Afghan chief justice wants US apology for any Koran abuse at Guantanamo News
Afghan chief justice wants US apology for any Koran abuse at Guantanamo

[JURIST] As anti-US violence continued for a fourth day in Afghanistan on Saturday, Afghan Chief Justice Fazl Hadi Shinwari [IRIN interview] called for an American apology and punishment for those responsible if recent allegations [Newsweek article] about desecration of the Koran by US personnel at Guantanamo Bay turned out to be true. His comments were echoed by Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who condemned the violence that has so far led to some 16 deaths but said that his government would "strongly request the American government to put on trial and punish whoever is the culprit." Hundreds of Afghans took to the streets Saturday in the northern city of Baglan, burning an effigy of President Bush. Five demonstrators were arrested and explosives were seized as Afghan security forces went on hgih alert and reinforcements were dispatched to more potential trouble spots. BBC News has more. RFE/RL provides additional coverage.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Indian National Congress founded

The Indian National Congress (INC) was founded on December 28, 1885 in Bombay (now Mumbai), India. In subsequent decades, the so-called Congress Party would advocate for Indian independence from the UK, which was eventually achieved in 1947. The first Prime Minister of independent India, Jawaharlal Nehru, was elected as a member of the INC. Learn more about the history and founding of the Indian National Congress.

Congress recognized Pledge of Allegiance

On December 28, 1945, Congress officially recognized the Pledge of Allegiance and encouraged its recitation in schools. The Pledge was supposedly written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy, a Baptist minister, to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Columbus Day. The words “under God” were added by Congress in 1954. The revised version of the Pledge was the subject of litigation before the United States Supreme Court originally brought by Michael Newdow, a parent who unsuccessfully objected to his daughter's school district policy requiring daily recitation of the Pledge. The court ruled that Newdow had no standing.

Nepal ends monarchy, establishes republic

On December 28, 2007, the Kingdom of Nepal's interim parliament ended the country's monarchy and established the Republic of Nepal. Free elections were held on April 10 of the following year to elect a Constituent Assembly.

Learn more about the rise of democracy in Nepal.