The escalating conflict between Israeli forces and Palestinian armed groups has displaced hundreds of thousands of people, the UN reported on Monday.
World News in Brief: Displacement in Gaza and Israel, Afghan earthquake response
OHCHR and WHO launched guidelines to end mistreatment in mental health services
In anticipation of World Mental Health Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR) have jointly introduced today a guidance titled “Guidance and Practice for Mental Health, Human Rights and Legislation.” The objective is to support countries in reforming their laws to eliminate human rights violations and improve access to quality mental health care.
Human rights abuses and coercive practices in Psychiatry
Instances of human rights abuses and coercive practices in the field of health care persist across the globe often supported by existing laws and policies. These include hospitalization and treatment of substandard living conditions, as well as physical, psychological and emotional mistreatment prevalent in numerous mental health services.
Although several countries have made efforts to revise their laws, policies and services since the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2006 only a limited number have taken measures to amend relevant legislation on a significant scale. This is required to put an end to these abuses and promote rights within mental health care.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of WHO emphasizes that “Mental health is a component inseparable from the right to health.”
He also argues that this updated guidance will enable countries to make the changes in order to provide high-quality mental health care that promotes individuals’ recovery and respects their dignity. This empowers people with health conditions and psychosocial disabilities to lead fulfilling and healthy lives within their communities.
Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights emphasizes the importance of transforming mental health services not only in terms of their reach but also in their core values ensuring that they truly align with the needs and dignity of each person. He states that this publication offers guidance on how a rights-based approach can facilitate the needed transformation within health systems.
Encouraging Effective Mental Health Care Based in Communities
The majority of government spending on mental health is allocated to psychiatric hospitals, particularly in high-income countries accounting for 43% of the budget. However, evidence shows that community-based care services are not only more accessible but also more cost-effective and efficient compared to institutional models of mental health care.
The guidance outlines the steps to accelerate the process of deinstitutionalization and establish a community-oriented approach to mental health care based on human rights principles. This includes implementing legislation that gradually replaces institutions with inclusive community support systems and mainstream services, like income support, housing assistance and peer support networks.
Putting an End to Abusive Practices
According to the participants of the launching event and all those who participated in the guidelines, it is crucial to put an end to coercive practices in mental health. These practices, like detention and forced treatment, seclusion and restraints, violate the right of individuals to make informed decisions about their own healthcare and treatment options.
Moreover, there is mounting evidence that shows the effects of these coercive practices on both physical and mental well-being. They worsen existing conditions and isolate individuals from their support networks.
The guidance suggests incorporating provisions that eliminate coercion in mental health services. It emphasizes the importance of establishing informed consent as the cornerstone of all mental health interventions. Additionally, it provides recommendations on how to handle cases within legal frameworks and policies without resorting to coercive measures.
Adopting a Rights-Based Approach to Mental Health
Recognizing that promoting health extends beyond just the healthcare sector this new guidance is targeted at legislators and policymakers involved in drafting, amending and implementing laws related to mental health. This includes legislation addressing issues such as poverty, inequality and discrimination.
The guidance also includes a checklist for countries to assess whether their health-related legislation aligns, with international human rights obligations. Furthermore, it highlights the significance of seeking advice from individuals who have experiences and the organizations that represent them as an essential part of this process. It also emphasizes the importance of education and raising awareness about rights-related matters.
While the guidance suggests a set of principles and provisions that can serve as a framework for legislation it recognizes that countries have the flexibility to adapt and tailor them according to their particular circumstances. This includes considering factors such as context, languages, cultural sensitivities, legal systems and more—all while upholding human rights standards.
On October 10th the World Health Organization (WHO) joined communities in observing World Mental Health Day 2023 under the theme “Mental health is a fundamental right, for all.”
