International brief ~ Nepal high court issues stay on radio station closure order News
International brief ~ Nepal high court issues stay on radio station closure order

[JURIST] Leading Tuesday's international brief, the Nepal Supreme Court [official website] has issued a stay order preventing the Nepalese Ministry of Information and Communication [official website] from enforcing its decision to close down Radio Sagarmatha [media website] for carrying BBC's Nepal Service. The radio station's offices and broadcasting facilities were raided [JURIST report] Monday and five employees were arrested on charges of violating the nation's National Broadcasting Act. The Supreme Court ordered the government to appear on December 7 at a hearing to decide whether the stay should be extended or not. JURIST's Paper Chase has continuing coverage of Nepal [JURIST news archive]. Kantipur Online has local coverage.

In other international legal news …

  • The Swedish Supreme Court [official website] has ruled that remarks made by Swedish Pastor Ake Green [advocacy website] in reference to the morality of homosexual activity were not sufficient to rise to the level of "incitement to hatred" under Sweden's tough hate crime laws and overturned the minister's 2003 conviction. The Court held that Green's remarks were covered under Swedish rights to freedom of speech and religion. Green was the first religious minister to be prosecuted under the laws, which were amended in 2003 to add homosexuality to the list of protected population groups. View the official Swedish Supreme Court press release [in Swedish]. BBC News has more.
  • British MPs will get their first chance to debate a bill banning smoking [JURIST report] in public enclosed buildings Tuesday, as the Health Bill [text; BBC backgrounder] is sent back to the House of Commons [government website] for discussion. MPs are divided over the bill, as some feel that the exceptions included allowing smoking in "pubs and bars which do not serve food and private members' clubs" will lend to confusion about the issue and discriminate against some businesses. Other MPs feel that the bill is too limited and are pushing for a complete ban on smoking in public buildings throughout the entire UK. Tobacco lobbyists argue that the bill discriminates unfairly against people wishing to exercise their freedom to smoke, which they argue has little to no impact on others around them. JURIST's Paper Chase has continuing coverage of the United Kingdom [JURIST news archive]. BBC News has local coverage.
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.