Afghan Guantanamo detainee referred to military commission News
Afghan Guantanamo detainee referred to military commission

[JURIST] The US Department of Justice (DOJ) [official website] has decided on a military prosecution for Afghan Guantanamo Bay [JURIST news archive] detainee Obaidullah [DOD materials], according to court filings Wednesday. Obaidullah was initially charged [JURIST report] by the military in 2008 with hiding and storing anti-tank mines to be deployed against US forces in Afghanistan. He has been held at Guantanamo since 2002. The US government must now decide whether to formally try Obaidullah in a military commission [JURIST news archive].

Obaidullah is the sixth Guantanamo detainee to have his case referred for military trial since US president Barack Obama ordered the closing [JURIST report] of the facility and a review of all detainees' cases last January. In November, the DOJ designated five other cases for military trials, including that of Canadian detainee Omar Khadr [JURIST report]. Also in November, Holder announced [JURIST report] that five accused 9/11 [JURIST news archive] conspirators would be tried in US federal court.

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.