THE HUMAN RIGHTS HAGGADAH BLOG
Death Penalty for the Tree of Life Massacre?
On August 2nd a federal Jury recommended the death sentence for Robert Bowers, perpetrator of the 2018 massacre at the Tree of Life synagogue
Torah Burning Protests: Let’s Just Forget It
Today Sweden once again granted permission for a Torah burning protest outside the Israeli Embassy, this time by a woman concerned about children’s rights
Who Decides english and math in Yeshivas?
Last week the New York City Department of Education sent a warning letter notifying 18 yeshivas that they are failing to teach secular subjects at
Biden’s Plan to Counter anti-semitism: don’t judge this book by its cover
Recently, the Biden administration released an impressive 60 page plan titled “The U.S. Strategy to Counter Anti-Semitism.” It contains hundreds of detailed action items.
Pogrom at RightsCon?
I recently had the opportunity to attend RightsCon, a convention which brought over 8000 participants from 174 countries to discuss ‘human rights in the digital
Human Rights Watch (Finally) Criticizes Palestinians Too
In the Jewish community, Human Rights Watch (HRW) is frequently accused of anti-Israel bias. It’s fair to say that Human Rights Watch is sometimes even
Saudis responsible for mass executions, not the quran
On March 12th Saudi Arabia executed a staggering 81 prisoners all at once. The Saudis claim each of them had been duly sentenced to death
How to kick Russia out of world sports
On February 28th, the FIFA council, governing body of world soccer, suspended Russia from participating in international soccer matches, including the upcoming World Cup.
Torture in A Small Cell
One of Chicago’s newer museums is also its most frightening. It’s the museum of Medieval Torture, located just North of the loop. It displays a
Environment as a human right
Last Friday, Oct. 8th, the United Nations Human Rights Council voted overwhelmingly to declare that access to a ‘safe, clean, healthy, and sustainable environment’
What We Can Say when Israel is Accused of War Crimes
Unfortunately, we frequently hear Israel accused of war crimes. On the news, in op-eds, and for that matter in discussions at the gym or supermarket.
Not a Right Doesn’t Mean Wrong
Recently, the organization nonhumanrights.org scored a legal win. Yes, nonhumanrights.org! What is this about, you may wonder? Do they work against human rights? Is
Limits of Religious Freedom and the Atlanta Spa Shootings
The tragic Atlanta spa shootings may have been motivated by religious guilt, for which the perpetrator’s Church bears some responsibility.
difference between a 15-year-old stabber and 19-year-old Holocaust Guard?
What should be done with a man in his 80s or 90s who way back when they were a teenager committed a crime?
Israel has little to fear from the International Criminal Court
Israel need not be so afraid of the ICC’s investigation into Gaza and the West Bank. Consequences for Israel will likely be limited, if at all.
ICC Jurisdiction Over Gaza Not Anti-Israel at All
The ICC determined that it has jurisdiction over Gaza. While this angers Israel, it is a reasonable decision that may actually be good.
Controversy On State Department Report On Human Rights
The U.S. State Department recently released a document titled ‘Report of the Commission on Unalienable Rights’, with the purpose of clarifying and assessing the role
Human Rights and Statues
Recently there has been much argument over statues of historical figures that owned slaves or carried out other such injustice. People argue that honoring these
Book Review: Evicted, by Mathew Desmond
In his recent book Evicted, Mathew Desmond follows the detailed stories of poor Milwaukee residents as they struggle with the threat of eviction, are evicted,
court can be worse than crime
Chanel Miller wrote her memoir, titled ‘Know My Name’, to give readers a window into sexual assault and the toll on victims from prosecuting it
Who Will Prevent Death in the Desert?
In 2017, four volunteers from the ministry ‘No More Deaths’ left food and water for migrants in the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Reserve along the Mexican
Today’s Land Mines May be smarter, but bringing them back is still a mistake
In 1997, the use, manufacture, and stockpiling of anti-personal land mines was banned via what’s commonly referred to as the Ottowa Treaty. This was
Wisconsin’s Enormous Prison Count and Mistreatment of Prisoners
Last week I attended a panel titled ‘Reentry: Ready or Not’ organized by Milwaukee’s Community Advocates Public Policy Institute, the Milwaukee Turners, and other local
Mississippi Restitution Centers Are an Unwelcome Throwback to slavery
Imagine being imprisoned because you can’t pay $656 that you owe. That can happen today in Mississippi, where poor people who cannot afford court ordered
Why We Can’t Target Iranian Cultural Sites
As tensions with Iran rise, Donald Trump today threatened to retaliate against 52 potential Iranian targets should that country strike the United States. Evidently
Bloomberg Discovers Prison Labor
Michael Bloomberg, billionaire late entrant to the presidential race, was recently found using prison labor to make campaign calls. When this was discovered by The
If Shelter Isn’t A Right, Sleeping Surely Is
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights lists food, clothing, housing, and medical care, along with the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness
Should Israel Give The International Criminal Court Another Look?
