Dr M. Ehteshamul Bari

Dr M Ehteshamul Bari is a Senior Lecturer in Law and the Deputy Head (Research) of the Thomas More Law School at the Australian Catholic University in Melbourne, Australia. Prior to joining ACU, Dr Bari held full time academic positions at Macquarie University, at Deakin University where he was also the Director of Deakin JD Program, and at the University of New England. He did his PhD in Constitutional Law and Human Rights Law from Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia in 2015 on an International Macquarie University Research Excellence Scholarship.

Dr Bari is an internationally recognized scholar in the fields of constitutional law, human rights, Asian Law and public international law. During his career, Dr Bari has carried out cutting edge research addressing, among other things, the exercise of state powers and their impact on the rights of individuals, particularly those whose vulnerability may be exploited. His research has found that in some of the Commonwealth nations, state machineries such as the judiciary, police, and armed forces are often misused to persecute political dissidents. Governments frequently lodge frivolous lawsuits against opponents, and extrajudicial killings or enforced disappearances are common. Dr Bari's research aims to protect the rights of these individuals by identifying flaws of constitutional provisions and proposing reforms from comparative constitutional law and normative perspectives. This focus on law reform has made his work particularly relevant to policymakers, informing necessary changes to uphold democratic values, such as maintaining the rule of law and safeguarding fundamental human rights.

Dr Bari's contributions to the field include five books (four monographs and one edited collection) with reputed academic publishers, namely, Routledge and Springer, 26book chapters and peer-reviewed articles including publications in prestigious journals, such as the Oxford University Commonwealth Law Journal, the Wisconsin International Law Journal George Washington International Law Review, Emory International Law Review, Michigan, State International Law Review, Cardozo International and Comparative Law Review and Transnational Law and Contemporary Problems.

The international recognition of Dr Bari's work includes an expertconsultation role with the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances in September 2023. His expertise has also been called upon by leading NGOs, such as the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (BERSIH 2.0), Malaysia, and has led to frequent invitations to deliver invited talks at prestigious overseas institutions, including the University of Leicester and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT).

Further to his scholarly contributions, Dr Bari's research has attracted significant media attention. Interviews with BBC Newsday, Al Arabiya English, SBS Radio Australia, and coverage by Lawyers Weekly, Malaysiakini and the Daily Naya Diganta highlight the impact and relevance of my work. These experiences have honed his ability to translate complex legal principles into practical strategies for promoting the rule of law and protecting human rights.

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