Iraq detainee abuse problem worse than reported, US ambassador says News
Iraq detainee abuse problem worse than reported, US ambassador says

[JURIST] US Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad [official profile] said Tuesday that more than 100 detainees [JURIST news archive] had been abused in two Iraqi detention facilities, a figure considerably greater than the 21 or 26 people previously reported as abused. An investigation [JURIST report] had been carried out following the discovery by US soldiers of 173 malnourished, beaten and possibly tortured detainees [JURIST report] in November. Khalilzad also said that from now on the US will have officers with Iraqi forces to observe raids and the process of taking detainees into custody. Khalilzad also commented on Sunday's report by the Iraqi Human Rights Ministry [JURIST report], which said that 13 prisoners in an overcrowded facility run were abuse victims who required medical treatment. Khalilzad said the number requiring treatment is at least 20. Iraqi officials have called the abuse allegations exaggerated [JURIST report] and the Iraqi Interior Ministry has said that none of the prisoners discovered last week had been tortured or abused. Khalilzad's comments come right before Thursday's Iraqi governmental elections [JURIST news archive], though early voting has started for soldiers, hospital patients, prisoner detainees and Iraqis abroad. Wednesday's New York Times has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Indian National Congress founded

The Indian National Congress (INC) was founded on December 28, 1885 in Bombay (now Mumbai), India. In subsequent decades, the so-called Congress Party would advocate for Indian independence from the UK, which was eventually achieved in 1947. The first Prime Minister of independent India, Jawaharlal Nehru, was elected as a member of the INC. Learn more about the history and founding of the Indian National Congress.

Congress recognized Pledge of Allegiance

On December 28, 1945, Congress officially recognized the Pledge of Allegiance and encouraged its recitation in schools. The Pledge was supposedly written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy, a Baptist minister, to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Columbus Day. The words “under God” were added by Congress in 1954. The revised version of the Pledge was the subject of litigation before the United States Supreme Court originally brought by Michael Newdow, a parent who unsuccessfully objected to his daughter's school district policy requiring daily recitation of the Pledge. The court ruled that Newdow had no standing.

Nepal ends monarchy, establishes republic

On December 28, 2007, the Kingdom of Nepal's interim parliament ended the country's monarchy and established the Republic of Nepal. Free elections were held on April 10 of the following year to elect a Constituent Assembly.

Learn more about the rise of democracy in Nepal.