WNBA basketball star Brittney Griner arrived back in the US after being released yesterday from Russian detention in exchange for notorious Russian arms trafficker Viktor Bout.
Griner was serving a nine-year sentence in a Russian penal colony after being caught with cannabis oil in her luggage in February. Bout, known as the “Merchant of Death,” had served 10 years of a 25-year sentence for conspiracy to support terrorist organizations—he attempted to supply missiles and rocket launchers to the Colombian rebel group FARC.
Former US Marine Paul Whelan, who has been detained in Russia since 2018, was not included in the swap and remains one of the few known Americans imprisoned in the country. It is believed Russia is holding Whelan’s release to a higher standard due to his espionage charges, which the US government has said are baseless.
Griner is being treated at a medical facility in San Antonio, Texas. |
Iran Executes First Protester |
Iranian officials have carried out the first execution of a protester involved in the monthslong demonstrations across the country, according to reports yesterday. Mohsen Shekari died by hanging after being found guilty of violating the country\'s religious law; his infractions allegedly included blocking a road and attacking a member of a volunteer paramilitary force.
Described by some observers as the biggest challenge to the Iranian regime since the 1979 revolution, the nationwide protests were sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini while in the custody of the country\'s morality police (see previous write-up). Demonstrations have spread to dozens of cities and span both age and social class, while estimates suggest at least 450 people have been killed and 18,000 others arrested.
International aid groups say at least 21 other protesters are facing the death penalty but have not yet been executed, including five sentenced Tuesday. See an overview of the unrest here. |
The House passed legislation adding federal protections for same-sex and interracial marriage by a vote of 258-169 yesterday, sending the Senate-approved language to President Joe Biden for signature.
Such protections have been de facto legalized following Supreme Court decisions in Obergefell v. Hodges (2015, same-sex marriage) and Loving v. Virginia (1967, interracial marriage). However, supporters of the bill argued the legislation was needed following the court\'s overturning of Roe v. Wade, on the basis that future potential court decisions may return the matter to individual states. Critics argued the legislation addressed a nonexistent threat that wasn\'t addressed in this spring\'s abortion decision.
Notably, the bill does not force all 50 states to perform same-sex marriages but does require states to recognize ceremonies performed in other jurisdictions where the process is legal.
Surveys show support for same-sex marriage has more than doubled over the past 25 years, up from 27% to 71%. See data here. |
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