Litigation
Justice Initiative lawyers have represented scores of individuals and groups before domestic and international human rights courts and tribunals around the world. These cases seek not only to vindicate individual claims, but to establish and strengthen the law’s protection for all.
Open Society Justice Initiative v. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) et al.
The Justice Initiative seeks the public release by U.S. government agencies of all documents related to the brutal murder in Istanbul of Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi Arabian dissident writer and editor, and a U.S. permanent resident.
Last update: February 17, 2021German Criminal Investigation into Chemical Weapons Attacks in Syria
The Justice Initiative has joined with Syrian groups in filing the first criminal complaint against Syrian government officials for the 2013 and 2017 chemical weapons attacks in Ghouta and Khan Shaykhun. The complaint was filed before the Office of the German Federal Prosecutor.
Federal Prosecutor's Office v. Anwar R.
Anwar R., a former Syrian colonel who led a unit of Syria's General Intelligence Directorate, has been accused of supervising the “systematic and brutal torture” of more than 4,000 prisoners in a detention center known as Al Khatib, or Branch 251, resulting in the deaths of at least 58 people.
Last update: December 03, 2019Mhlungwana v. the State and the Minister of Police
Protestors successfully argued that it was unconstitutional for South African law to make the failure to give prior notice of a demonstration a crime.
Last update: April 18, 2017State Attorney of Israel v. Breaking the Silence
An Israeli NGO, Breaking the Silence, opposed a demand from the government to hand over documentation that would expose its confidential sources.
Last update: October 18, 2016Adalah v. Israel
This case is about discrimination in Israel, where citizens who marry individuals from the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon are blocked from bringing their spouses into the country.
Last update: January 11, 2012Jean-Claude Duvalier
Jean-Claude Duvalier’s 15-year rule in Haiti was characterized by widespread violations of human rights. This brief outlined the argument for prosecuting Duvalier for international crimes.
Last update: December 14, 2011Zhovtis v. Kazakhstan
This case concerns a human rights defender imprisoned in Kazakhstan. He faced a rushed and unfair trial after being involved in a fatal traffic accident.
Last update: November 09, 2010