The Editor’s Note
Welcome to Oxford, to all the Freshers and a warm welcome back to everyone else. Michaelmas First Week is always a delight, with the hustle and bustle of excited faces getting ready for what promises to be a fun academic year.
Global Affairs is back and better than ever, after a cold but busy first week back in Oxford; we look towards the world as we explore Uruguay becoming the first South American country to legalise euthanasia, Iran showcasing its diversity in opening a new Christian metro and the small nation of Cape Verde qualifying, against the odds, for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Lola Dunton-Milenkovic looks towards Latin America, where Uruguay has become the first country in the region to legalise euthanasia, exploring what this has meant for the country, how it has been received, and what this shows about Uruguay’s reputation as a liberal, forward-thinking country.
Saba Ahmadzadeh Noughani explores the new Christian line on the Iranian metro, and how this demonstrates the truly multicultural nature of the capital, Tehran. While this is yet another chapter in the storied history of the country embracing diversity, Western outlets and narratives often don’t show this positive side of Iran.
Finally, Thomas Yates explores a feel-good story of an apparent underdog Cape Verde qualifying, against all odds, for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, showing how this feat was pulled off, and the stories that show how this team, who have just one defeat in qualifying, was assembled.
Uruguay Legalises Euthanasia
Lola Dunton-Milenkovic
Following a 10-hour debate, Uruguay has become the first country in Latin America to pass a law that legalises euthanasia.
The “Muerte Digna” or “Dignified Death” Bill was passed on 15 October, with 20 out of 31 legislators voting in favour.
As outlined in Article 2, the law allows “any person of legal age who is mentally fit, in the terminal stage of an incurable and irreversible illness, or […] experiencing unbearable suffering, in all cases with a grave and progressive deterioration of their quality of life, […] the right to request euthanasia, to be performed so that death occurs in a painless, peaceful and dignified manner.”
Discussions on assisted dying in Uruguay began in 2019 with Fernando Sureda, a well-known figure in the Uruguayan football association. Sureda called for the legalisation of euthanasia when he was suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which resulted in his death in 2020. That year, Ope Pasquet, a representative of the Partido Colorado, introduced a bill that failed to pass through the then-conservative-dominated Senate. A new bill inspired by Pasquet’s was subsequently drafted by the now-ruling progressive political coalition, Frente Amplio, which has finally been approved.
On the topic of euthanasia, public opinion in Uruguay is divided, though the majority are supportive, with 62% of Uruguayans in favour, 24% in disfavour, and 14% ambivalent. The largest opposition comes from the Catholic Church, voiced by Archbishop Daniel Sturla of Montevideo, who claims that the bill “instead of contributing to valuing life, contributes to thinking that some lives are disposable”. Ultimately, however, increasing secularisation within Uruguayan society has eroded such religious resistance and remains a country which bans any mention of God in oaths of office and refers to Christmas as ‘Family Day’.
This legislation is unprecedented, and differentiates Uruguay from other South American countries where euthanasia has been decriminalised through Constitutional Court rulings but not legalised by Congress. Such is the case with Colombia, where assisted dying was decriminalised in 1997 and was legalised with the creation of Resolution 1216 in 2015 by the Ministry of Health. However, there is also a freedom of conscience provision that protects a doctor’s right to abstain from performing euthanasia if it goes against their personal beliefs, preventing the right from being exercised. In Ecuador too, assisted dying was decriminalised in 2024 following a ruling which established the legal framework for the practice of euthanasia, yet no official legislation.
With its strict anti-bribery laws, its commitment to fighting corruption, and its progressive policies such as the legalisation of marijuana, same-sex marriage and abortion, Uruguay has always been considered South America’s least corrupt country and among the most socially liberal ones in the region. Passing the Dignified Death Bill has reinforced this reputation, as expressed by Frente Amplio Senator Constanza Moreira who wrote: “Today, Uruguay is once again at the forefront of the rights agenda. We approved the euthanasia law: a law that recognises the freedom to decide until the end, with dignity and liberty.”
Iran Opens Metro Dedicated to Christian Community
Saba Ahmadzadeh Noughani
Despite being an Islamic Republic, Iran has a rich, multi-faith character that is often overlooked. From being home to the second-largest Jewish population in the Middle East, to Iran’s Yezidi, Zoroastrian and Greek Orthodox Christian communities, it is no surprise that there are a growing number of initiatives to celebrate the nation’s multifaith identities.
The Armenian Christians are the largest religious and national minority group in Iran with a population between 60,000 to 80,000, with a history of coexistence dating back to the Achaemenid empire, over 2000 years ago. In a move to pay tribute to the community, the Islamic Republic has recently opened a new metro line, inspired by Christian art and architectural elements. The metro’s interior exhibits distinct and evidently Christian art, including a carving of the St. Sarkis Cathedral, Tehran’s main Apostolic church, which the metro line is also strategically a walking distance away from.
