Now that CBI has charged the 4 Hathras accused for gang rape and murder, let us look at how the ‘honor killing, no rape’ narrative was echoed by the entire BJP ecosystem. Thread 1/n👇

Anjanette Young. A 20 year social worker. Just back from work. Police invaded her home. Naked. Begged for clothes. Cuffed. 40 minutes of terror. Apologized & left. Then tried to cover it up. Defender: "What happened that night is the norm in Chicago."

"Chicago police & city officials fought to suppress the truth of what happened that night. They almost succeeded. Now, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot is calling for accountability. But would she have done so if her legal team or police had been successful in burying the facts?"

"We also must acknowledge how Young’s innocence & class are connected to her believability as a victim. Change one of these factors-if they had the right house, if she was not a professional, if she was using or dealing drugs-& maybe we would all be less concerned about her."

If Anjanette Young were, in fact, "guilty," or a less "sympathetic" victim of police abuse, "her experience would be consistent w/ the logic that assumes Black women should be treated w/ suspicion. And, most likely her experience would never be made known to the general public."

The normal course: "Victims & accused are dehumanized,. Many are moved through the system in complete silence. The state decides how their stories are told & what forms of accountability are just. Neither the victims nor the accused are centered in any processes of healing."

Coroner Joanne Kearsley begins the Verdict hearing by stating that the ruling will be a lengthy one, will take around a hour and a half. She begins by acknowledging Zamzam Ture, Shukri Abdi's mother is in the courtroom #JusticeForShukriAbdi

Lays out statutory parameters of Inquest. "An Inquest is a limited fact finding inquiry."

She has accepted evidence from Shukri's family, Children 1 - 4, GMP, Fire Service and others. The court has reviewed footage, CCTV, and videos from the phone of one of the children

She acknowledges Zamzam Ture was not provided with a satisfactory translator in the first instance.

She outlines Shukri's birth at a refugee camp in Kenya. She moved to the UK completing 5 months in primary school before moving into secondary school.

Shukri was a "joy to have in class". Shukri was remembered a smiley happy girl by her peers.

Zamzam, Shukri's Mum said prior to June 2019, Shukri has never been to a river. She could not swim.

On the 27th June, Shukri had been in school all day. Coroner states there is a discrepency between accounts of who invited Shukri.

Thread #Hathras

Sources : The charge sheet filed by CBI in the #HathrasCase is filled with flaws and three innocents have been roped in as accused, in spite of them having strong alibis.

While the prime accused did commit the act and there is strong evidence against him, 1/n

the remaining three were implicated only based on their ‘tower location’ of their cell phones. Two of the accused who are implicated were employees of a dairy located a kilometre away from the scene of crime (SoC) and witnesses working in the dairy, 2/n

had given statements that the two accused were working in the dairy at the time of crime. The other innocent accused was present in a place away from SoC and witnesses had deposed that he too was not in the SoC.

CBI comprises fine officers with investigating skills. 3/n

They always do their job with due diligence keeping in mind the reputation of India’s premiere investigating agency. But, superiors, who are IPS officers on deputation to CBI always toe the line of the ruling regime and act as mercenaries. 4/n

Highly placed sources in CBI say, the Director of Prosecution of CBI, one Ms Sudha Rani concurred with the findings of the investigating officers that only one accused need to be charge sheeted. Ajay Bhatnagar, a 1989 batch officer of Jharkhand cadre, 5/n

Back at Westminster Magistrates’ Court this morning attempting to monitor a call over hearing in the case of @wikileaks publisher Julian Assange. This is the last such hearing scheduled before the extradition decision will be given on 4 January.

Thread. 1/

The goal posts for access constantly shift at this court, in a completely arbitrary manner. We are currently being told by a court official that no journalists will be allowed in (told they can access the Cloud Video Platform) and only two people can access the public gallery. 2/

At times, even under Covid measures, four journalists have been allowed into the well of this same courtroom, and five people into the public gallery. Two in total today is completely arbitrary. We’re told the access restrictions are the judge’s decision. 3/

We’re hearing that two seats in court are being held for @AusHouseLondon, so we circle back to the same issue as the “VIP” seats held in the September proceedings at the Old Bailey, when these “VIP” diplomats never took their seats, but they were held back from the public. 4/

Again, the only way for professional NGO observers to access these hearings (and do our job) is in person, as the court will not give us remote access. This is not only a barrier to open justice, but the court is creating unnecessary Covid risks as London heads towards Tier 3. 5/