Jungle Justice: Disregard for rule of law, human rights on the rise

The Constitutional Tribunal said that law out of Warsaw can take precedence over laws coming from Brussels. The decision could affect Poland's relationship with the EU.

The ban came into effect in September, making it near to impossible for a woman to obtain an abortion in Texas. Lawyers for the Biden administration argue the ban is designed to scare abortion providers. DW's Ines Pohl reports from Texas.

The top court ruled last week that parts of EU law were "incompatible" with the Polish constitution The ruling has been criticized by EU leaders and fueled speculation that Poland may one day leave the 27-nation bloc.

Spain's foreign minister has responded to comments by the exiled Catalan independence leader Carles Puigdemont that Madrid is "using judicial power to achieve political goals", saying "in Spain, no one is above the law". On October 5, an Italian court suspended Puigdemont's extradition proceedings pending a ruling by the European Court of Justice – proceedings that the Catalan leader says should be dropped by Spain.

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki tells MEPs in the European Parliament that Poland rejects EU "blackmail" on legal matters, saying the Constitution remains "the supreme law" for his country.

October 9th, 2021 was the 40th anniversary of France’s abolition of the death penalty. To mark the occasion, President Emmanuel Macron announced the organisation of a “high-level meeting” at the United Nations starting in early 2022. The meeting’s goal? To “convince” leaders of countries that still use the death penalty of the “urgency of abolishing it”. Robert Badinter, who served as France’s justice minister 40 years ago when the death penalty was abolished, continues to fight for the universal abolition of capital punishment. He speaks to FRANCE 24.

It has been five years since the German government enacted the prostitution protection act. Lawmakers say it protects vulnerable people; many sex workers say it is discriminatory, stigmatizing and has increased risks.

The Biden administration has asked the Supreme Court to block a new abortion law in Texas. Conflict Zone asked the Texas state senator who introduced the legislation why he thinks he's doing the right thing.

The new regulation gives expanded powers to the Chinese army to patrol or shut the country's 14 land borders. Beijing cited worries about the pandemic and security as a reason for the law.

The anti-terror law was amended in 2019 so that a person can be held for six months without any evidence. Some students are being investigated for celebrating Pakistan's victory over India at the T20 World Cup.

The law would have made homophobia a crime that is treated similarly to racism. Right-wing lawmakers were particularly opposed to the proposal.

After taking power in August, the Taliban now need to put in place a functioning state in Afghanistan. Official declarations and policies are scarce for now, but no doubt the most tangible sign of the Taliban takeover are the security patrols of thousands of former fighters who have poured into the capital. They're now police officers who are enforcing a strict interpretation of Sharia law. Our reporters Catherine Norris-Trent and Roméo Langlois were able to follow Taliban fighters on patrol in Kabul and also gain access to a hearing of an Islamic court.