Zimbabwe police report 46,000 arrests in squatter sweep News
Zimbabwe police report 46,000 arrests in squatter sweep

[JURIST] Zimbabwe's police chief has confirmed that 46,000 people have been arrested in "Operation Restore Order," a highly controversial government initiative to reduce crime and illegal buildings in Harare and other towns. The state demolition of "illegal" backyard shacks and showstalls, the arrest of street vendors and the confiscation of their property has drawn international condemnation for targetting the poor and for employing extreme violence which has left a rumber of people dead, including children. On Thursday a coalition of more than 200 NGOs called for a halt [JURIST report]. President Robert Mugabe has insisted that the Operation's goal is to "bettter the common man", improve infrastructure and fight crime in urban areas. According to the United Nations and the opposition, the exercise has left between 200,000 and 1.5 million people homeless, respectively. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation 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.