The Permanent Peoples' Tribunal charges Turkey with war crimes against Kurds
Issue 420: India vs. its 200 Muslims (again), an African history of Africa, a novel about ISIS, and a Japanese rat... in soup.
This issue focuses on one of my favorite tools in international law: the Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal. Their latest verdict is in on Rojava vs. Turkey — and it’s packed with recommendations for, well, pretty much everyone. Then, on Friday, India’s government decided to change the rules for Muslim charities. It now wants receipts, a seat at the table, and the final say on who owns what. With 200 million Muslims in the country, let’s just say the response wasn’t quiet — protests kicked off immediately.
Also inside: an African history of Africa (finally), Iraqi fiction that roasts ISIS, a Cuban film legend whose work you should absolutely watch before your next date (trust me), an Argentinian Y2K throwback, and a Japanese rat… in soup. Yes, soup.
Rojava vs. Turkey: The verdict is in
What happened On March 26, at the European Parliament, the Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal (PPT) came to a close in the case of Rojava vs. Turkey. The 54th session of this citizen-led tribunal was all about Turkey’s action in north-east Syria, especially in the Kurdish region known as Rojava. The big takeaway? The international panel found serious cause for concern over Turkey’s military actions there.
Good to know:
The Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal isn’t a formal court, but its verdicts carry moral and political weight. Past sessions have examined apartheid, genocide, and colonialism. It gives legitimacy and visibility to causes ignored by mainstream international courts, and gathers testimonies, evidence, and expert analysis that can be used later in real legal settings. But: It has no legal power, and can’t arrest, sanction, or enforce any rulings.
Rojava’s administration is known for gender equality policies, ethnic diversity, and bottom-up governance—rare traits in the region.
Why this matters: The verdict lands right when the Kurdish people’s struggle for recognition—and peace—in both Syria and Turkey is reaching a critical point.
Tell me more The tribunal was hosted by the Free University of Brussels (VUB) and had brought together human rights activists, legal experts and witnesses of Turkey’s military operations in the region–basically people who’ve seen what’s been going on since around 2018, when Turkey took control of Afrin, a region in northern Syria. The tribunal’s conclusion? The Turkish state is committing war crimes and crimes against humanity. No one from the Turkish government showed up, even though they were invited, so the tribunal went ahead without them – basically a trial in absentia.
Give me the details
They heard testimony about:
Kurdish people being kicked out of their homes in Afrin – about 300,000 displaced
Homes being handed over to Sunni Arabs and Turkmen (who were also displaced during the war)
Street signs and education being “Turkified” – Kurdish language and names were basically erased
Bombings in 2019 that displaced another 140,000 people
Even allegations of using banned weapons
And the bigger picture: a systematic effort to wipe out Kurdish identity and culture
Turkey, for its part, says it’s just defending its borders and going after the YPG, the Kurdish militia that controls parts of northeast Syria. Turkey sees the YPG as basically the same as the PKK, a Kurdish group that’s officially labeled as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US, and the EU because of its armed conflict inside Turkey.
Zoom out: But the tribunal didn’t just call out Turkey—it handed out a to-do list for several players: Turkey, Syria, the UN, the EU, and the broader international community. Here’s what each one was told to do:
For Turkey:
Leave Afrin and stop backing the armed groups there.
Stop attacking Rojava and respect Syria’s borders.
Let UN and human rights groups in to investigate reported war crimes.
Open up prisons and detention centers in areas it controls.
For the Syrian government:
Recognize Rojava’s self-rule and its local government.
Respect its values, like gender equality and ethnic/religious representation.
Push back on Turkey’s cross-border attacks, and if they don’t stop, take the issue to the International Court of Justice.
For the United Nations:
The Security Council, UNHCR, and Commission of Inquiry on Syria should take action.
The Secretary-General is urged to get involved too.
For the EU and European countries:
Start legal proceedings against Turkey through European human rights institutions.
Speak out clearly against war crimes committed in Rojava.
For the international community: Support the global recognition of Rojava’s autonomy as part of building peace for the Kurdish people across the region.
Dig deeper: What are Permanent Peoples' Tribunals, and how do they interact with international law? I've created a NotebookLM audio podcast based on the book "Peoples' Tribunals and International Law" (2017) for you. Listen to it here (25 min).
The government in India just changed the rules for Muslim charities
What happened India has just passed a major and highly controversial law that changes how Muslim charitable properties are managed. These properties, known as waqf, have been donated over centuries by Muslims for the benefit of their communities.