Many of us who care about Israel are frequently up in arms about the bias international organizations tend to have against it. Most notorious
Boycotts May Do More Harm Than Good
Boycotts and sanctions against human rights violators is a common tactic to bring about change. Refusing to purchase abusers’ products seems like a simple,
Pardons for The Worst of All Reasons
Last week, evidently against the advice of many of his military advisors, President Trump pardoned three U.S. soldiers. One is army First Lt. Clint Lorance.
Even though he only advocates against settlements, Israel has reasons to deport omar shakir
Several days ago Israel’s high court voted to uphold the Israeli government’s revocation of Omar Shakir’s visa to work in Israel, thereby clearing the path
the Right Time to Condemn Armenian Genocide?
Last week, the U.S. House voted to recognize the Ottoman Empire’s 1915 massacre and displacement of 1.5 million Armenians as genocide. This angered the government
Trump’s New Rule Asks The Wrong Question
The Trump administration announced yesterday that asylum seekers who have previously been through a third country may no longer apply for asylum in the U.S.
Dead Eye and the Deep Blue Sea
In The Dead Eye and the Deep Blue Sea, Vannak Prum tells how he was taken from Cambodia and enslaved for years on a Thai fishing boat. His story shows how easily even today people can still be taken as slaves.
Alabama prison Conditions Are A Human Rights Disaster
The United States has 5% of the world’s population, but houses approximately 25% of the world’s prisoners. The confinement of such a vast number of
Why We Can’t Live and Let Be Stoned
The small nation of Brunei announced this week that it intends to punish homosexuality and adultery with death by stoning, in keeping with their strict
Don’t Deny Asylum Because of the Bible
Britain’s Home Office just rejected the asylum application of a man who converted from Islam to Christianity. We do not know the formal basis of
Slavery Reparations- David Brooks Changing His Mind
David Brooks, noted columnist for the NY Times, wrote a remarkable column today in which he calls himself a ‘slow convert’ to the cause of
Migrants Don’t Deserve Death
Immigration into the United States over the Southern border is currently the source of major political controversy. Legally, the people crossing into the country are
Focus on the Traffickers, not Robert Kraft
The recent charges against Patriots owner Robert Kraft for allegedly soliciting prostitution at a Florida massage parlor have brought human trafficking back into the public
Asylum Seekers Forced to Work for $1/ Day while Waiting for Immigration Courts
Many readers here are likely familiar with the troubling use of prison labor in the United States. Somewhat less known is that not only people
Colorado Votes to Outlaw Slavery: No More Exceptions
In the recent midterm elections, Colorado’s vote to amend the state’s constitution was easily overlooked because of the extensive focus on the races for congress.
The Importance of Restoring Voting Rights to Felons
ACLU Justice Tour This weekend I attended an event called ‘The Justice tour’ sponsored by the ACLU of Wisconsin. There were a number of informative
Trump Can’t Blame Asylum Seekers for Their Own Mistreatment
“Tell people not to come to our country illegally,” Trump told reporters. “That’s the solution. Don’t come to our country illegally. Come like other people
Asylum Seekers Have The Right To Due Process of Law
Donald Trump tweeted today that people caught sneaking into the U.S. from Mexico should be sent back immediately, with no judges or court cases. He
Consumer Activism No Substitute for Government Regulation
Most people would rather not consume products that are produced by slave labor. Some people are also willing to spend a little extra money for
Help Refugees Before They Leave Home
A boat with 600 odd refugees from Africa finally found a port in Spain after being turned away by Italy and other countries. You can
Sessions’ Decision on Solid Legal Ground, But Asylum Is a Moral Question Also
Attorney General Jeff Sessions made a significant change this week to how immigration courts will evaluate requests for asylum. His legal logic is reasonable, but
NJ Child Marriage Ban Defeated Due To Orthodox Opposition
Last week the New Jersey state legislature was set to make that state the second (after Delaware) to set 18 as an absolute minimum age
In Interviewing Asylum Seekers, Moral Difficulties the Hardest
In April, the Atlantic magazine ran an informative article by Graeme Wood about the techniques German immigration authorities use to try to sort legitimate asylum
15 Year Old Runaway Girl Trafficked For Sex
Unfortunately, this news report of a 15 year old girl drugged, raped, and sold for sex is nothing new. I want to highlight it, though,
Just Because Asylum Seekers Enter U.S. Illegally That Doesn’t Mean They Are Committing A Crime
What do you call someone who takes another person, straps him down to a table, then cuts open his stomach with a knife and starts
Credibility of Asylum Seekers
Many news outlets report today that several members of the Guatemalan caravan have been allowed to enter the U.S. for the purpose of being processed
Visitor Strip-Searches at Rikers Island Show How Vulnerable Inmates Are to Abuse
A recently filed lawsuit has brought to light allegations that visitors to Rikers Island prison in New York are subjected to frightening, invasive, demeaning, and
Guatemalan Asylum Seekers and Coaching
Approximately 400 people have traveled through Mexico from Guatemala to the U.S. border for the purpose of seeking asylum in the United States. There has