April 2022 marked the end of Imran Khan’s rule as Prime Minister of Pakistan. The discourse surrounding his four-year reign continues even a year after his removal from office. With Khan out on bail and the Pakistani mob mobilised against what they deem to be an unstable civilian government under the control of an authoritarian […]
Red Wolf and the Surveillance State: Investigating the Human Rights Implications of AI-Powered Facial Recognition Technology in Palestine
Facial recognition risks being weaponized by law enforcement against marginalised communities around the world. From New Delhi to New York, this invasive technology turns our identities against us and undermines human rights. Matt Mahmoudi, AI and Human Rights Researcher at Amnesty International. Introduction Facial surveillance systems are sophisticated technological applications that facilitate the identification and […]
Explaining the question of hijab as a mandate or a choice? The anti-hijab protests in Iran
Over the years, the female body and the contentions around gender have been idealised, politicised, theologized, and used as a mechanism for social control. The capacity to govern one’s body is equivalent to being able to control one’s life. Over the years, political regimes have created contested meaning around women’s bodies and used it as […]
Examining the Intersection of Social Media Algorithms, Humour, and Marginalization: How Societal Biases Shape Online Discourse
Locating technology and algorithms in the social milieu – An Introduction Social media platforms are often advertised for their role in promoting modernity, freedom of speech and expression, and the quick dissemination of information. However, in a capitalist society where profit is the primary objective, it is difficult to believe that social media algorithms are […]
The perilous journey and continued struggles of Rohingya refugees seeking safety and stability
“Abuses by police in the Cox’s Bazar camps have left Rohingya refugees suffering at the hands of the very forces who are supposed to protect them…” – Shayna Bauchner, Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch. 1. Who are the Rohingya? The Rohingya are a Muslim minority group […]
THE COLLEGIUM QUANDARY: Who Will Appoint The Judges?
Judges form the nucleus of Judicial System. But what comprises of this nucleus? Judges, and who are they? Human Beings. Does that opens the ground for bias, subjectivity and ideologies? Both yes and no. From annihilation of article 370 to legalisation of same sex marriages, courts decide fate of many. But who decides the judges? […]
The Nation’s Syllabus: The redefinition of our education system
1. Contextual background Students all over the world, especially those heavily dependent on school teaching and teachers, have been through tumultuous changes in the past three years. These changes are not only accrued to the Coronavirus Pandemic but to the systemic changes that have been introduced in the way we teach our students. This is […]
Hagia Sophia hara-kiri: The Royal Turkish mess!
The world is going through extremely difficult and different times due to the ongoing pandemic of COVID-19. Almost the entire world is currently under lockdown, while all of us are getting used to the streaming platforms and binge watching. As our favourite pastime. On the other day, I was having a conversation with my mother […]
Can we re-define the political identity in Indian politics along the communal lines without sensationalising it?
The context … Nations are more than just geographical boundaries. Gyanendra Pandey begins his paper ‘Can a Muslim Be an Indian?’ by pointing out that for nations to be established, a core, or the soul of the nation, should be constructed. In his opinion, nationalists frequently suggest that this core is established naturally (Pandey, 608). […]
Love Hostel: A ‘safe’ house for runaway couple
Love Hostel: The movie Imagine living in a state of constant fear, where you don’t know what unexpected and unfortunate awaits you. And then think about the social contract we have all mutually consented to, where we’ve given up our sovereign rights for the safeguard provided by the sovereign power. And now imagine the many […]
