Saudi prisoner denounces military commission at Guantanamo hearing News
Saudi prisoner denounces military commission at Guantanamo hearing

[JURIST] Accused Saudi Al Qaeda operative Jabran Said bin al Qahtani, a prisoner at the military detention facility at Guantanamo Bay [JURIST news archive], told a US military commission there Tuesday that the United States was an "enemy of God" and said he would prefer death to complying with the tribunal. The US government has accused Qahtani [DOD charge sheet, PDF] of building hand-held detonators like the kind used against US forces in Afghanistan. He and two other detainees face military commissions [JURIST news archive] this week to answer various charges against them.

Presiding officer Navy Capt. Daniel O'Toole called a recess after Qahtani's outburst, but Qahtani did not return. His lawyer said afterwards that he was boycotting the proceeding and would not come back unless physically forced. Reuters has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

38 Santee Sioux hanged by US for rebellion

On December 26, 1862, 38 Santee Sioux men were hanged in a mass execution for their roles in a rebellion against US authorities in Minnesota which left hundreds dead and made refugees of some 40,000 white settlers. Government annuities promised under a treaty with the Sioux had failed to arrive on schedule and credit for purchases was not advanced in the meantime, threatening the tribe with starvation. The Santee Sioux Tribe's members were deported first to South Dakota and ultimately to Nebraska, where they remain today. Learn more about the 1862 Minnesota Sioux Rebellion.

Louis XVI put on trial during French Revolution

On December 26, 1792, Romain de Sèze, a defense attorney for deposed King Louis XVI, presented a defense of his client. The former King was on trial before a French Revolutionary court on thirty-three charges, including treason and other crimes against the state. He was convicted on January 15, 1793 executed by guillotine on the following January 21.