How Does Martial Law Work?
How Does Martial Law Work?: Martial law is a momentous event in itself. It is usually established in case of extreme circumstances such as a mass uprising or a horrendous natural disaster, that is, events which threaten to undermine the very foundation of a country warrant the imposition of martial law in order to protect and strengthen the country.
What is Martial Law?
For those living in troubled countries with frequent violent uprisings and such, martial law is a matter of routine. For those blessed enough to be living in stable countries however, it is quite the matter of interest.
So, what happens when martial law is declared? During a period of martial law, the military of the company seizes control of the government, thus effectively suspending and disbanding the standing government. The title of the head of state is taken over by the highest ranking military official.
Rights under Martial Law
During a situation where martial law is imposed, the situation is such that certain rights and civil liberties are suspended. However, fundamental rights such as the following always remain intact:
- The right to life,
- The right to not be subjected to any inhumane treatments or torture,
- The right to be paid for your services, that is to say forced labor cannot be enforced,
- The right to be recognized as a person, and to be treated as such,
- The freedom of thought, religion and conscience.
Then with all these remaining firmly in place, what happens when martial law is declared? Certain other rights are made void, such as the right to free movement. Usually courts dealing with criminal and civil law are also replaced by military courts.
Habeas corpus, literally translating to “you have the body”, is a law that dictates that prisoners be given access to courts and prevents unlawful detention. This is one of the most important laws that is sometimes rendered helpless under the regime of a martial law. This means that prisons can be detained indefinitely and without any possibility of recourse, a dismal possibility indeed! The imposition of martial law is a serious matter and thus is not usually done without pressing circumstances.
For More Information & Videos Subscribe To Our YouTube Channel