Saudis rebuff Rice call for rights, democratic reform News
Saudis rebuff Rice call for rights, democratic reform

[JURIST] US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice [official website] called for democratic reforms by US allies across the Middle East [text; recorded audio] in a major foreign policy address in Cairo Monday, and publicly called on Saudi Arabia to release "three individuals…imprisoned for peacefully petitioning the government." Rice was referring to Ali al-Demaini, Abdullah al-Hamed and Matruk al-Faleh [Middle East Online report], activists sentenced to six to nine years in May for demanding a constitutional monarchy. The activists had also allegedly questioned the king's role as head of the judiciary. After talks, Saudi Prince Saud parried the request to free the trio by saying that "[the activists] are in the hands of the court. The government cannot interfere until the court action is taken in this regard." AFP has more.

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.