The new metro is named “Maryam-e-Moghaddas” (Holy Virgin Mary), and is on line 6 of Tehran’s metro network. While depictions of religious figures have caused controversy among some Islamic nations in recent years, the Islamic Republic of Iran has depicted art illustrating the faces of the Virgin Mary and Jesus, who is regarded as a prophet in the Islamic faith.
The Virgin Mary, revered as sacred in both the Christian and Islamic faith, has not only been honoured in the naming of the metro, but has also been featured and given a centre stage in the interior artwork, and is showcased in a traditionally Christian fashion. The mural illustrates the Virgin Mary holding a candle among florals and grapevines, with a dove carrying an Olive branch. A separate panel depicts Jesus as reflected in Christian artworks, standing tall with outstretched arms.
Furthermore, in a bid to recognise and showcase the theocracy’s Armenian Christian influence and heritage, Armenian script has been carved within the metro walls, symbolising Armenian belonging in Iran. Giving greater significance to this is the fact that while there are 67 languages spoken in Iran, with Persian being the official language, and today, still standing defiant to western linguistic and cultural imperialism and influence, the Armenian script has taken centre stage, ingrained within the walls of one of Iran’s public and official spaces, for all to see.
Islamic art motifs, such as geometrical patterns, have also been beautifully blended with the uniquely Armenian and Christian symbols, patterns and script, further pointing to the long-standing coexistence between the Persians and Armenian Christians.
While media coverage of Iran is often dominated by continual political discourse, the nation has a vibrant art scene. A quick stroll through Tehran, the nation’s capital, reveals not only the ethnic and religious diversity, but a range of diverse street art, each narrating a story of Iran’s glorious past, mythical traditions and recent victories. Art ranges from murals in memory of martyrs with their faces etched in brick, to graffiti bringing pages of the Shahnameh (the national epic of the kings) to life. It’s clear that the Iranian people place a significant importance to art and storytelling, and use art as a means to pay respects to their rich culture, ancient history, deep literary tradition and of course their people- all people.Street Art has typically showcased political, anti-imperialist and, pre-Islamic Persian mythical and literary narrations and symbols. With over 100 synagogues,over 650 churches, and many non-islamic faith schools in Iran, Jewish and Christian religious murals have predominantly been displayed within community spaces and places of worship, making the Maryam-e-Moghaddass metro revolutionary by exhibiting non-islamic religious art and non-Persian script, outside the confines of these spaces in one of Tehran’s busiest locations, highlighting the majesty of Armenian and Christian heritage to all the 82.5 million muslims living in Iran.
Cape Verde’s ‘Blue Sharks’ snap up World Cup spot
Thomas Yates
An aerial view of the Estadio Nacional de Cabo Verde as Cape Verde play Eswatini to secure their qualification
A comfortable 3-0 victory by the Cape Verde national football team over Eswatini sparked celebrations on Monday. The nation has become the second-smallest by population, and the smallest by land area, to ever qualify for the FIFA World Cup.
Cape Verde has a population of just 528,000, roughly even to that of the City of Manchester. Having gained independence from Portugal in 1975, it was only in 2002 that the island state, located off the west coast of Africa, first attempted to qualify for the World Cup. Placed in a group that included fellow Lusophone Angola, whose population is almost 40 times larger, and five-time Africa Cup of Nations winners Cameroon, it might have seemed like the ‘Blue Sharks’ – a ferocious nickname honouring the predators that can be found in the nation’s waters – had an uphill battle to qualify. Yet after 10 games, Cape Verde stands at the top of Group D with just one defeat.
Unlike Cameroon, whose squad can count on high-profile names, such as Bryan Mbeumo, who moved to Manchester United this summer for a fee that could rise to £71 million, Cape Verde’s team is built on globe-trotting veterans with a total value of a mere £25 million. Two play in Cyprus’ top league, whilst another two represent Bulgarian outfits. Irish-born centre-back Roberto Lopes came into the team in a rather unconventional way – a message from the manager on LinkedIn. He is an example of how many smaller footballing nations attempt to effectively increase the size of their player pool by scouting amongst their foreign diaspora. In this way, Cape Verde has been able to put together a team far more formidable than what would appear possible on paper.
This is certainly a team taking their continent by storm. Really, this should not even be seen as a totally unprecedented achievement, given that the ‘Blue Sharks’ have qualified for four of the last seven Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, reaching the quarterfinals twice. Nevertheless, Cape Verdean spirits are high, and President José Maria Neves has described the moment as a “new independence.”
Though the expanded World Cup, to be hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico from June to July next year, adds more fixtures to a demanding season for players, it is also providing more opportunities for smaller teams to make their debut. Alongside Cape Verde, Jordan and Uzbekistan will also participate for the first time, and New Caledonia – ranked 150th in the world – is in with a chance to qualify too at the playoff tournament in March.