Latest news with #Glan
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Yahoo
Church van driver accused of sexually abusing a disabled woman
Lackawanna County detectives charged a Scranton man Thursday with engaging in sexual activity with a mentally disabled woman while transporting her in a church van. In April, the Lackawanna County district attorney's office launched an investigation based on cyber tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited children alleging Tara Glan had sex with a mentally disabled woman for about two years beginning when she was 16. Glan was a van driver for the Ray of Hope Church in Taylor at the time of the alleged illegal sexual activity. He also ran church youth groups there, according to a criminal complaint. The detectives say the woman was not capable of giving consent. The alleged abuse took place between July 2021 and July 2023, according to the criminal complaint. Glan, 22, of 844 Madison Ave., is facing felony charges of rape of a disabled person, forcing a disabled person to perform oral sex and aggravated assault. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. on May 21 before District Judge Paul Ware. According to the criminal complaint: Investigators obtained a copy of the woman's Independent Education Program plan, also known as an 'IEP,' which indicated she had an intellectual disability rendering her incapable of consenting to sexual activity. At 19, the woman still receives daily assistance and is under the supervision of others, officers said. When interviewed, the woman said that, when she was 16, Glan was giving her a ride home in the church van when he pulled the vehicle over and told her to get in the backseat, and she complied. When asked if she wanted to have sex, the victim told Glan 'no,' according to the complaint. The woman said Glan forced her to have sex even after she told him to stop. She also recalled Glan forcing her to perform oral sex on him. The woman told police Glan had also assaulted her on New Year's Eve at church, making her pull her pants down and forcing himself on her. When the woman told Glan he was hurting her, he stopped. She said she had been alone with Glan at that event only because he had asked for her help in cleaning up the Sunday School classroom. The woman estimated Glan had assaulted her about eight times. She said she had stopped wanting to go to youth group but her mother forced her to go. She told investigators Glan would give her a ride home from church in the van, dropping off all of the other riders before her and then sexually assaulting her. On May 8, investigators interviewed Glan at Lackawanna County Prison. He admitted to having sex with the disabled woman at the church and in the church van. When asked why, he said, 'Because that's the only girl I ever met with that would actually do something sexually wise with me.'
Middle East Eye
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
UK assessed there was 'no serious risk' of Israel committing genocide in Gaza
The British government assessed last year that there was 'no serious risk' of a genocide occurring in Gaza, weeks before it imposed a partial suspension of arms exports to Israel which did not include parts that could end up in Israeli F-35 fighter jets. Before that decision was taken, a handling plan set out that newly elected Prime Minister Keir Starmer would call Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to let him know the suspensions were coming. These details are laid bare in the government's argument filed in the judicial review of the UK's decision to continue exporting F35 parts to Israel. The case opened at the High Court on Tuesday, 19 months after Palestinian rights group Al Haq and the UK-based Global Legal Action Network (Glan) first made their challenge. In the intervening months, the then-newly elected Labour government announced a partial suspension of around 30 arms export licences in September. The government, however, continued to allow the export of F-35 parts to a global pool which could eventually end up in Israel jets, citing the risk to global peace and security if they stopped New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Al Haq and Glan have argued that by making this 'F-35 carve out', the government is breaching its domestic and international legal obligations, including the genocide convention. But the government argues that it could not be held accountable for violating its duty to prevent genocide under the convention 'unless and until there is actually a genocide'. Rights groups call on UK to end all arms sales to Israel as court case begins Read More » 'No English court, and no international court or tribunal, has found that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. Nor should this court make such a finding,' the government says in its skeleton argument. Rejecting Al-Haq's assertion that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, the government's lawyers say there is "a tenable view that no genocide has occurred or is occurring". According to a June 2024 assessment cited by the government, the Export Control Joint Unit - a cross-departmental body overseeing UK export controls and licensing for military and dual-use items – had concluded that Israel 'does not intend to commit genocide'. The unit also assessed that 'a finding that Israel is not committed to comply with [international humanitarian law] does not necessarily indicate that it is harbouring genocidal intent,' according to the court document. 'There have been a range of positive statements and some negatives statements from specific actors; however, their remarks are not assessed to be representative of the Israeli government overall.' It continues: 'No evidence has been seen that Israel is deliberately targeting civilian women or children. There is also evidence of Israel making efforts to limit incidental harm to civilians.' 'No evidence has been seen that Israel is deliberately targeting civilian women or children. There is also evidence of Israel making efforts to limit incidental harm to civilians' - UK Export Control Joint Unit assessment The assessment, according to the court document, formed part of the analysis which was placed before Foreign Secretary David Lammy on 24 July, just over two weeks after he said he commissioned new legal advice into Israel's compliance with international humanitarian law in Gaza on his first day in office. The government notes how sensitive the decision was when the Labour government suspended around 30 licences on 2 September 2024. 'The decision whether it would be appropriate to 'send a political signal' to a foreign state exercising its right to self defence was taken at a time when the political and military sensitivities in the region were even more than usually acute,' it argues. 'The sensitivities of the suspension decision are evident from the fact that the 'handling plan' for the announcement of the decision included a direct call between Prime Minister Starmer and Prime Minister Netanyahu ahead of the announcement.' Earlier, campaign groups and their supporters including MPs Jeremy Corbyn, Zara Sultana and Imran Hussain gathered outside the court to call on the government to stop all arms sales to Israel. The judicial review continues on Wednesday.