Why this matters: This isn’t just about land — it’s about power, trust, and who gets to manage community spaces. For some 200 million Muslims in India, the waqf system is one of the few remaining institutions under their own stewardship. Changing that structure without their full participation risks deepening feelings of exclusion. But at the same time, calls for greater transparency and modernization aren’t new — and real reform could help protect these properties if it’s done in partnership with the communities they serve.
Tell me more The bill was passed despite huge opposition from Muslim leaders and opposition parties, who say it’s unconstitutional and strips minority communities of control over their own institutions. There have been large protests in cities like Kolkata and Delhi. While the government claims the bill is about transparency, critics see it as part of a pattern of the ruling BJP undermining Muslim rights.
What's changing? Until now, waqf properties didn’t always need paperwork — if land was donated by word of mouth or had been used by the Muslim community for years, that was often enough. But under the new law, Waqf Boards now have to show official documents to prove a property belongs to them. And if there’s a disagreement — especially over land the government also wants — it’s the state that gets the final say.
The bill also:
Allows non-Muslims on waqf boards and tribunals
Removes the final authority of waqf tribunals — now courts can step in
Requires all waqf properties to be registered centrally within six months
Gives the government more control over surveys and oversight
What do critics fear?
Losing control over their own community spaces: Waqf properties — like mosques, schools, and graveyards — have always been managed by Muslim communities themselves. Now, critics say the government’s taking over too much, especially with plans to let non-Muslims sit on the waqf boards and to give the state the final say in land disputes.
Old donations could be at risk: A lot of waqf land was donated informally, sometimes just by word of mouth or through community tradition. Under the new rules, those properties need official documents — and if there aren’t any, the government could claim the land or hand it over to someone else.
More legal battles, more pressure: Until now, waqf tribunals had the final word on most issues. But with this bill, courts can now step in and overrule them. That could mean long, complicated legal fights — especially over valuable land — and smaller waqf boards might not have the resources to keep up.
What are the arguments in favor?
There are some.
Cleaning up the paperwork: There are tons of waqf properties in India, but many don’t have proper records. Supporters of the bill say that’s led to land being misused or taken over illegally. A central system would help keep track of everything and make things more transparent.
Cutting down on corruption: Some waqf boards have been accused of shady stuff — like political appointees using the system for personal gain. The new rules would introduce stricter checks and more oversight, including the option to take issues to court if something doesn’t seem right.
Making things more consistent across the country: Right now, each state runs its own waqf board — some are well-organized, others not so much. The bill sets up a more standardized system, which could help weaker boards get the support they need and make sure all waqf properties are managed properly, no matter where they are.
What now? The bill has passed both houses of India’s Parliament — the Lok Sabha (lower house) and the Rajya Sabha (upper house). That’s a big deal, but it still needs the President’s assent to officially become law. In India, once the President signs a bill, it’s formally enacted and becomes part of the law. So unless that’s already happened very recently, we’re still in the final stage — just waiting on that last stamp of approval.
what else happened
Bad
Tunisia: President Kais Saied swapped out his PM (again) — now it’s Sarra Zaafrani Zenzri. She is Tunisia’s second female PM. That might sound progressive, until you find out Tunisia also just pulled out of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights. No explanation, but his authoritarian streak might be the reason. (Al Jazeera, Middle East Monitor, Nawaat)
Israel/Palestine: A week after 15 humanitarian workers in Gaza were reported missing, their bodies were found in a shallow mass grave, and most of them had been shot — some even multiple times, possibly at close range. These were aid workers from the Palestine Red Crescent and other rescue teams, wearing their uniforms and riding in clearly marked vehicles. Israel says some of them were militants and claims they were approaching suspiciously, but people on the ground — including U.N. and medical officials — are saying these were clearly paramedics, not fighters. The U.N. has called it a serious violation of international law and is demanding an independent investigation. One paramedic is still missing, and another says the ambulances were heavily fired on while they were trying to help wounded civilians. (The New York Times)
