Afghan president wants custody of prisoners after US abuse report News
Afghan president wants custody of prisoners after US abuse report

[JURIST] Afghan president Hamid Karzai [Wikipedia profile] said Saturday that he wants custody of all Afghan prisoners after being "shocked" by US newspaper reports of prisoner abuse [JURIST report] released Friday. The US has over 500 Taliban and other prisoners in Guantanamo Bay [official website] and several hundred Afghans are currently believed to be held by the US in Afghanistan. Karzai has also stated that he wants control over US military operations inside Afghanistan, such as searches within homes for militants, which should not be taking place "without the consultation of the Afghan government." Karzai will meet with President Bush next week. Reuters has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Pope Urban II sparks First Crusade

Pope Urban II threw his support behind what would become the First Crusade on November 27, 1095 during the Council of Clairmont. The Pope urged the council's participants to render aid to the Byzantine Empire, which was being attacked by the Seljuks. Pope Urban called for a wide coalition of rich and poor to combat the threat, which eventually resulted in the conquest of much of the Muslim-controlled Levant by the Crusaders and the establishment of the Crusader States. Read Pope Urban's address.  

Catholic Code of Canon Law revised

On November 27, 1983, the revised Code of Canon Law of the Roman Catholic Church went into effect. Learn more about the history of Canon Law from Professor Kenneth Pennington of the Catholic University of America's Columbus School of Law.

Alfred Nobel creates Nobel Prize in his will

On November 27, 1895, Alfred Nobel signed his will, creating the Nobel Prize. Learn more about the history of the Nobel Prize and the Nobel Commission.