Iraqi High Tribunal resumes trial of Saddam-era deputy PM Aziz News
Iraqi High Tribunal resumes trial of Saddam-era deputy PM Aziz

[JURIST] The trial of former Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz [BBC profile; JURIST news archive] and seven co-defendants resumed Tuesday, three weeks after a brief opening session and subsequent adjournment [JURIST report] at the Iraqi High Tribunal [official website] in Baghdad. Some members of the defense's legal team were missing, but lawyer Giovanni Di Stefano told AKI that he did not "want to grant credibility to the tribunal" [AKI report] by appearing. AP has more. Reuters has additional coverage.

Aziz was deputy prime minister under Saddam Hussein's regime. He and his co-defendants are charged in connection with the 1992 execution of 42 merchants accused of price-gouging during a period of UN sanctions. One of the defendants, Ali Hassan al-Majid [BBC profile; JURIST news archive], known in the Western media as "Chemical Ali," did not attend the opening session last month due to ill health [JURIST report] brought on by a self-imposed hunger strike, but was present at Tuesday's proceedings.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Pope Urban II sparks First Crusade

Pope Urban II threw his support behind what would become the First Crusade on November 27, 1095 during the Council of Clairmont. The Pope urged the council's participants to render aid to the Byzantine Empire, which was being attacked by the Seljuks. Pope Urban called for a wide coalition of rich and poor to combat the threat, which eventually resulted in the conquest of much of the Muslim-controlled Levant by the Crusaders and the establishment of the Crusader States. Read Pope Urban's address.  

Catholic Code of Canon Law revised

On November 27, 1983, the revised Code of Canon Law of the Roman Catholic Church went into effect. Learn more about the history of Canon Law from Professor Kenneth Pennington of the Catholic University of America's Columbus School of Law.

Alfred Nobel creates Nobel Prize in his will

On November 27, 1895, Alfred Nobel signed his will, creating the Nobel Prize. Learn more about the history of the Nobel Prize and the Nobel Commission.