DRC: Since January 2024, Africa has logged over 111,000 mpox cases. The Africa CDC says just under 26,000 of those were confirmed, with 1,724 deaths. Last week alone, there were 3,323 new infections and 24 people died. The DRC is the epicenter, reporting 2,451 cases in just one week. The ongoing clashes between the Congolese army and M23 rebels are making it more difficult to deal with mpox. Labs are down, testing is patchy, and healthcare workers are stuck in a conflict zone. (African Press Agency)
Africa: According to the Center for Global Development, the U.S. has slashed US$13.2 billion from USAID’s global programs, with some countries losing up to 100% of their aid. Yes, Ukraine tops the list in raw dollars (US$1.4B cut), but Liberia takes the biggest blow relative to its economy, losing aid equivalent to 2.6% of its entire GNI. Ethiopia and the DRC each lost nearly US$400 million, and over 30 countries, from Nepal to Senegal, saw their entire USAID programs wiped out. Civil society stuff got cut the hardest. The aid landscape is already changing. Cue China, Russia, and the UAE. (Center for Global Development)
Somalia: Guess what didn’t get cut in Africa? US airstrikes. The US military carried out multiple strikes in Somalia last week, targeting what they claim are ISIS-linked operatives. It’s the eighth round this year — more than the same period in 2024 and 2023. No one knows how many were killed or who they really were. (The Continent, issue 196, Hiiraan Online)
Senegal: Turns out Senegal’s government lied about the books. They told the IMF their debt was 74% of GDP. Actual number? 105%. Oops. Now, the IMF has frozen a US$1.8 billion loan — and says Senegal needs to make cuts to unlock more cash. First on the chopping block? Fuel discounts. Translation: everything’s about to get more expensive in Dakar. (African Press Agency)
Niger: An ISIS-linked group attacked a mosque in Kokorou during Friday prayers, killing 44 people. They surrounded the building, opened fire, and torched nearby homes. The region (Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger) is ruled by military groups who promised to rid it of Muslim extremists. Well, the militant group is definitely not gone. (Al Jazeera)
Interesting...
Haiti: Thousands of people in Haiti took to the streets this week, fed up with the armed groups that have basically taken over most of the capital. A big coalition called Viv Ansanm has pushed over a million people out of their homes and is behind a lot of the violence — including killings, extortion, and sexual assaults. The protest started off peaceful, with people carrying signs and palm leaves, but things got tense when gunfire broke out and everyone scattered. A lot of people blame the government for not doing enough — or even helping these groups behind the scenes. And just to make things worse, the U.S. hit Haiti with new tariffs this week, which could really hurt the economy even more. (Reuters)
Myanmar / Thailand: After the huge earthquake that hit Myanmar and killed over 3,000 people, the country’s military junta announced a temporary ceasefire until April 22 so rescue and recovery efforts can move forward. But reports say they’ve still carried out airstrikes since then. The situation’s really bad — cities like Mandalay have no electricity or clean water, and aid groups are warning of a potential health crisis due to lack of sanitation and rising cases of diarrhea and heat-related illness. India has set up a big field hospital in Mandalay and started treating patients, while Japan sent aid and donated US$3 million. People are still rattled by nearly 70 aftershocks in just a week, and many are sleeping outside out of fear. (CNN, The Irrawaddy) In Thailand, the only building that actually collapsed was a 30-story government tower still under construction. At least 13 people died, and more are likely still trapped. Now people are saying it might’ve been a “tofu building” — basically code for super cheap, badly built structures — with possible corruption involved. A Chinese contractor was part of the project, and now they’re under the spotlight, while the Chinese embassy says they’ll cooperate with the investigation. (South China Morning Post)
Algeria: Algeria’s parliament is busy drafting a law that would retroactively criminalize French colonial-era human rights violations — massacres, torture, the lot. It’s a legal clap back for 130 years of brutal colonization that ended in 1962 after a bloody war. The timing? Not random. France recently backed Morocco’s claim over Western Sahara, which pissed off Algeria. France and Algeria are now in a diplomatic "Cold War". (The New Arab)
Mozambique: After months and months of post-election protests, the president and opposition leader finally sat down — at a late-night meeting set up by foreign diplomats and church leaders. Opposition leader Mondlane claims he won the October election, despite the official results. Protests have been deadly: at least 353 people dead, says a local NGO. The president says the meeting was “positive.” The opposition wants justice, medical aid, and compensation. Let’s see if anything actually changes. (Bloomberg)
