Rights are privileges obtained by the people.
The Suspension of Habeas Corpus
On May 25th, 1861, Abraham Lincoln suspended Habeas Corpus- the right to have a hearing before being jailed. John Merryman, a legislator from Maryland, attempted to stop Union troops from moving from Baltimore to Washington and was arrested for this. His attorney asked for Habeas Corpus, but Lincoln suspended it. The Constitution states, “When in cases of rebellion or invasion, the public safety may require it.” Using this, he argued that the Constitution allowed him to deny people their rights. After the suspension, 14,000 people were arrested. Most of these people were never charged with a specific crime or brought to trial.
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This is a photo of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States.
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Habeas Corpus: Connection to Rights
Habeas Corpus is an important writ, because it allows people to have a fair trial and defend themselves. When he suspended it, Abraham Lincoln was trying his best to keep the people safe in a time like the Civil War. However, the rights of the people were being violated when Lincoln suspended Habeas Corpus because he was violating the Constitution. He was violating the Constitutional right to a fair trial, stated in the Constitution as, “in all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial.” This means that no matter what the crime, all people accused of a crime must be given a fair trial.
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A jury watching a trial in court.
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Women's Rights in Saudi Arabia
In April 2013, the first domestic abuse ad ever to run in Saudi Arabia made its mark in newspapers across the country. The ad shows a woman with one black eye staring out of her burqa-clad. As stated in this article, “The ad instantly sparked a nationwide conversation on domestic abuse and woman’s rights in a country where strict gender roles are seen as a pillar of Islam.” Sponsored by the King Khalid Foundation, legislation passed a law that banned abuse in the home or workplace. Today, because of a single ad, people convicted of domestic abuse are fined up to 50,000 Saudi rival (15,000 American dollars) and can face up to a year in prison.
Pictured above is the ad that changed thousands of peoples' views in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia: Connection to Rights
A single newspaper ad changed the views of many people living in Saudi Arabia. Before legislation passed the domestic abuse law, women were being treated more unfairly and unequally than they were now. The ad shed light on the topic of domestic abuse and made people more aware it. Although women do not have as many rights as men in Saudi Arabia, this new law is a stepping-stone. Legislation will be able to build off of this law and continue to improve women’s rights in Saudi Arabia.