Kenya court lifts government-imposed protest ban News
Kenya court lifts government-imposed protest ban

[JURIST] The Kenyan High Court [official website] on Tuesday lifted [AfricanNews report] a government-imposed ban [Al Jazeera report] on protestation after numerous protests against the Kenyan electoral commission.

The recent protests were organized by National Super Alliance (NASA), the political coalition that currently stands in opposition to the ruling Jubilee Party [party websites]. After many of the protests turned violent [Bloomberg report], Jubilee Party officials imposed a protest ban on the key business districts of Nairobi, Mombasa, and Kisumu, all areas hit by violent protest.

The suit was filed by Norman Magaya, a member of NASA. Justice John Mativo, who presided over the matter, issued the temporary stay on the protest ban which will remain in force until the matter goes to trial and a judgement is rendered. Mativo further ordered that Magaya not be arrested or otherwise harassed by police forces until the matter is resolved.

The decision comes after a group of UN human rights experts on Monday urged [JURIST report] Kenya to lift the ban on protests and refrain from violence against protesters in the build up to the national elections.

This marks yet another development in a continuing saga, beginning in the beginning of September when the Kenyan Supreme Court invalidated [JURIST report] the country’s presidential election. As the country slowly moves closer to a date for a new vote for president, it remains to be seen if the main opponent to the president will run, after he had previously called for a boycott [JURIST report] of the new elections.

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.