Nigerian court allows challenge to asylum for indicted ex-Liberian president News
Nigerian court allows challenge to asylum for indicted ex-Liberian president

[JURIST] The Nigerian Federal High Court has ruled that two Nigerians who were tortured and mutilated in Sierra Leone can challenge Nigeria's decision to grant asylum to former Liberian President Charles Taylor [PBS profile]. Taylor was granted asylum in Nigeria in 2003 following his indictment [text] by the Special Tribunal for Sierra Leone [official website, JURIST news archive] on charges of crimes against humanity and other violations of international humanitarian law. Judge Stephen Jonah Adah ruled that the two men suffered personal injuries by torturers said to be backed by Taylor, and said that they have a legal right to attempt to see Taylor face trial. The Nigerian government, which has refused to hand over Taylor for prosecution despite US calls for Taylor's arrest [JURIST report] and has maintained that Taylor should remain in exile [JURIST report] in Nigeria, said it will appeal the decision. Reuters has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Egypt President Anwar Sadat visits Israel

On November 19, 1977, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat visited Israel, becoming the first leader of an Arab nation to officially visit. Two years later, President Sadat became the first Arab leader to recognize Israel by signing the Egyptian-Israeli Peace Treaty. Read President Sadat's address to the Israeli Knesset.

Jay Treaty signed

On November 19, 1794, US Chief Justice John Jay and British foreign secretary Lord Grenville signed a treaty in Philadelphia under which British forces pulled out of the disputed Northwest Territory. Review the Jay Treaty.