20 July 2026
FIFA’s Neutrality Trap
The World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States came to an end yesterday. Beyond being one of the world’s biggest sporting events, the tournament also brought renewed attention to unresolved legal questions concerning freedom of expression in FIFA stadiums. The dispute over the historic Iranian Lion and Sun flag during Iran’s World Cup matches is a case in point. It raises the question on how far FIFA may go in restricting political symbols inside stadiums. Continue reading >>
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26 September 2024
Iraq’s Lost Century
Shia religious authorities, in collaboration with their political allies in the Iraqi parliament, seek to redefine Iraq’s personal status law according to religious rules. On July 29, the largest bloc in Iraq’s parliament, introduced a controversial bill to amend the Personal Status Law of 1959. This proposed amendment would mandate that Iraqis, upon marriage, choose either Shia or Sunni jurisprudence to govern all personal status-related matters within their marriage. This change creates legal uncertainty by replacing predictable, codified law with premodern, uncodified Islamic jurisprudence. Moreover, it disproportionately affects women, especially by facilitating early marriages. Continue reading >>
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