Sapan Maini-Thompson

Barrister @outertemple practicing in employment, discrimination & public law.

[Sapan Maini-Thompson @SapanMaini]

To mark the 400th birth anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur, I've written an essay for BBC Urdu about his life, philosophy & martyrdom. I examine both the Persian & Punjabi sources.

@_JasvirSingh @FenechLou @awhitetrail - please share if you can :)

https://t.co/1WpYtD6vR5

[Sapan Maini-Thompson @SapanMaini]

They gave their today for our tomorrow. We will remember them.

[Sapan Maini-Thompson @SapanMaini]

Following the passing of Her Majesty, I've written some thoughts on what the Queen & her fortifying omnipresence meant to me. I believe she personally extended the moral frontiers of Britain to include anyone and everyone who wanted to belong.

https://t.co/FQckhq0bcw

[Sapan Maini-Thompson @SapanMaini]

On India's 75th Independence Day, I'm re-sharing my family's tragically violent partition history which started in Lahore, Jhelum & Kamoke, before concluding in Delhi. Sectarian strife, gendered violence & forced displacement are themes I discuss.
https://t.co/4S5jUezWMA

[Sapan Maini-Thompson @SapanMaini]

In 2020, I wrote this essay to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the execution of Udham Singh. I examined the historical evidence to illuminate the rich texture of his ideology & I question the idea that he was an atheist.
@mkhanpasha @_JasvirSingh
https://t.co/R47uEoeLsJ

[Sapan Maini-Thompson @SapanMaini]

In this article, Oliver Lawrence & I analyse the Employment Tribunal's decision in @BluskyeAllison v Garden Court. We assess the latest legal developments in respect of gender-critical beliefs.

@peter_daly @soniasodha - this might be of interest.

https://t.co/pSZs5x0L6w

[Sapan Maini-Thompson @SapanMaini]

This exploded pocket watch belonged to Sead (Hasan) Hotic (1939-1995). He was a science fiction novelist who was shot after being separated at gunpoint from his wife by VRS personnel at the base of Dutch peacekeepers. They failed in their responsibility to protect. #Srebrenica27

[Sapan Maini-Thompson @SapanMaini]

Last week I visited #Srebrenica which bore witness to the genocide of over 8000 Bosnian Muslim men & boys by Serbian VRS forces. The slaughter began 27 years ago today. The scale of the cemetery, which continues to expand as human remains are discovered, seized me with terror.

[Sapan Maini-Thompson @SapanMaini]

To commemorate the 400th birth anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur & to boost interfaith knowledge, last year I wrote this essay for @BBCUrdu about the Guru's life, spiritual teachings & martyrdom.

@ssharadmohhan @mkhanpasha @parbhandak @NazeerKahut
https://t.co/1WpYtD6vR5

[Sapan Maini-Thompson @SapanMaini]

@KS1729 @vjgtweets The Guru Granth Sahib project offers rich translation alongside thoughtful commentary: https://t.co/clxstCh8Tf

[Sapan Maini-Thompson @SapanMaini]

@soniasodha Sonia, I wrote this summary analysis of the Court of Appeal's judgment for the @ukhumanrightsb & under Comment I contend the CoA is tacitly inviting the College of Policing to depart from Macpherson principles in relation to non crime trans hate incidents.
https://t.co/iy5ksYW5pH

[Sapan Maini-Thompson @SapanMaini]

I've written a summary analysis of the CoA's judgment in Miller. It appears the Court is tacitly inviting the College of Policing to depart from Macpherson principles in relation to non-crime trans hate incidents. @legalfeminist @HannahQuirk1 @HJoyceGender
https://t.co/iy5ksYW5pH

[Sapan Maini-Thompson @SapanMaini]

@moveincircles @unherd Mary this is a v thoughtful piece & whilst I agree the God-shaped hole is real, I believe there is a simpler reason for partisan vaccine coercion. It provides an opportunity to assert the supremacy of "institutional expertise" over "populist irrationalism". @tomowolade

[Sapan Maini-Thompson @SapanMaini]

In this previous article, I explored why Assange's free speech arguments were unsuccessful at Westminster Magistrates Court. The DJ held his conduct did not constitute "responsible journalism" worthy of protection under Article 10 ECHR.

@AdamWagner1

https://t.co/stf6x6DiSs

[Sapan Maini-Thompson @SapanMaini]

I've written a brief analysis of the USA's successful appeal in Julian Assange's extradition case. The High Court held the USA's diplomatic assurances regarding his prospective detention conditions to be trustworthy.

@AdamWagner1 - please can you share?

https://t.co/fUJyoxIUOe

[Sapan Maini-Thompson @SapanMaini]

I've written an analysis of the High Court's ruling that the lack of abortion time limits for persons with Down's Syndrome is lawful. The decision suggests the rights of the unborn remain in a "legal black hole". @HeidiCrowter95
@ChurchTimes @DisRightsUK
https://t.co/b0R5clG7pK

[Sapan Maini-Thompson @SapanMaini]

@vjgtweets @thewire_in Your above criticism of the Wire implied their reporting reflects elitist concern.

I don't know much about the US example but there's a clear difference btwn specific, court-sanctioned surveillance (still problematic) & commercially operated & unregulated secret surveillance.

[Sapan Maini-Thompson @SapanMaini]

@vjgtweets @thewire_in It's one thing to argue the Pegasus scandal is not historically exceptional. You're correct to say it's the latest iteration of a prolonged problem. It's another thing to argue that journalists' concerns are elitist exaggerations. Spyware is a highly sophisticated game changer.

[Sapan Maini-Thompson @SapanMaini]

@vjgtweets @thewire_in The current lack of evidence for a direct govt link is grounds for not jumping to conclusions about govt surveillance. Smoking gun evidence is rare in the context of spyware. But there is justified concern about govt's role in enabling authoritarian practices & chilling effects.

[Sapan Maini-Thompson @SapanMaini]

@vjgtweets @thewire_in Your focus on establishing a govt link betrays a one-dimensional view of democratic governance. A fundamental aspect of democratic rule is upholding a regulatory regime which prevents & punishes surveillance. That India is in the company of authoritarian NSO clients is shameful.