Large and important list of Acknowledgements
The development and coordination of this Guidance was led by Michelle Funk and Natalie Drew Bold under the overall supervision of Dévora Kestel from the Department of Mental Health and Substance Use of the World Health Organization (WHO) jointly with the Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Section of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). Writing team This publication was written jointly by WHO and OHCHR. On behalf of WHO Alberto Vásquez Encalada (Consultant, Switzerland), Michelle Funk (Department of Mental Health and Substance Use, WHO) and Natalie Drew Bold (Department of Mental Health and Substance Use, WHO). On behalf of OHCHR Staff members of the Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Section. WHO and OHCHR would like to thank the following individuals and organizations for their valuable contributions, feedback and inputs: External contributors and reviewers Natalie Abrokwa (University of Groningen, Kingdom of the Netherlands), Nazish Arman (Shuchona Foundation, Bangladesh), Peter Bartlett (Centre for Mental Health and Human Rights, Institute of Mental Health, Nottingham University/WHO Collaborating Centre on Mental Health, Disability and Human Rights, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland), Shreya Bhardwaj (Charles University, Czech Republic), Valerie Bichelmeier (Make Mothers Matter, France), Joann Bond (Attorney General’s Chambers and the Ministry of Legal Affairs, Guyana), Mauro Giovanni Carta (University of Cagliari, Italy), Francesca Centola (Mental Health Europe, Belgium), Pyali Chatterjee (ICFAI University, India), Dixon Chibanda, (Friendship Bench and University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe), María Soledad Cisternas (former Special Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General on Disability and Accessibility, Chile), Lee Allison Clark (Native Women’s Association of Canada, Canada), Jarrod Clyne (International Disability Alliance, Switzerland), Ria Mohammed-Davidson (Attorney at Law, Human Rights and Mental Health, Trinidad and Tobago), Maria de Lourdes Beldi de Alcântara (Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil), Eric Diaz Mella (Centro de Reorganimación Regional y Observatorio Social, Chile), Robert Dinerstein (American University Washington College of Law, the United States of America), Zuzana Durajová (Charles University, Czech Republic), Julian Eaton (CBM Global, the United Kingdom), Elisabetta Pascolo Fabrici (Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Giuliano Isontina (ASUGI)/WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Mental Health, Italy), Alexandra Finch (Georgetown University, the United States), Leon Garcia (Centro and Hospital das Clínicas, Brazil), Neeraj Gill (Griffith University, Australia), Guilherme Gonçalves Duarte (Permanent Mission of Portugal in Geneva, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Portugal), Piers Gooding (La Trobe Law School, Australia), Lawrence Gostin (O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown University Law Center, Georgetown University/WHO Collaborating Center for National and Global Health Law, the United States), Kristijan Grđan (Association for Psychological Support Croatia, Croatia, and Mental Health Europe, Belgium), Vivian Hemmelder (Mental Health Europe, Belgium), Edgar Hilario (Department of Health, Philippines), Torsten Hjelmar (Citizens Commission on Human Rights Europe, Denmark), Mushegh Hovsepyan (Disability Rights Agenda, Armenia), Dr Irmansyah (The National Research and Innovation Agency, Indonesia), Simon Njuguna Kahonge (Ministry of Health, Kenya), Olga Kalina (Georgian Network of (Ex)Users and Survivors of Psychiatry, Georgia, and the European Network of (Ex)Users and Survivors of Psychiatry (ENUSP), Denmark), Elizabeth Kamundia (Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, Kenya), Sylvester Katontoka (Mental Health Users Network of Zambia, Zambia), Brendan Kelly (Trinity College Dublin, Ireland), Hansuk Kim (Ministry of Health and Welfare, Republic of Korea), Seongsu Kim (Dawon Mental Health Clinic, Republic of Korea), Bernard Kuria (Ministry of Health, Kenya), Karilė Levickaitė (NGO