DRC / Rwanda / Angola: Angola’s president João Lourenço is out –– as mediator in the DRC-Rwanda-M23 peace negotiations. For two years, he tried to get DRC and Rwanda to talk it out. Nothing stuck. The latest peace summit? Both presidents bailed and had their own secret meetup in Doha instead. Meanwhile, the M23 rebels marched further into DRC than they have in a decade. Now the African Union needs a new referee. (DW)
Good
African economy: Africans are using digital money a lot alot, with projections saying they'll hit a US$1.5 trillion by 2030. This is because there's 20 percent more internet access and 6 percent more financial inclusion. Plus, Mastercard’s all in, teaming up with local banks, so people can better do cross-border transactions. (The East African)
Libya: Researchers found 7,000-year-old mummies in a Libyan cave and managed to sequence their DNA. Turns out: These women were part of a totally unknown human lineage. Their ancestors split from other Africans 50,000 years ago and stayed isolated the whole time. Even during the Green Sahara period, they barely mixed with other groups. Scientists are stunned because their DNA looks way older than expected, and no one really knows where they were hiding out all those years. (BBC Science Focus)
South Korea: The country's top court just kicked President Yoon out of office — all eight judges voted for it. Why? He randomly declared martial law in December and sent the military to the National Assembly. The court basically said he crossed a major line and broke the rules of democracy. The country’s very divided: anti-Yoon protesters were out in the streets crying and dancing to K-pop, while his supporters — many of them older conservatives — were devastated, shouting and accusing the court of corruption. People had worried things might get violent, but it stayed mostly calm. For a lot of folks, this feels like justice finally catching up — but also just the start of a much bigger fight over where the country’s headed. (The Korea Herald)
recommendation
Watch... any Mirta Ibarra film. At 79, Mirta Ibarra has finally received Cuba’s National Film Award — a long-overdue nod to one of the most recognizable faces in Cuban cinema. Actress, screenwriter, documentarian, and long-time collaborator of the late director (and husband) Tomás Gutiérrez Alea (who directed many of Cuba’s most iconic films), Ibarra’s career spans over 50 years and more than 20 films. It makes sense then that the award cites her “versatility” and “legacy”. Ibarra starred in "Strawberry and Chocolate" (trailer), Cuba’s first film to seriously deal with LGBTQ+ issues (Think Cuba’s version of "Brokeback Mountain", but set in 1990s Havana). It's available on Amazon Prime, if you're interested. Her latest project — a film she wrote and stars in — tackles gender-based violence, and is set to premiere this year.
Read... "Sololand", the latest fiction by Iraqi writer Hassan Blasim. In "Sololand", one minute you’re reading about a boy kidnapped by ISIS who studies for sharia law quizzes (answer: always “death”), or a woman who shuts down her pharmacy because jihadists keep asking for Viagra, only to become an ISIS bride. In another story, a young boy is tasked with running an email account so the local religious leader/militia commander can communicate with his “female admirers”. Is this Kafka with a Kalashnikov? I don't know, but I've ordered it and can't wait for some absurdist fiction. The Guardian writes: "Blasim’s previous collection was award-winning: this one should be, too."
Listen to... Zeinab Badawi talk about why we know so little about African history. I cannot shut up about this book I’m reading. Seriously. “An African History of Africa” by Zeinab Badawi is everything we should’ve been taught about the continent but weren’t. If you’ve ever wondered why Africa’s history feels like a blank spot in world history, this book will give you your answer. Badawi walks through African history from the very origins of humanity (yep, we’re all Africans or their “exports”, science is settled) to the eve of independence, centering the voices of African scholars and discussing everything from ancient civilizations like Kush (they built 1,000 pyramids in Sudan), to the truth about African writing traditions, to the often-erased narratives of the Indian Ocean slave trade. I know I can’t ask everyone to read the book (why not though, society??), so here’s the next best thing: her brilliant interview at the London Business School. If you’re even a tiny bit curious, follow your gut and get the book. Don’t let ChatGPT, social media, or the internet in general stand in the way of your intellectual joy. Listen-watch here.
video of the week
2001 is calling I You know those TikToks that throw you headfirst into 2000s nostalgia — MP3 players, clunky desktop speakers that somehow sensed when a call came in, the iconic AOL dial-up sound? That’s exactly the vibe of Cazzu’s new music video “Con otra”. Cazzu — born Julieta Emilia Cazzuchelli in 1993 in Jujuy, Argentina — started out performing cumbia and rock with her dad at age 11 before getting into in Latin trap. Now she’s one of Argentina’s biggest artists.
on a funny note
Japan’s beef bowl chain Sukiya is in hot water after a customer in Tottori City found an actual rat floating in their miso soup back in January.
The customer flagged it at 8 a.m. (breakfast ruined), and yes, the company confirmed it was indeed a rat.
Ratatouille?