UK, Libya sign agreement on treatment of deported foreign nationals News
UK, Libya sign agreement on treatment of deported foreign nationals

[JURIST] The United Kingdom and Libya signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) Tuesday which specifies that foreign nationals deported from the UK to Libya will not be mistreated upon their return. The agreement was signed by Britain's Ambassador to Libya Anthony Layden [official profile] and the Libyan Acting Secretary for European Affairs, Abdulati Ibrahim al-Obidi. Responding to the MOU, Amnesty International [advocacy website] said the government should stop finding ways to work around the international ban on torture [press release], adding that it would be misguided to expect countries that have a known record of torturing people to respect agreements promising not to torture. Another rights group, Liberty UK [advocacy website], criticized the MOU with Libya in light of the UK's 2004 Human Rights Report [text], which expressed 'serious concern' with conditions in Libyan prisons. UK Home Secretary Charles Clarke [official profile] says the agreement is a necessary international negotiation tool to fight terrorism. Clarke emphasized the need to balance international obligations to protect the rights of individuals facing torture with the right of people to travel around freely. Earlier this year, in the aftermath of the London bombings [JURIST news archive], the UK negotiated a similar agreement with Jordan [JURIST report] and is working to reach agreements with Lebanon and Algeria. BBC News has more.

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THIS DAY @ LAW

Montgomery started racially-integrated bus service after boycott

On December 21, 1956, buses in Montgomery, Alabama, started racially integrated service following federal court rulings ending on-board segregation. Bus boycott leaders Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King and Rev. Ralph Abernathy were among the first riders under the new scheme. Learn about the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

Stalin born

On December 21, 1879, Joseph Stalin was born in Gori, Georgia. In 1922, he became leader of the USSR until his death in 1953. During his time as Soviet dictator, Stalin industrialized his country, which he then led to become one of the world's two superpowers after WWII. Through his infamous purges, show trials and nationwide famines, Stalin also became responsible for millions of deaths.