Bilkis Bano, an Indian heroine

This issue takes you to India (huge Supreme Court ruling that should have been on all our front pages in the West but wasn't) and the Comoros islands (Africa's first election of the year took place; do you know anything about this group of islands?) in detail. But buckle up, we're going worldwide to Morocco (now lead the United Nations Human Rights Council; some people are lmfao-ing), the Amazon (we found a hidden city there and this might change our idea about what is culture and civilization) and the Singapore Art Week. We'll also be watching African and Asian football tournaments, a new Netflix documentary on one of the most significant financial scandals of our time and some news on "aliens" in Peru, plus so much more.

India's Supreme Court cancelled the release of the 2002 riots rapists -- "a win for justice"

What happened:
India's Supreme Court made a major ruling: the 11 men convicted of crimes during the 2002 Gujarat riots, and released in 2022, must return to prison by the end of January 2024.

Why this matters:
This ruling is a huge deal. It's not often that the Supreme Court changes its own past decisions. Indira Jaising, a lawyer involved in the case, said it's a landmark in the journey for justice. This decision could restore people's faith in the judicial system, which had been criticized for leaning towards government views in important cases.

What happened during the 2002 Gujarat Riots?
Gujarat is a state in India, where some 70 million people live. Following a train fire that killed 60 Hindu pilgrims in 2002, intense riots broke out. Hindu groups, in anger, targeted Muslims, blaming them for the fire. Over 2,000 people lost their lives, mostly Muslims. During these riots, a pregnant Muslim woman, Bilkis Bano, and her family were viciously attacked by 11 men, leading to the loss of 14 family members, including her 3-year-old child. At that time, Narendra Modi, now India's Prime Minister, was in charge of Gujarat, and some people think he didn't do enough to stop the violence.

What happened to the attackers?
Fast-forward to 2008, the attackers were given life sentences. But in a controversial twist and thanks a to a review committee in Gujarat state (filled with members from the current ruling party; that of Narendra Modi's), they got out in 2022 because of good behavior and time served. They were even celebrated by a right-wing Hindu group with sweets and flowers upon release. This decision caused a huge uproar in India. Bilkis Bano herself and many activists, politicians, and journalists filed petitions against this ruling by the end of the same year.

And Bilkis Bano?
Despite being pressured to stay quiet, Bano stood up as a symbol of resistance and justice. Her fight for justice became an inspiration for others affected by the 2002 violence. In 2019, she received a significant compensation, a house, and a government job from India's top court. She plans to use this to help other women survivors and educate their children. She also hopes her daughter becomes a lawyer to fight for women's rights.

What now?
Bano said the order to put these offenders back in jail brought her "tears of relief." Her uncle, Abdul Razzak Mansuri, spoke to Al Jazeera, saying this ruling is a step toward justice. In the words of Bengaluru-based lawyer Yashaswini Basu, "Justice delayed but prevailed." Zoya Hasan, a professor, wrote that this case is more than just about Bano. It's about addressing state violence and communal issues. The fight continues to ensure other governments don't make similar decisions like Gujarat's. Plus, justice has not been really served as Bilkis Bano is one of the 1,958 Muslim women survivors of the targeted violence in Gujarat in 2002.

Africa's first election of the year took place in the Comoros islands

What happened:
Comoros voted in a presidential election on the weekend, during which nearly 340,000 voters were expected to cast their ballots. Voters were also choosing governors in the polls. Yesterday, on Tuesday, it was announced that Comoros' current president, Azali Assoumani, won 62.97 percent of the vote, and that only 16.3 percent of the country's electorate turned out, according to the official results.

Basics:
Comoros is a tiny island nation in Southeastern Africa, right in the Indian Ocean, near Mozambique. They've got three main islands -- Anjouan, Grande Comore, and Moheli -- and a few smaller ones. Moroni's their biggest city. Most folks there follow Sunni Islam, which is also the official religion. They became independent of France back in 1975 and are part of big groups like the Arab League and the African Union. It's one of Africa's smallest countries, with 888,378 (2023 est.) people living there.

Why this matters:
This was Africa's first election of the year.

Tell me more:
Comoros' current president, Azali Assoumani, has been in charge for eight years; this is his third term and he will rule until 2029. There were five other candidates running against him. There was a lot of buzz around this election, with some opposition leaders accusing the election commission of playing favorites; some complaints about ballot stuffing and early closing times at polling stations, too. "This is a strong moment for our country, which is doing everything in its power to consolidate democracy," the re-elected leader told a gathering of supporters. In a country that has seen more than 20 coups and attempted coups since independence from France in 1975, Assoumani sees this moment as "political maturity". The country's highest court has yet to validate the results.

Who's Azali Assoumani?
Assoumani is quite a character. He first got into power through a military coup in 1999. Since then, he's won three elections and has been leading the African Union for the past...