The National
13-05-2025
- Politics
- The National
UK Government in High Court challenge over arms sales to Israel
The long-awaited case, which starts on Tuesday, will judge whether ministers have broken the law by continuing to supply parts for the F-35 programme. It will last for four days and has been brought by Palestinian human rights group Al-Haq, but is also supported by a series of UK human rights groups including Amnesty, Human Rights Watch, Oxfam, and the Global Legal Action Network (Glan). READ MORE: Gaza at critical risk of famine if Israel doesn't end blockade, experts warn In September, Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced the suspension of around 30 arms sale licences to Israel as the UK Government concluded there was a 'clear risk' that some exports 'might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law'. However, last week The National reported how UK firms have exported thousands of military items to Israel despite the ban, according to new analysis of Israeli import data. MPs have also continued to raise concerns about the UK's export of parts used in F-35 fighter jets which Israel have utilised in airstrikes on Gaza. In response to the hearings, Amelia Whitworth from Plan International UK, who are also supporting the case, said: 'The UK Government's complicity in Israel's war crimes and slaughter of Palestinian people is shamefully clear. "British manufactured parts continue to play an integral role in Israel's attacks against Gaza's hospitals and refugee camps in the most flagrant violations of international humanitarian law. Until the ongoing sale of F-35 fighter jet parts to Israel stops, the UK has blood on its hands. 'We know from working with local partners that the situation for children in Gaza is now at its most desperate: they are starving, sick and utterly traumatised, enduring horrors beyond all comprehension. 'The UK Government must immediately stop selling fighter jet parts to Israel and hold the Government of Israel accountable for its blatant disregard of International Humanitarian Law. Israel's illegal and lethal blockade of humanitarian aid must also be lifted without delay, before thousands more starve to death. 'No child should ever have to live through such tragedy. The world cannot stand by as Israel deliberately starves and kills Palestinian children and their families.' Meanwhile, Shawan Jabarin, Al-Haq general director, added: 'The UK Government remains utterly complicit in its ongoing arms sales to Israel, which, emboldened by impunity, has escalated its genocide against the Palestinian people through a manufactured famine, an announcement for the mass forcible transfer of Gaza's entire population, and plans to seize and annex Palestinian territory in Gaza. Israel's actions are not only an egregious breach of international law but also amount to genocide—and the UK's complicity makes it also accountable.' The director of Glan, Gearóid Ó Cuinn, said: 'In creating loopholes to keep Israel warplanes supplied the UK Government is not only fuelling atrocity crimes—it is running roughshod over UK law and sabotaging international law. "Our message is clear: no loopholes or political calculation can justify complicity in the destruction of a people. This case is about restoring the rule of law and reminding those in power that their decisions carry legal and moral consequences.'
