US military declares no tolerance for Afghan detainee abuse News
US military declares no tolerance for Afghan detainee abuse

[JURIST] A US military spokesman, responding to a New York Times article detailing the deaths of two detainees and other abuses, said Friday that mistreatment of detainees in Afghanistan by US personnel will not be tolerated. A White House spokesman said that President Bush was alarmed by the report and wanted the allegations thoroughly investigated. The Times article cited a 2,000-page confidential military file the newspaper obtained that described repeated abuse at the hands of "young and poorly trained soldiers" and the cruel treatment and death of the two prisoners. In October 2004 the Army publicly acknowledged the two deaths [Army press release], ruled them homicides, and announced that up to 28 soldiers face charges in connection with the those. AP has more.

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.