four teenage girls that occurred during the parties at the family's home in 2016 and 2018. In November 2021, Belter was sentenced to eight years of sex offender probation. A month later, he was classified as a Level 3 sex offender. Level 3 is the most serious classification and legally indicates a 'sexual predator.' Belter was also declared a sexually violent offender. Sullo and Vacanti were originally charged with 19 combined counts of unlawfully dealing with a minor and endangering the welfare of a child in connection with the parties at their home from 2016 to 2018. In January 2020, Niagara County prosecutors leveled an additional 22 counts of endangering and unlawful dealing against Vacanti and another eight counts of the same allegations against Sullo. Long was charged with single counts of unlawfully dealing with a minor and endangering the welfare of a child. Sullo, who now resides in Florida, was not present in court for the hearing on his appeal.
Daily Mail
07-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Margarita Maryland Senator gloats prematurely about return of deported migrant now charged with sick child sex crimes
Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen, who infamously met with alleged gang member Kilmar Abrego Garcia in El Salvador, celebrated his return to the United States to face criminal charges. On Friday, Attorney General Pam Bondi said that controversially deported 'Maryland man' Abrego Garcia, 29, had landed 'to face justice' over allegations of people smuggling and conspiracy to commit smuggling. Democrat Senator Van Hollen lobbied to meet with the man who was his constituent as his party raged over his detention in the El Salvadoran prison. That meeting sparked controversy when El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele posted a photo of Van Hollen and Abrego Garcia at a table with what appear to be margaritas, though Van Hollen claimed they were fake. Despite the disturbing criminal charges against Abrego Garcia, Van Hollen took a victory lap Friday suggesting he had done his job while taking shots at Donald Trump. 'For months, the Trump Administration flouted the Supreme Court and our Constitution,' Van Hollen said in a statement Friday. 'Today, they appear to have finally relented to our demands for compliance with court orders and with the due process rights afforded to everyone in the United States.' Van Hollen refused to give much mention of the charges against his constituent, saying it was not the point. 'As I have repeatedly said, this is not about the man, it's about his constitutional rights – and the rights of all. The Administration will now have to make its case in the court of law, as it should have all along.' The Trump administration initially accepted it had made a mistake in deporting Abrego Garcia, a father-of-three who arrived in the US illegally more than a decade ago. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also championed his return, saying it proved the 'unhinged Democrat Party' was wrong about Abrego Garcia, who liberals had dubbed a ' Maryland father-of-three'. Abrego Garcia was deported to El Salvador after being accused of being an MS-13 gang member. The deportation went ahead despite a court order forbidding his return which claimed he was at risk of persecution by the gang. Prior to this he had several brushes with the law in the US over the years, although none resulted in arrest or conviction. After initially ignoring a court order to facilitate his repatriation to the US, Bondi announced that Abrego Garcia has been hauled back to America to face charges stemming from one of these encounters. A federal grand jury indicted Abrego Garcia over claims he participated in a years- long operation trafficking people through the Texas border. Sources told ABC News that amongst those allegedly transported were members of the infamous Salvadoran gang MS-13. The conspiracy is said to have spanned nearly ten years and involved the transportation of thousands of migrants from Mexico and Central America. He is expected to be prosecuted and, if convicted, will be returned to his home country at the conclusion of the case, officials said. The investigation into the charges started after federal authorities started probing a 2022 traffic stop of Abrego Garcia by the Tennessee Highway Patrol, source said. He was stopped with eight people in his car and told officers he was driving them from Texas to Maryland for a construction job. The exchange led the officer to, 'suspect this was a human trafficking incident', according to a report produced at the time. But Abrego Garcia was let go with out any arrest or charge, despite having an expired license, per the document. Abrego Garcia was deported in March to El Salvador's CECOT mega-prison after the administration claimed he was a member of MS-13. Something he and his family have denied. President Donald Trump had repeatedly maintained in an interview with ABC's Terry Moran that Abrego Garcia has M-S-1-3 tattooed on his hand. Trump had posted multiple times showing knuckle tattoos, but Moran told him the actual M-S-1-3 letters and numbers had simply been photoshopped onto the image above Abrego Garcia's actual tattoos as a code to decipher them. His deportation saga began when he was pulled over by immigration officers on March 12 and was told his immigration status had changed. Within days he was on a plane to El Salvador and his family recognized him in CECOT from media images which showed off distinctive tattoos on his arm. Abrego Garcia was granted 'withholding of removal' status in 2019 after a judge determined his claims that he would be persecuted if he returned to El Salvador were legitimate. President Trump had said that he could retrieve Abrego Garcia with one phone call to El Salvador's president, but refused to do it. Abrego Garcia´s American wife sued over his deportation, and U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis ordered his return on April 4. The Supreme Court ruled on April 10 that the administration must work to bring him back. Late last month the administration asked a judge to throw out the lawsuit, arguing the court lacked jurisdiction because he was no longer in the US. Attorneys for the administration have also argued that information about returning Abrego Garcia is protected under state secrets privilege. U.S. attorneys said releasing such details in open court - or even to the judge in private - would jeopardize national security by revealing sensitive diplomatic negotiations. Many filings in the case have been sealed. The case has raised questions about whether due process was followed and highlighted the extent to which the White House is trying to exert control over the courts to bolster its immigration policy. In a statement about his return, Abrego Garcia's attorney Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg said: 'From the beginning, this case has made one thing painfully clear: The government had the power to bring him back at any time. 'Instead, they chose to play games with the court and with a man's life. We're not just fighting for Kilmar - we're fighting to ensure due process rights are protected for everyone. 'Because tomorrow, this could be any one of us -- if we let power go unchecked, if we ignore our Constitution.' Abrego Garcia's wife has stood by him throughout the saga, despite previously filing a report of domestic abuse against her husband. The Salvadoran was never charged over the report which was later retracted.