Mental Health Perspectives, Lithuania, and Mental Health Europe, Belgium), Carlos Augusto de Mendonça Lima (World Psychiatric Association Section of Old Age Psychiatry, Switzerland), Laura Marchetti (Mental Health Europe, Belgium), Claudia Marinetti (Mental Health Europe, Belgium), Nemache Mawere (Ingutsheni Central Hospital, Zimbabwe), Felicia Mburu (Article 48 Initiative, Kenya), Roberto Mezzina (International Mental Health Collaborating Network and World Federation for Mental Health, Italy), Kendra Milne (Health Justice, Canada), Angelica Chiketa Mkorongo (Zimbabwe Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Trust, Zimbabwe), Guadalupe Morales Cano (Fundación Mundo Bipolar and European Network of (Ex)Users and Survivors of Psychiatry, Spain), Fabian Musoro (Ministry of Health, Zimbabwe), Macharia Njoroge (Championing for Community Inclusion in Kenya, Kenya), Nasri Omar (Ministry of Health, Kenya), Cheluchi Onyemelukwe-Onuobia (Babcock University, Nigeria), Hazel Othello (Ministry of Health, Trinidad and Tobago), Gemma Parojinog (Commission on Human Rights, Philippines), Soumitra Pathare (Indian Law Society, India), Eduardo Pinto da Silva (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Portugal), Gerard Quinn (UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Ireland), Carlos Rios-Espinosa (Human Rights Watch, the United States), Gabriele Rocca (World Association for Psychosocial Rehabilitation and WAPR Human Rights Committee, Italy), Jean-Luc Roelandt (Service de recherche et de formation en santé mentale, Etablissement Public de Santé Mentale (EPSM) Lille Métropole/Centre collaborateur de l’OMS pour la Recherche et la Formation en Santé mentale, France), Marta Rondon (Instituto Nacional Materno Perinatal, Peru), Artur Sakunts (Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly – HCA Vanadzor, Armenia), San San Oo (Aung Clinic Mental Health Initiative, Myanmar), Liuska Sanna (Mental Health Europe, Belgium), Josep Maria Solé Chavero (Support-Girona Catalonia, Spain), Slađana Štrkalj Ivezić (University Psychiatric Hospital Vrapče, Croatia), Charlene Sunkel (Global Mental Health Peer Network, South Africa), Kate Swaffer (Dementia Alliance International, Australia), Bliss Christian Takyi (St. Joseph Catholic Hospital, Ghana), Murali Thyloth (Ramaiah Medical College and World Association for Psychosocial Rehabilitation, India), Emanuela Tollozhina (Ministry of Health and Social Protection, Albania), Helal Uddin Ahmed (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Bangladesh), Yannis Vardakastanis (International Disability Alliance, Switzerland), Javier Vasquez (American University Washington College of Law, the United States), Simon Vasseur-Bacle (Ministère de la Santé et de la Prevention, France; Service de recherche et de formation en santé mentale, Etablissement Public de Santé Mentale (EPSM) Lille Métropole/Centre collaborateur de l’OMS pour la Recherche et la Formation en Santé mentale, France), Alan Woodward (Lifeline International, Australia), Stephanie Wooley (European Network of (Ex-)Users and Survivors of Psychiatry, France), Miguel Xavier (Ministry of Health, Portugal), Peter Badimak Yaro (BasicNeeds Ghana, Ghana) and Martin Zinkler (Gesundheit Nord gGmbH – Klinikverbund Bremen, Germany).
Ukraine: Civilians bear ‘unbearable’ toll amid ‘unrelenting’ attacks
Senior UN officials on Monday strongly condemned recent Russian attacks on Ukrainian towns and civilian infrastructure, emphasizing the need for accountability for those harming civilians during hostilities.
Mental health care ‘barriers’ must end, urges Guterres
Three in four people suffering from a mental health condition receive inadequate treatment – or none at all – UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Monday, as he urged countries to “break down the barriers that prevent people from seeking support”.
In his message marking World Mental Health Day on Tuesday 10 October, the UN chief underlined that mental health is vital to humanity, allowing us to lead fulfilling lives and contribute positively to our communities.
One in eight people globally lives with a mental health condition, with women and young people impacted the most. Many face stigma and discrimination.
