US military jury reaches verdict on alleged al Qaeda media director News
US military jury reaches verdict on alleged al Qaeda media director

[JURIST] The jury in the US military commission trial of alleged al Qaeda media director Ali Hamza Ahmad Suliman al Bahlul [DOD materials] reached a verdict in the case Friday, but that will not be unsealed until Monday, when al Bahlul is present in the courtroom at the Guantanamo Bay [JURIST news archive] prison. Al Bahlul, a 39-year old Yemeni citizen, went on trial [JURIST report] at Guantanamo Monday. He vowed earlier this year to boycott proceedings against him, saying he would attend only when a verdict was handed down or he was sentenced. The jury, composed of US military officers, deliberated for only 4 hours Friday before reaching a verdict. Al Bahlul is only the second detainee to go on trial at Guantanamo since the prison there opened in 2002. AP has more. The Miami Herald has additional coverage.

Al Bahlul, alleged to have been Osama bin Laden's personal assistant and media secretary, was charged [JURIST report] in February with conspiracy, solicitation to commit murder and attacks on civilians, and providing material support for terrorism. He is accused of researching the financial impact of the 9/11 attacks and releasing the "martyr wills" of 9/11 hijackers Muhammed Atta and Ziad al Jarrah as propaganda videos. If convicted, he could receive a sentence of up to life imprisonment.

THIS DAY @ LAW

UN Security Council called for Israeli withdrawal from territories occupied in Six Days' War

On November 22, 1967, the UN Security Council called for Israeli withdrawal from territories occupied during the Six Days' War, and for respect of the right of all States in the area to "live in peace within secure and recognized boundaries." Read Resolution 242, which remains a cornerstone of efforts to achieve peace in the Middle East.

President Kennedy assassinated, VP Lyndon Johnson sworn inin

On November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. Later that day, Vice-President Lyndon Johnson was sworn in as the 36th President of the United States. Earl Warren, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, was later tasked with leading a commission to investigate the assassination. President Johnson received the final report of the Warren Commission on September 24, 1964. Read the Warren Commission Report.