Swiss police crack down on Islamic websites News
Swiss police crack down on Islamic websites

[JURIST] The Swiss Federal Prosecutor's office [official website in German] announced Friday that searches conducted in Switzerland on February 22 resulted in the arrests of three individuals accused of running Islamic websites that allowed Internet users to view images of hostage killings and access instructions for bomb-making and kidnapping. The websites also allegedly provided a means of communication between extremist terrorist groups. While the investigations resulted in the apprehension of five total detainees, three from Belgium and Tunisia are still held under arrest on suspicion of "public incitement to crime or violence.” The Swiss investigation began last year, when a Swiss-based website, islamic-minbar.com, published letters claiming responsibility for a bombing that occurred in Pakistan during July 2004. The site also carried information on the Iraqi kidnappings of French journalists Georges Malbrunot and Christian Chesno [JURIST report]. The raids additionally resulted in the seizure of computer equipment, video and sound recordings, and documents in Arabic. Read the official press release [in German]. AP has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Montgomery started racially-integrated bus service after boycott

On December 21, 1956, buses in Montgomery, Alabama, started racially integrated service following federal court rulings ending on-board segregation. Bus boycott leaders Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King and Rev. Ralph Abernathy were among the first riders under the new scheme. Learn about the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

Stalin born

On December 21, 1879, Joseph Stalin was born in Gori, Georgia. In 1922, he became leader of the USSR until his death in 1953. During his time as Soviet dictator, Stalin industrialized his country, which he then led to become one of the world's two superpowers after WWII. Through his infamous purges, show trials and nationwide famines, Stalin also became responsible for millions of deaths.