German authorities negotiating for release of Guantanamo detainee News
German authorities negotiating for release of Guantanamo detainee

[JURIST] German officials are in talks with their US counterparts for the release of a German-born man who has been held in Guantanamo Bay [JURIST news archive] for almost four years. Murat Kurnaz [Amnesty International case sheet; chronology, PDF], a Turkish national, was detained in Pakistan in 2001 on suspicion of terrorism and later handed over to US forces, arriving at Guantanamo in 2002. Negotiations began when Chancellor Angela Merkel [official website in German, BBC profile] met with President Bush [JURIST report] last month. The German government hopes to obtain the release by the summer.

If Kurnaz is released, Germany would need to give the US "guarantees of security", such as continued surveillance of Kurnaz at all times. Last year, Kurnaz claimed [JURIST report] that he had been subjected to torture, physical abuse and sexual humiliation by US interrogators. Reuters has more. Deutsche Welle has local coverage.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Pope Urban II sparks First Crusade

Pope Urban II threw his support behind what would become the First Crusade on November 27, 1095 during the Council of Clairmont. The Pope urged the council's participants to render aid to the Byzantine Empire, which was being attacked by the Seljuks. Pope Urban called for a wide coalition of rich and poor to combat the threat, which eventually resulted in the conquest of much of the Muslim-controlled Levant by the Crusaders and the establishment of the Crusader States. Read Pope Urban's address.  

Catholic Code of Canon Law revised

On November 27, 1983, the revised Code of Canon Law of the Roman Catholic Church went into effect. Learn more about the history of Canon Law from Professor Kenneth Pennington of the Catholic University of America's Columbus School of Law.

Alfred Nobel creates Nobel Prize in his will

On November 27, 1895, Alfred Nobel signed his will, creating the Nobel Prize. Learn more about the history of the Nobel Prize and the Nobel Commission.