International Legal News - 25 August 2025

The following media round up on international and foreign policy issues from around the world for the period of 18 August to 22 August 2025. Guernica 37 will provide weekly media updates from the International Criminal Court, European Court of Human Rights, United Nations, European Union and other sources. Should you wish to contribute or submit a media summary, opinion piece or blog, please send to Ned Vucijak at nenadv@guernica37.com for consideration.

Guernica 37 International Legal News

22 August 2025

Federal Court in Florida orders dismantling of “Alligator Alcatraz”

The state of Florida has been given 60 days to dismantle an immigrant detention facility, commonly referred to as “Alligator Alcatraz”. A federal lawsuit filed by Friends of the Everglades and the Center for biological Diversity, argued that the site skipped federally required environmental impact reviews, which would have required input from the public.

The filing, however, follows allegations that the site has facilities that are wholly inadequate for its occupants.

U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams issued an 82-page ruling that prohibits the State from admitting new detainees and requires officials to begin tearing down the site.

It is understood that Governor Ron Desantis and the State of Florida has filed a notice of appeal.

For more on this story, see here.

For a PDF of the filing, see here.

For a PDF of the Judgment, see here.

22 August 2025

Former UK Home Secretary calls for UK to ‘Suspend’ its commitments to European Convention

The UK’s former Home Secretary during the Blair Premiership, David, Lord Blunkett, has called on the incumbent Prime Minster, Sir Keir Starmer to ‘suspend’ the European Convention on Human Rights (“ECHR”) to facilitate expedited deportation of thousands of rejected asylum seekers. It is reported that there are currently more than 50,000 migrants who have appealed against rejected asylum applications.

Lord Blunkett said:

“I think we are going to have to look at not necessarily pulling out of the ECHR or 1951 UN [Refugee] Convention but perhaps temporarily suspending particular elements of it. […] [t]he Germans have done it, but only for three months. We may have to do it for six months in order to get a grip, to ensure the appeals process is not abused.”

The proposal comes amidst political upheaval over the use of over 200 hotels by the State to provide emergency accommodation for more than 32,000 asylum seekers. The use of hotel provisions is now in question after Epping Council (in Essex) secured an injunction against the incumbent Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, from utilising hotels in Epping, although this injunction is subject to appeal.

Throughout its history, only two countries have ever left the Council of Europe. Greece during its civil war, before being readmitted in 1974, and Russia which was expelled following her invasion of Ukraine.

For more on this story, see here.

21 August 2025

Shell threatens to issue claim against Bolivia

An investment treaty claim against Bolivia brought by Shell is in the offing, over measures affecting its oil and gas interests.

The news follows an annulment of a commercial arbitration award and “malicious” criminal proceedings being brought against local employees of the multinational oil conglomerate.

For more on this story, see here.

20 August 2025

Kurdish authorities urged to release journalist facing sentence extension

The Committee to Protect Journalists (“CPJ”) has urged Iraqi Kurdish authorities to release the Kurdish journalist Sherwan Sherwani, after a court extended his prison sentence.

Sherwani has been sentenced for an additional four years and five months by the Bnaslawa Misdemeanour Court., a development described by his legal representative as “oppressive” and “pre-determined”. Sherwani was charged with threatening a counter-terrorism officer and his family while in detention, which was treated as a breach of Article 229 of the Iraqi penal code which prohibits assaults against state employees.

This development follows criticism of the Kurdistan Region in regard to its violation of freedom of speech norms. In 2023, Amnesty International noted that 37 journalists were arrested and 27 faced attacks or threats.

For more on this story, see here.

19 August 2025

Australia joins Register of Damage for Ukraine

The State of Australia has opted to join as an associate member of the Register of Damage for Ukraine (“RD4U”). The move represents further indication of Australia’s commitment to securing peace and accountability in the region.

RD4U was founded by the Council of Europe (CoE) for Ukrainians persons, businesses, and state/municipal entities who seek compensation for damages that have arisen as a consequence of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Register itself is an enlarged partial agreement, which refers to CoE initiatives that are open to both member and non-member states of the CoE.

The Register opened for applications on 2 April 2024.

Australia is the 45^th member of the Register, alongside 43 other states and the European Union.

For more on this story and about the Register, see here.

18 August 2025

Hong Kong activist granted asylum in the UK

The Hong Kong independence activist Tony Chung (24) has been granted asylum in the UK two years after fleeing the region.

Chung was one of dozens of pro-democracy activists who have been subject to arrest warrants and bounties by the authorities in Hong Kong.

Nevertheless, it is reported that activists continue to experience intimidation, harassment, and other forms of persecution for expressing pro-democracy sentiments abroad. The G7 have issued a statement this month in response condemning Hong Kong for seeking to: “silence, intimidate, harass, harm or coerce” activists abroad.

For more on this story, see here.