No good approach to mental health without human rights
Echoing that message of support, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN human rights office, (OHCHR) released a joint guidance on mental health, human rights and legislation. Their guide -“Mental health, human rights and legislation: guidance and practice” – aims to support countries to reform legislation in order to end human rights abuses and increase access to quality mental health care.
Key elements of this new approach include respecting people’s dignity and “empowering” them to lead full and healthy lives, said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. The ambition must also be to transform mental health services by taking a rights-based approach, said Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Inequality
Echoing the need for radical change, the Special Rapporteur on the right to health, Tlaleng Mofokeng, called for new and innovative models of mental health policy where holistic support was the focus, along with tackling inequality of care.
While individuals can be genetically predisposed to mental health problems, the UN-appointed independent rights expert also noted that the persecution of individuals because of their gender identity, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, class position, migration status or disability negatively affected mental health “as a result of discrimination, social exclusion, marginalisation, criminalisation and exploitation”.
Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms. Mandate-holders are independent human rights experts appointed by the Human Rights Council to address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. They are not UN staff and are independent from any government or organization. They serve in their individual capacity and do not receive a salary for their work.
World Mental Health Day is an opportunity for people and communities to unite behind the theme ‘Mental health is a universal human right’ to improve knowledge, raise awareness and drive actions that promote and protect everyone’s mental health as a basic human right.
A person’s sense of smell can be compared to a genetic signature
We all encounter odors every day; they are ubiquitous and integral – from the smell of morning coffee to the scent of rain. But we also emit our own scent, unique to each person. That’s right: our bodies produce an odor that is influenced by our genes, the food we eat, and even our health. This interesting topic has attracted the attention of science, and its work in this area affects a wide range of fields – from forensic medicine to public health.
The smell you emit is comparable to your own biological signature, writes ScienceAlert. It is caused by a combination of a number of factors, including genetics, which play a large role. Certain genes in your body help make the proteins and chemicals that make up that unique scent.
However, smell is not something uniform and unchanging. Once the body has developed a smell, it still undergoes many changes. Sweat, oils and other substances released by the body interact with bacteria on the skin. As a result of the activity of bacteria, the initial smell changes, forming a more complex aroma that is unique to you. By this changed smell, you can identify a person and even determine whether he is healthy or not.
Researchers seek to understand human smell by studying certain gaseous chemicals released by the skin. These are called volatile organic compounds and they make up the scent you give off. Your body heat helps these compounds evaporate and spread into the air around you. This means anyone close enough can sniff you out.
One of the most intriguing things about fragrance is its ability to serve as a marker of your personality. It’s so clear that specially trained dogs can follow the tracks you leave. Experiments have shown that dogs can distinguish identical twins by smell alone – even a DNA test cannot cope with this task.
Subsequent studies went further and showed that race, ethnicity and even gender could be determined by smell. A 2017 study found that a specific set of 15 volatile organic compounds can determine a person’s race and ethnicity with surprising accuracy. He also showed that smell can determine a person’s gender with about 80% accuracy.
But even this is not all, because the smell can determine not only the person’s personality. There are specially trained medical dogs that can detect by smell if a person has diseases such as cancer and diabetes. Research shows that dogs can even detect COVID-19 with 90% accuracy. Similarly, laboratory tests of human smell have been shown to be able to identify people positive for COVID-19 with 75% accuracy.
The unique smell you emit also has practical uses. In forensics, odor samples can be collected at a crime scene, providing another layer of evidence. In healthcare, understanding a person’s sense of smell can provide a non-invasive way to monitor or diagnose health conditions.
The study of human smell is a field that continues to evolve. Researchers are working to improve our understanding of what makes each person’s scent unique and how this information can be used in practical applications such as health care and criminal investigations.
So the next time you smell someone, remember that your nose is entering a complex and incredibly diverse world that scientists are just beginning to understand. Perhaps in the future, the scent you leave behind will say more about you than any ID card. We can only hope that this information will be used in the future for humane purposes, far from the George Orwellian dystopia known to many.
