New Saudi king pardons jailed democracy activists News
New Saudi king pardons jailed democracy activists

[JURIST] New Saudi King Abdullah [Wikipedia profile; JURIST report] has pardoned four activists jailed after criticizing the strict religious environment and the slow pace of democratic reform in Saudi Arabia. In June, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had called for the release [JURIST report] of Ali al-Demaini, Abdullah al-Hamed and Matruk al-Faleh, but had been rebuffed. University Professor Saeed bin Mubarak Al-Zaeer, who was detained [JURIST report] last year for terrorist comments after he compared Osama bin Laden's attacks on Western civilians to US attacks that have killed Iraqi civilians and Israeli attacks that have killed Palestinian civilians, was also released. The four activists released Monday were the last of 13 people arrested [AP report] in March 2004 after a letter demanding political, economic and social reforms was sent to the King. AP has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Laws of Burgos put into effect

The Spanish Crown put the Laws of Burgos into effect on December 27, 1512. These laws governed the relationship of Spanish settlers with the indigenous peoples of the Caribbean. The laws established the encomienda system of labor, promoted conversion to Catholicism, and safeguarded the indigenous peoples from physical abuse.  However, historians argue that the laws were ineffective at protecting the rights of the indigenous population. Learn more from the Library of Congress.

Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public bar smashing

On December 27, 1900, militant Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public smashing of a bar, at the Carey Hotel in Wichita, Kansas. Nation argued that destroying bars was an acceptable means of battling the liquor trade since the Kansas Constitution prohibited alcohol. Learn more about Carrie Nation.

World Bank created

On December 27, 1944, the World Bank was created during the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, USA. Learn more about the history of the World Bank.