Iraq will ask UN Security Council to lift legal immunity for Coalition forces News
Iraq will ask UN Security Council to lift legal immunity for Coalition forces

[JURIST] The government of Iraq [JURIST news archive] plans to ask the UN Security Council [official website] to lift Coalition troops' immunity from Iraqi law, Human Rights Minister Wijdan Michael said Monday. She indicated that a committee formed last week is preparing reports for the Iraqi Cabinet, adding that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki [BBC profile] could present Iraq's request to the Security Council by next month. Michael blamed lax enforcement of US military law for alleged crimes by American forces against Iraqi civilians, including the rape and murders in Mahmudiya [JURIST report] that have led to charges against five current and former US soldiers. Last week, because of those allegations, al-Maliki called for the US military's immunity to be reviewed [JURIST report]. Michael said that if the Security Council denies the request to end the immunity, Iraq will ask for "an effective role in the investigations that are going on." Among other alleged offenses under investigation are the killings of 24 Iraqis in Haditha [JURIST news archive] last November.

A decree [PDF text] issued by the US-run Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) [official website] provided that "the MNF [Multi-National Force], the CPA, Foreign Liaison Missions, their Personnel, property, funds and assets, and all International Consultants shall be immune from Iraqi legal process," including "any arrest, detention or legal proceedings in Iraqi courts or other Iraqi bodies, whether criminal, civil, or administrative." When the Coalition Provisional Authority was replaced by Iraq's interim government in June 2004, the immunity language was annexed to the UN Security Council resolution [PDF text] authorizing the US-led occupation. Reuters has more.

This not the first time that Iraqi government officials have called for the lifting of the military immunity provision; in September 2005 then-Iraqi Justice Minister Abdul Hussein Shandal criticized the US military for arresting and detaining Iraqi citizens and journalists without bringing charges against them and called for either the amendment or discontinuation [JURIST report] of Resolution 1546 immunity.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Indian National Congress founded

The Indian National Congress (INC) was founded on December 28, 1885 in Bombay (now Mumbai), India. In subsequent decades, the so-called Congress Party would advocate for Indian independence from the UK, which was eventually achieved in 1947. The first Prime Minister of independent India, Jawaharlal Nehru, was elected as a member of the INC. Learn more about the history and founding of the Indian National Congress.

Congress recognized Pledge of Allegiance

On December 28, 1945, Congress officially recognized the Pledge of Allegiance and encouraged its recitation in schools. The Pledge was supposedly written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy, a Baptist minister, to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Columbus Day. The words “under God” were added by Congress in 1954. The revised version of the Pledge was the subject of litigation before the United States Supreme Court originally brought by Michael Newdow, a parent who unsuccessfully objected to his daughter's school district policy requiring daily recitation of the Pledge. The court ruled that Newdow had no standing.

Nepal ends monarchy, establishes republic

On December 28, 2007, the Kingdom of Nepal's interim parliament ended the country's monarchy and established the Republic of Nepal. Free elections were held on April 10 of the following year to elect a Constituent Assembly.

Learn more about the rise of democracy in Nepal.