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# The Week in 1 Minute: Turning over a new leaf  (January 14 – 18 on openDemocracy)
- URL: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/week-in-1-minute-turning-over-new-leaf-january-14-18-on-opendemocracy/
- Published: 2013-05-23T14:05:45.000Z
- Updated: 2026-04-23T01:26:29.000Z
- Description: We started the week with a devastating analysis of Belgium’s ‘burqa ban’. Jelle Flo and Jogchum Vrielink expose this action – which followed France’s example late last year – as unconstitutional. Its arguments are based on legality, safety and women’s rights, but simply do not stand up to scrutiny
- Author: openDemocracy Supporters
- Tags: The Week in 1 Minute, #Migrated, #en, #Import 2026-04-09 17:36, #appended-excerpt

While the Belgian Constitutional Court comes under fire, openDemocracy jumps to the **defence of the European Court of Human Rights**, now criticised by a growing cohort of British MPs. The ECHR carries out [essential work](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/400cb58408/7262321cfa/26da809828&ref=opendemocracy.net), and Britain’s increasing distance from it is a worrying trend, argues Philip Leach.  
  
Addressing other pressing European questions, **French Left Front leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon** [spoke to openDemocracy](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/400cb58408/7262321cfa/ed0c18871b&ref=opendemocracy.net). He reserves some of his most intelligent scepticism for the dominant media ‘system’ – but he invited Europeans to confront the crisis with [progressive alternatives](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/400cb58408/7262321cfa/b4f0319ec6&ref=opendemocracy.net), presented at an event at University College, London, last year.  
  
We also look at nationalism. It shouldn’t just be a byword for the continent’s bloody past, says Pol Bargues – it can also be **a project for autonomy and self-determination**, as shown by [Catalonia](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/400cb58408/7262321cfa/b5e30c45cc&ref=opendemocracy.net). The region is a thorn in Spain’s side, but the old masters have other troubles, as more Spaniards [take to the streets](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/400cb58408/7262321cfa/9c47e57d59&ref=opendemocracy.net).  
  
While parts of Europe are mesmerised by a few centimeters (or an inch) of snow, **winter temperatures** are a [very real problem](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/400cb58408/7262321cfa/67d9f92732&ref=opendemocracy.net) in parts of Russia.   
  
Paul Rogers continues to [analyze the situation in Mali](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/400cb58408/7262321cfa/78b4b925db&ref=opendemocracy.net), now with French boots on the ground. On the city streets of Libya are the militias born of the revolution there. The **human rights record of some of these groups is poor**. Juan Garrigues asks: [can citizens regain control](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/400cb58408/7262321cfa/3b452ed375&ref=opendemocracy.net)? The Arab uprisings have had their effects on gender violence, too: the incidents are becoming more public, but so are the resulting outcries. In another unflinching feature for our ‘Women and the Arab Spring’ series, [Deniz Kandiyoti reports](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/400cb58408/7262321cfa/8c611a9f38&ref=opendemocracy.net).  
  
**Sexual violence** has been a celebrity issue recently in Britain. But while we know who some of the perpetrators are, what of those who colluded with them? Rebecca Johnson argues that their actions uphold the [pervasive patriarchal attitudes](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/400cb58408/7262321cfa/6cd4a6047a&ref=opendemocracy.net) that keep the status quo in place.  
  
One norm, at least, is being overturned: the face of politics in China. In sharp contrast to his dour and expressionless predecessor Hu Jintao, **Chinese premier Xi Jinping is cutting a sympathetic and accessible figure**. [Mark Jia](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/400cb58408/7262321cfa/94c386976e&ref=opendemocracy.net) asks, is this a sign of a deeper-running trend?  
  
  
**Don’t miss:**

- [Neurocapitalism](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/400cb58408/7262321cfa/c6c64246f0&ref=opendemocracy.net)
- [Press freedom in Turkey](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/400cb58408/7262321cfa/d0121a0e2f&ref=opendemocracy.net)
- [The truth about quinoa](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/400cb58408/7262321cfa/0789adec94&ref=opendemocracy.net)

**openDemocracy’s week in 1 minute is emailed to Members, Friends and authors who help pay for and create our great content. Please forward this to any contact you think might be interested and** [**want to join**](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/400cb58408/7262321cfa/035e542642/openDemocracy/bb28beb484/946f39415f/51634b1085/openDemocracy/d4022f1a75/TEST/e64101092e&ref=opendemocracy.net) **or email us (**[**supporters@opendemocracy.net**](mailto:supporters@opendemocracy.net)**).**

We started the week with a [devastating analysis](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/400cb58408/7262321cfa/1d8527ba3e&ref=opendemocracy.net) of **Belgium’s ‘burqa ban’**. Jelle Flo and Jogchum Vrielink expose this action – which followed France’s example late last year – as unconstitutional. Its arguments are based on legality, safety and women’s rights, but simply do not stand up to scrutiny.