UN official says UK proposal to deport extremists could violate international law News
UN official says UK proposal to deport extremists could violate international law

[JURIST] UN Special Rapporteur on Torture [official website] Manfred Nowak said Tuesday that British Prime Minister Tony Blair's plan to deport Islamic extremists [JURIST report] is likely to result in violations of international human rights law. While such laws prohibit Britain from deporting people to a country where they may face torture or death, Blair said he planned to obtain pledges from several countries in the Middle East, as he already has with Jordan, stating they would not subject the deportee to such treatment. Talks are underway with Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt to obtain their promises as well, but Nowak argues that diplomatic assurances would provide insufficient protection to the deportees in countries that systematically use torture. Blair has also stated he would consider amending the 1998 Human Rights Act, which integrates the European Convention on Human Rights [text] into British law, in order to ease deportations. AP has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

38 Santee Sioux hanged by US for rebellion

On December 26, 1862, 38 Santee Sioux men were hanged in a mass execution for their roles in a rebellion against US authorities in Minnesota which left hundreds dead and made refugees of some 40,000 white settlers. Government annuities promised under a treaty with the Sioux had failed to arrive on schedule and credit for purchases was not advanced in the meantime, threatening the tribe with starvation. The Santee Sioux Tribe's members were deported first to South Dakota and ultimately to Nebraska, where they remain today. Learn more about the 1862 Minnesota Sioux Rebellion.

Louis XVI put on trial during French Revolution

On December 26, 1792, Romain de Sèze, a defense attorney for deposed King Louis XVI, presented a defense of his client. The former King was on trial before a French Revolutionary court on thirty-three charges, including treason and other crimes against the state. He was convicted on January 15, 1793 executed by guillotine on the following January 21.