Illustrative Photo by Tetyana Kovyrina: https://www.pexels.com/photo/girl-sitting-on-grass-smelling-white-petaled-flower-1879288/
Unity does not shy away from controversy
On September 30, 2023, Pope Francis hosted an ecumenical prayer vigil in advance of the synod of Roman Catholic bishops that would begin on October 4. He invited church leaders from various denominations to join him in prayer. Billy Wilson of the Pentecostal World Fellowship, Elijah Brown of the World Baptist Alliance, and I prayed together with 17 other global Christian leaders from non-Catholic churches for the future of the world, the future of the church of Jesus Christ, and the upcoming synod of the Catholic Church. Of the Christian leaders present, roughly half represented the wider Protestant and Evangelical wing of Christianity, the other half the Orthodox and the Old-Oriental churches. Each of us prayed in our mother tongue.
Often, when I attend events like these, controversy arises. As a worldwide network of Evangelicals, our purpose is to represent our global community, to give voice to the Evangelicals we represent. This is true regardless of who offers the invitation. Evangelicals are seen as part of the global Christian community in the eyes of the wider world. This includes Muslim or secular states and organizations, which know all of us simply as “Christians.” To give any of them the impression that we are not part of world Christianity by distancing ourselves from other churches, and by refusing even personal friendship with their leaders, as some sects and cults do, might have devastating effects on our work for Christians suffering discrimination and persecution. On the other hand, we don’t treat this grouping of Christian communities as synonymous with what we understand as the true body of believers. We continue to have a distinct understanding of the gospel. Church membership is not to be confused with being saved.
Our understanding of the body of Christ goes beyond a church denomination or network. For example, there are millions of evangelicals who are not institutionally connected with WEA, for example because in some countries, the government does not allow them to start a national alliance. Moreover, many Evangelicals are within churches that do not belong to a national alliance. Also, in some countries, historic Protestant churches are members of our alliances; in other countries, where these denominations tend to be theologically more liberal, there continue to be large numbers of Bible-believing members within these churches. In my home country of Germany, roughly half of the evangelical believers belong to what we call “free churches“; the other half are active in a wide range of organizations within the Lutheran and Reformed churches.
I am also mindful that God’s spirit continues to be at work. While charismatic or “Spirit-empowered” movements play a vital part within the WEA, yet they transcend all denominational and confessional borders. They engage with non-Protestant churches and connect large numbers of believers in our camp with those in other churches. As we try to understand the ways of God and the movements of the Spirit, we would be wise to avoid trying to decide who is “us” and who is “them.”
Coming back to the event as discussed in the introduction, one might wonder why Evangelicals should be praying for the synod of the Catholic Church. Firstly, praying does not mean that I necessarily agree on any of their particular views or positions. At the same time, the outcomes of these two synods (2023 and 2024) might have a great influence on Christians worldwide. That in itself is good reason to pray. We all have a vital interest in changes the bishops will discuss, and we should pray that the deliberations will help to bring the Catholic Church more in line with the Scriptures. Before participating in the September 30 ecumenical prayer vigil, as we always do on such occasions, we checked the liturgy for joint public prayer to ensure that it was in line with our core beliefs and did not contain any specific confessional elements that we would find objectionable. We have not papered over our differences with the Catholic Church. On the contrary, we have described them openly and in great detail.
Our core desire is to see Christians everywhere unified in Jesus Christ. As we pray and work for unity for the whole church, unity will only come when we are centered in Jesus as described and witnessed by the Bible. Our vision and calling are clear: we speak for Evangelicals and seek to bless the world through our many national alliances by our witness, our public defense of the gospel, our solidarity in prayer and evangelism, and lifting up Jesus, in whose name alone is our salvation, to the world.
