Pakistan PM lifts death penalty moratorium following deadly attack News
Pakistan PM lifts death penalty moratorium following deadly attack

[JURIST] Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif [official profile] on Wednesday approved the lifting of Pakistan’s moratorium on the death penalty. Sharif’s decision [BBC report] was rendered in response to a deadly attack [JURIST report] by the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) on a school in Peshwar that killed 141 people, most of whom were children. The reinstatement of the death penalty will only be applied to terrorism-related cases, as the prime minister believes that this will constitute a step to end terrorism in the country.

The TTP have a history of armed rebellion against the Pakistani government and have sought to overthrow the authorities and impose Sharia law. As the main place of operations of the Taliban [JURIST news archive], Pakistan has been a focal point of global anti-terrorism efforts. In July Pakistan passed [JURIST report] a strict anti-terrorism bill that allowed police to use lethal force, to search buildings without a warrant and to detain suspects at secret facilities for up to 60 days without charge “on reasonable apprehension of commission of a scheduled offense.” Last year Sharif claimed [JURIST report] that the country’s anti-terrorism laws would be amended to more effectively combat modern threats.

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.