Moscow court bans gay pride parade News
Moscow court bans gay pride parade

[JURIST] A court in Moscow on Friday upheld a ban on an international gay pride parade [program, PDF] scheduled to take place in the Russian capital on Saturday after gay activists appealed the decision [GayRussia.ru report] of Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov [MosNews profile] rejecting the application of parade organizers. The mayor's office last week stated that the parade marking the 13th anniversary of the decriminalization of homosexuality in Russia would likely provoke violence, but parade organizers have said they will disregard a ban and still hold the parade [Radio Free Europe report]. Additionally, Luzhkov said last fall that citizens of Moscow "would be categorically against such an initiative" [Radio Free Europe report].

Earlier, Russian Christian Muslim leaders had expressed dissatisfaction with the parade proposal. A Muslim cleric in February stated that the paraders should be "thrashed by decent people" [BBC report], and the head of the Muslim Spiritual Board in Central Russia, Talgat Tadzhuddin, stated that Muslim anti-pride protests could be worse than the recent worldwide protests over cartoons depicting the prophet Muhammad. MosNews 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.