Iran sends Saddam indictment on war crimes to Iraqi government News
Iran sends Saddam indictment on war crimes to Iraqi government

[JURIST] Iranian Justice Minister Jamal Karimirad announced Tuesday that his country has sent its own indictment [JURIST report] against former dictator Saddam Hussein [JURIST news archive] to the Iraqi government, charging the former dictator with atrocities allegedly committed during the eight-year Iran-Iraq war. The new charges come one day before Hussein is due to appear in Iraqi court to face the first of what could be many trials [JURIST news archive] for alleged crimes committed while in power. According to Karimirad, Iran's indictment includes charges of genocide, murders, crimes against humanity, violations of international law, bombings, as well as "violating Islamic and ethical principles." Iran first announced its desire to charge Hussein with crimes stemming from the Iran-Iraq war in July [JURIST report], and last month announced it was preparing its own indictment [JURIST report] against the former dictator. Aljazeera has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Ku Klux Klan founded

The US hate group known as the Ku Klux Klan was founded on December 24, 1865 in Pulaski, Tennessee as a reaction to reconstruction efforts following the Union victory in the American Civil War. The group would later become notorious for its attacks on Black Americans, being targeted by the Enforcement Act of 1871, which imposed civil and criminal liability for deprivation of constitutional rights. Read the Enforcement Act of 1871.  

Hamid Karzai born

On December 24, 1957, Hamid Karzai was born in Karz, Afghanistan. He would go on to become in 2004 his country's first elected president after the end of Taliban rule in 2001.