In Europe are strengthening the security of Jewish sites
Several European international locations, most notably France and Germany, have introduced that they’ll take steps to extend police safety of Jewish sites on their territory following the Hamas assault on Israel and the subsequent declaration of martial legislation by the Israeli authorities and Prime Minister Benjamin’s assertion. Netanyahu that his nation is virtually in a full-scale conflict. The fears of a quantity of European governments are that each one this might result in a rise in anti-Semitic manifestations, writes Politico. French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanen stated he had requested prefects in France to extend security at synagogues and Jewish colleges and would convene consultations to evaluate the state of affairs, though there have been no experiences of “any danger” in France at the second. for the Jewish group.
In Germany, the Federal Government’s Commissioner for Anti-Semitism, Felix Klein, additionally warned of doable assaults on Jewish establishments, saying it was a “real danger, not a gray theory,” Spiegel quoted him as saying. “We know from our experience in the recent past that when the anti-Semitic terrorist organization Hamas attacks Israel, the danger to Jews in Germany increases,” Klein stated.
Regarding the normal threats of terrorist exercise in Bulgaria, there isn’t any elevated threat and the degree stays the lowest – third, which implies that one needs to be cautious. Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov instructed journalists at a briefing in the Council of Ministers.
Until now, two conferences of the National Counter-Terrorist Center, which is underneath the coordination of the National Security State Agency, have been held. Based on these two conferences, a report was drawn up and despatched to the Minister of the Interior.
In relation to establishments that are usually at elevated threat – airports, synagogues, railway stations, embassies, and many others., the threat degree of consideration has been elevated – yellow degree, and measures have been taken by the establishments in order to scale back the risks of terrorist acts.
In relation to all different establishments – state, and many others. the degree stays the lowest inexperienced, i.e. no elevated threat.
“With colleagues from the services, we discussed that there is a serious danger of the development of the conflict and its escalation, which could lead in the medium term to an increase in refugee flows, to risks with the supply of raw materials. There are more general risks at the global level,” Denkov added.
Similar measures to guard the Jewish group had been taken in Spain and Italy, native media reported.
Photo: Bulgarian Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov / Screen Shot bTV
The presidential dog was kicked out of the White House for attacking security guards
At least 11 cases of bites have been recorded
The US President’s pet German shepherd Commander was kicked out of the White House after repeatedly biting his owner’s security guard. Exactly what fate awaits the dog is still being decided, as the president’s wife’s spokesperson told the public.
Commander last bit a Secret Service agent last week, which landed the agent in the hospital. The most unpleasant thing for both the president and his guards was that this was already the 11th such case.
Another problem is that Commander is not the first dog in the presidential family to show aggression towards security. For exactly the same transgressions, his predecessor Major was also kicked out of his official residence and sent to Biden’s relatives.
Why are both dogs too aggressive?
It’s hard to say, but dog behavior experts say it’s possible that something in the guard reminded them of an unpleasant experience when they were puppies, and that intolerance of Secret Service personnel took root in their minds.
However, it is possible that some medical problem or genetic feature is to blame. In any case, the behavior of dogs is usually determined by a number of factors that will be carefully considered.
Whatever the reasons for ousting Commander from the White House, the safety of those responsible for the President’s security must come first.
“The president and first lady are serious about ensuring the safety of those who work at the White House and those who protect them every day,” Elizabeth Alexander, a spokeswoman for the first lady, said Wednesday.
“They are grateful for the patience and support of the Secret Service and all parties involved. The commander is no longer in the White House and is still deciding what lies ahead for him,” she added.
True, Alexander did not say exactly where the offending dog is now and whether he will return to the White House. The statement about the biting dog’s fate came after CNN reported that it had bitten the president’s security guard at least 11 times, and possibly more.
Earlier, White House spokeswoman Karin Jean-Pierre said the reason for this was the stress associated with living in the presidential residence.
“As you all know, life in the White House is like no other. It can be stressful for all of us. Now imagine what that does to a pet,” she said in July.
Canine psychology experts say the dog’s behavior may indeed be caused by the stressful situation in the White House. Erin Hecht, an assistant professor of human evolutionary biology at Harvard University who directs the Dog Brain Project, agrees.