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Yahoo
Man faces charges for alleged sexual contact with child at church
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Police say a man previously charged for his involvement with a child rape investigation in Scranton now faces charges for alleged sexual contact with another victim. According to the Scranton Police Department, 22-year-old Tara Glan is facing the following charges after an investigation from a cybertip discovered child sex abuse uploaded to Snapchat: Involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child Unlawful contact with a minor – sexual offenses Corruption of minors Indecent assault person less than 13 years of age Ignited explosive device found inside church rectory In April, a search warrant was executed at Glan's residence, and police say he admitted that he engaged in sexual contact with the victim on several occasions. Detectives stated Glan had contact with the victim through the Ray of Hope Chruch, where Glan was the church's van driver and previously ran a youth group, of which the victim was a member. Police were told that the abuse started when the victim was 7 years old, which included sexual acts and Glan physically abusing them when the victim 'did something wrong,' officers reported. Police say the victim stated that all incidents happened at the church in the children's classroom. Glan was first charged with filming a sex act and child pornography when he allegedly filmed 16-year-old Amir Bomjan raping a different minor once in the church and once at Glan's residence, according court documents. Bomjan faces the charges of rape of a child, indecent assault, and photographing videotaping, depicting sexaul acts. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to
Middle East Eye
18-04-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Israeli foreign minister planned to cut London trip short before UK blocked arrest attempt
The Israeli foreign minister planned to cut short his secret trip to London this week after it was exposed, but changed his mind when the British government blocked an attempt to secure an arrest warrant for him, sources told Middle East Eye. A UK-based legal group that sought the warrant for Gideon Saar has meanwhile disputed the government's assertion that the foreign minister had "immunity". The attorney general's office confirmed to MEE on Thursday that it had blocked an arrest warrant request by legal groups. Saar's office said British Foreign Secretary David Lammy had informed his Israeli counterpart of the decision. Middle East Eye revealed on Tuesday that Saar was making a secret trip to the UK this week, later that day reporting that he had met Lammy in London. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters On Wednesday, the Global Legal Action Network (Glan) and the Hind Rajab Foundation formally submitted the warrant request to the UK's attorney general and director of public prosecutions. The groups alleged that Saar has aided and abetted torture and grave breaches of international humanitarian law in Gaza. 'Active intervention by the UK authorities' A spokesperson for the attorney general's office said: "The law officers have declined to provide consent to the prosecution of Gideon Saar." They added: "International law requires that immunity is accorded to serving ministers for foreign affairs in domestic criminal proceedings irrespective of the subject matter, or gravity, of any complaint." The attorney general oversees the Government Legal Department, the Serious Fraud Office and the Crown Prosecution Service, among other responsibilities. UK politicians slam Lammy over secret meeting with Israeli foreign minister Read More » MEE understands that the decision was made on Thursday morning, after which Saar began posting online about his presence in London for the first time. Three sources familiar with events told MEE that Saar decided to leave Britain early after his visit was made public, though changed his mind after Lammy conveyed the attorney general's decision to him. Glan director Gearóid Ó Cuinn told MEE his organisation has seen evidence that "Mr Saar made plans to prematurely leave the UK before he was made aware of the attorney general's decision". "This was an active intervention by UK authorities to protect an unindicted war criminal in the midst of the ongoing extermination in Gaza," he said. "We reject the attorney general's position that Mr Saar has immunity, having submitted to him with our request for consent that, under UK law, immunity applies to heads of state and not foreign ministers," he added. "Further, the International Court of Justice is clear that immunity is distinct from impunity. Immunity only protects Saar for as long as he remains in high office." Allegations against Saar The legal groups also filed a complaint with the London Metropolitan Police. Ó Cuinn said: "On foot of evidence we submitted to the War Crimes Unit of the London Metropolitan Police they should open an investigation into Saar's liability regardless of the refusal by the attorney general." The Met has recieved more than 180 referrals accusing participants in Israel's war on Gaza of war crimes, but said earlier this month that "there is no UK-based investigation into any matters relating to this particular conflict". It is unclear whether Saar has left the UK yet, given the clandestine nature of his trip. There has been no Foreign Office press release on his meeting with Lammy. The submission for an arrest warrant argued that Saar was criminally responsible for the Israeli military's attack on the Kamal Adwan hospital late last year. UK gave Israeli army chief special immunity on secret trip where he met attorney general Read More » He was also accused of being implicated in the detention and torture of Dr Hussam Abu Safiya, the hospital's director, who was taken captive during the raid. The Israeli foreign ministry posted content in support of the hospital's siege. Saar recently attempted to justify Israel's decision to cut off aid to Gaza, saying, without evidence, that humanitarian assistance fuels Hamas. "Aid that goes to Hamas is not humanitarian," Saar said on 4 March, portraying the blockade as legitimate despite such sieges being considered an act of collective punishment under international law. Britain has often given foreign officials special mission immunity, which provides them with protection from potential criminal proceedings and arrest. In December, the UK confirmed it had given special mission immunity to two Israeli officials in 2024: Benny Gantz, then a member of the war cabinet who visited the previous Conservative government that March, and Israel's military chief of staff at the time, Herzi Halevi, who met the attorney general in November. MEE has asked the Foreign Office whether Saar was given this immunity.