“Dogs have personalities, just like people. And like people, they have different reasons to react aggressively or fearfully in different circumstances,” she said.
According to Hecht, those who encounter persistent behavioral problems in dogs, such as in the family of the President of the United States, should first take the animal to a veterinarian to rule out purely physiological problems, and then do a thorough investigation of the causes aggressive behavior to start fighting it.
Why do we treat people as property of their tyrants?
By Hasanboy Burhanov – Founder of the political opposition movement Erkin O’zbekiston (Free Uzbekistan)
On 2 October 2018, Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi dissident journalist, was killed by agents of the Saudi government at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey. He was aware that Mohammad bin Salman, the ruler of Saudi Arabia, wants his death. So why then did Jamal willingly walk into the Saudi consulate, stepping into a house of his mortal enemy?
The reason is: having divorced his wife, he went to the Consulate to obtain a document certifying that he was no longer married, so he could marry his Turkish fiancée. Any Western democratic country would demand the same document from him to allow him to remarry, and the only way to obtain it is to kindly ask the tyrant to oblige.
The situation Jamal Khashoggi found himself in is daily reality for millions of people who fled their countries. They may have fled years ago, built a new life for themselves in Germany or France, but they are not off the hook. One day their passports would expire – they would need new ones; if not passports, then a certificate of criminal record, or a birth certificate or some other document. And the only way to get it would be to ask the tyrants they had fled from to provide it.
Legal documents required by Western democracies become a leverage tyrants employ to control and silence their opposition abroad. Every emigrant fleeing the regime knows that if they become too vocal in their criticism they may regret it when their host country requests to provide a document of paper, for which they would need to travel back to their homeland – right into dictator’s embrace.
The case of criminal record certificates, required by many EU countries for obtaining residence permits, is especially telling. Many Russian prisoners, including paedophiles and murderers, were drafted into the Wagner mercenary group to fight in Ukraine. Those who survived get their criminal record wiped – from now on they would be able to present a clean slate, properly supported by Russia-issued papers, to any EU inquiry. At the same time, Alexey Navalny – the most famous political prisoner in Russia – will not get such a luxury: his criminal record is extensive, and it includes convictions for terrorism. If the EU judges potential immigrants by their paper records, a convicted paedophile with Ukrainian blood on their hands will look much more preferable to them than a civil activist, whose real crime was to voice their dissent.
Sometimes dictators use this power quite directly. Lukashenko, the Belorussian dictator that lost elections to Svietlana Tikhanovskaya, had ceased to issue Belorussian passports abroad. So by the current EU law, Svietlana Tikhanovskaya – once her passport expires – is expected to return to Belarus and ask Lukashenko to issue a new one for her.
We recommend to stop the practices sending citizens of countries under dictatorships back to their countries, when they need to obtain some the documents from their homeland. These documents are not trustworthy, obtaining them carries risk, and requiring them gives dictatorships undue leverage over their citizens abroad.
We recommend:
- In all democratic countries, amendments should be adopted to regulations that require foreigners, when interacting with government and civil organizations, to present documents with a limited validity period from their country of origin. This includes police clearance certificates, civil status certificates, newly issued birth certificates, and others. If the foreigner’s country of origin is on the list of non-democratic countries, these documents may be substituted with an affidavit signed by the applicant.
- A regulation should be adopted for all passport-related procedures, including border crossings and travel, for citizens of nations on the list of non-democratic countries. This regulation would permit the use of an expired passport and/or a valid ID issued by the country of residence, such as a residence permit or another form of identification.
We should not urge emigrants who fled their countries escaping tyranny to go back to their oppressors to ask for necessary papers putting their lives and freedom at risk.
Earthquake kills at least 100 in Herat, Afghanistan
A major earthquake struck Herat, Afghanistan early Saturday killing at least 100 people and triggering a spate of rescue and assessment missions by UN agencies, partners, and the de facto authorities.
